ATTA, the Ministry of Tourism of Ecuador, and Cuenca Tourism would like to invite you to apply for a Hosted Buyer opportunity at the AdventureNEXT Cuenca event, which will take place the first week of September 2025.

AdventureNEXT Cuenca gives attending media the opportunity to discover the unique natural and cultural resources and activities in the World Cultural Heritage city of Cuenca, Ecuador. 

Cuenca, Ecuador, is a captivating city nestled in the Andean highlands, celebrated for its rich colonial architecture, cobblestone streets, and vibrant cultural scene. Cuenca enchants visitors with its stunning cathedrals—like the iconic blue-domed New Cathedral—and its charming historic center. The city is also a hub for artisan crafts, particularly Panama hat weaving and traditional ceramics. Nature lovers can explore the nearby Cajas National Park, a breathtaking high-altitude wilderness dotted with lakes and cloud forests. With its blend of history, art, and natural beauty, Cuenca offers an unforgettable experience for every traveler.

Selected Official Media delegates will learn about the destination and find inspiration through immersive multi-day adventure tours, connections with local suppliers during the event’s Marketplace, and learning about the value and development of adventure travel through speakers and workshops at the event.

The final selected hosted Official Media delegates will receive complimentary event registration, accommodations during the event, economy round-trip air, airport transfers, and a Pre-Adventure tour at no cost. Hosted Media delegates are required to participate in a multi-day Pre-Adventure tour. 

Applications will be considered and reviewed with the destination partner, with the goal to host a diverse group of media who specialize in adventure and sustainable travel stories, including:

• Freelance Journalists with a proven record of placing articles in mainstream lifestyle outlets or verticals focusing on travel, outdoor adventure, fitness, culture, or environment/sustainability with national and global reach (print and digital).
• Magazine, Newspaper, or Digital Staff Writers & Editors from mainstream lifestyle outlets and/or vertical outlets focusing on travel, outdoor adventure, culture or environment/sustainability with national and global reach. 
• Travel Content Creators (Influencers/Bloggers) with evidence of regular, current editorial content (i.e. non-sponsored posts) related to adventure travel, outdoor activity, culture, or environmental/sustainability issues with a large, dedicated, and engaged following interested in adventure travel-related content (limited spots). If applying as a partner/couple team, please refer to the FAQs.
• Broadcast Journalists & Producers whose content is broadcast on TV, radio, or podcast and is related to the adventure travel or outdoor industry (this event is not an ideal fit for strictly on-camera talent due to very limited filming opportunities).

Publishers, advertising sales representatives, personal or hobby bloggers, PR agency representatives, marketing agencies/content developers, and film/video producers are not eligible to apply as an Official Media delegate.

ROLE AND EXPECTATIONS IF YOUR APPLICATION IS SELECTED:

Official Media delegates are expected to be “working media” meaning whether a freelance journalist, editor, or travel content creator, you will be actively looking for ways to cover the host destination, the adventure travel industry, and attending delegate’s destinations and products.

In addition, all Official Media delegates are:

• Required to attend the Marketplace session during the event, designed to give you more story ideas and connections.
• Expected to attend the FULL event (all conference days).
• Expected to publish stories and content about your experience on adventures. 
• Obtain your own travel insurance policy for the trip.

ABOUT THE SELECTION PROCESS:

• Final selections will be made from the pool of applications received.
• All applications will be considered, reviewed, and selected with the destination partner.
• A cross-set of criteria is used in the application evaluation and selection process to curate a final diverse selection of media representing a variety of narratives, outlets, and topics related to adventure travel. 
• Due to the limited number of Official Media delegate spots and the large quantity of applications typically received, not all qualified applications will be selected.
• You will receive an email from ATTA informing you of the status of your application in early July 2025. 
• More questions? See our Official Media at ATTA Events FAQs

This application closes on 2 June 2025. Applications will be reviewed and final selections made in early July 2025.

APPLY NOW