Tour Operator Scholarship Program

The Adventure Travel World Summit is a unique opportunity for tour operators to seek out professional development, inspiration and mentorship from a collaborative group of fellow adventure travel professionals from around the world.

Each year the ATTA offers scholarships to motivated operators who show a demonstrated potential for positive impact on local cultural, ecological or historical resources while showing a high level of professionalism and ethical business practices.

If you think your organization would benefit from attending the Summit and if it will help you contribute to meaningful growth of the adventure travel industry then we encourage you to apply for a Tour Operator Scholarship. The deadline for applications is May 19 or when 75 applications are received. Winners will be announced on June 21.

Three Tour Operator Applicants will receive:

A complimentary membership in the ATTA for one year ($600 USD value)
One ticket to the 2016 Adventure Travel World Summit ($1,150 value)
One marketplace table for the 2016 Summit ($500 value)
$1,500 travel stipend for airfare to Alaska
2016 Scholarship Recipient digital badge
Pair up with a Summit Buddy for tips and advice

All entries will be reviewed by members of the Adventure Travel Trade Association’s staff and Board of Advisors and then voted on to determine the winners based on the following criteria:

Demonstrated need, e.g., start-up, located in an emerging destination
Demonstrated potential for positive impact on human and/or nature resources
Demonstrated history of positive impact

2016 Scholarship Program Sponsored By

“The Tour Operator Scholarship is a great opportunity to support local tour operators. It’s about giving them a chance to network and learn about trends and best practices in international adventure operations that they otherwise wouldn’t be able to access.”

Lykke Geisler Yakaboylu, Visit Greenland

2016 Scholarship Recipients

Legends of the Wild (United States)

“Legends Of The Wild was started specifically to provide an incremental source of funding for scientific field research aimed at wildlife conservation. We very much need to learn how to more effectively market our wildlife tours, whose individual itineraries are complex and custom designed, and we are eager to participate in and benefit from the valuable mentorship and professional development offered through ATTA membership and at the 2016 ATTA World Summit.”

— Ray Smith, Founder

Kurdistan Iraq Tours (United States)

“We established Kurdistan Iraq Tours LLC when no one else would enter the business and kept it alive when all others failed during war and economic hardship.We have finally turned the corner after an extended time of crisis and look forward to a bright future in this amazing land of beauty and adventure. I look forward to an invigorating exchange with my fellow adventure travel company owners.”

— Douglas Layton, Owner

True Adventure (Iceland)

“Being a small business that’s just starting up doesn’t give you many opportunities to attend big conferences. So the news that True Adventure has been chosen to win The Tour Operator Scholarship Program and attend the ATTA Summit is truly awesome.”

— Gisli Steinar Johannesson, Founder

New for 2016

Adventure Angels Abundance Scholarship

The Adventure Angels — a group of women who pursue the spirit of adventure — have responded to ATTA’s challenge to carry forward the “Viva La Revolución de la Aventura” theme and will provide a scholarship to support women-owned adventure businesses.

The winner will be selected jointly by ATTA and the Angels based on the following criteria:

Woman-owned business operating in the adventure travel sector
In business at least one year
Head office is located in an emerging market country
Demonstrated need for support
Demonstrated positive impact on women
Demonstrated ties and positive impact on community(ies) in which business operates

Awarded jointly with ATTA, the Adventure Angel scholarship will include:

A complimentary membership in the ATTA for one year ($600 USD value)
One ticket to the 2016 Adventure Travel World Summit ($1,150 value)
One marketplace table for the 2016 Summit ($500 value)
$1,400 stipend for travel to Alaska
Four (4) nights accommodation at Historic Anchorage Hotel
Winner package including Adventure Angel T-shirt, wings, etc.
In addition, the winner will receive a Mentorship Package provided by Adventure Angels including up to 14 hours of mentorship for the scholarship winner (one hour with each Adventure Angel)

2016 Adventure Angel Scholarship Recipient

Colibri Spanish School (Nicaragua)

“As a Nicaraguan business woman, I’ll take advantage of this wonderful opportunity which is a big door opened not only for me but for so many other of my fellows Nicaraguan women. I’m very excited and challenged to participate in the Summit and I am ready to go to Alaska and establish connections, offer our Transformational Travels and promote my country.”

— Noelia Corrales, Owner