Adventure Travel World Summit

Buyer Application

Application Deadline: Submit your application by 15 January 2025. Final selections will be announced by mid-February 2025.


The Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA), in collaboration with Chile’s Tourism Board, is pleased to invite select adventure travel buyers to apply for a hosted buyer opportunity at the Adventure Travel World Summit (ATWS) 2025 in Puerto Natales, Chile, from 13-16 October 2025. This event offers buyers the chance to explore Chile’s captivating landscapes, rich cultural heritage, and innovative approach to sustainable tourism in all the country’s regions.

SCHEDULE

If selected, the hosted buyer journey will last 9-10 days, depending on the Pre-Summit Adventure selection.

    • Pre-Summit Adventure Start Date: Tuesday, 7 October 2025 (arrival in Chile)
    • Pre-Summit Adventure Tour Dates: Wednesday, 8 October to Sunday, 12 October 2025
    • Day of Adventure in Puerto Natales: Monday, 13 October 2025
    • ATWS Conference Dates: Tuesday, 14 October to Thursday, 16 October 2025
    • Return Departure Date: Friday, 17 October 2025

WHO SHOULD APPLY?

Please read the following information thoroughly to understand the details and requirements of the offer. This offer is valid for one delegate per company. The attendee must be a decision-maker for itinerary development. By completing the application form, you will be included in our selection process for one of the limited number of hosted buyer spots. Selection is not guaranteed.

ATTA and Chile are prioritizing buyers who specialize in activities like trekking, hiking, expedition cruises, kayaking, wildlife observation (including birdwatching and whale watching), cultural and gastronomic experiences, and winter activities. Ideal demographics focus on couples aged 45-70, solo travelers, young travelers, and high-end or luxury clients. The target markets include:

    • Australia/Oceania
    • Latin America (including Mexico and Central/South America)
    • Europe: Central & Eastern Europe & Turkey
    • Europe: Nordic Countries (Scandinavia)
    • Western Europe (UK, Germany, etc)
    • United States
    • Canada

The following profiles are considered ‘buyers’ in the ATTA community:

Outbound Tour Operators
Outbound tour operators craft ideal itineraries and sell those itineraries to individuals or groups as a packaged product. These specialized tour operators provide valuable insight into global travel trends and help match destination products to market demand. Itineraries are often multi-day, running from three to over twenty days depending on the destination and experience.

Travel Advisors (also known as Travel Agents, Travel Curators)
The travel advisor is a curator of an experience for a consumer. They can sell various packaged trips or holidays from different tour operators and therefore provide a more diverse range of options in addition to tailoring their own itineraries in direct collaboration with DMCs.

Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) / Web-Based Marketplace
OTAs curate products from the DMC and directly connect the DMC with the consumer. The DMC is the one crafting the product and selling it to the consumer while the OTA takes a commission for bringing the consumer to them.

What do they all have in common?
They are all sourcing (or buying from) local Destination Management Companies (DMCs), or ground handlers and / or sending clients from their home country or specific markets to other destinations.

HOSTED BUYER REQUIREMENTS

If a hosted buyer spot is offered and accepted, the hosted buyer agrees to:

    • Participate in a Pre-Summit Adventure
    • Participate in a Day of Adventure (13 October 2025)
    • Stay for the duration of ATWS (13-16 October 2025)
    • Participate in ATWS Marketplace Day
    • Answer surveys sent by the ATTA

ATWS Marketplace Day is required for buyers to meet with suppliers and destinations from around the world. It includes pre-scheduled meetings in both morning and afternoon marketplace sessions

Hosted and Discounted/Subsidized Spots

In the interest of accommodating more buyer delegates, there are discounted spots available in addition to fully-hosted spots. The same application serves for both.

HOSTED buyer delegates receive:

    • Complimentary event registration (including Day of Adventure)
    • Access to the Marketplace with pre-schedule meetings
    • Accommodations during the event
    • A complimentary 3-5 day Pre-Summit Adventure (PSA) in Chile

Fully-hosted buyers (with travel costs covered) are required to participate in a Pre-Summit Adventure and are expected to be researching the experience for potential new itineraries. They are also required to meet with suppliers and destinations during the Marketplace sessions.

DISCOUNTED buyer delegates receive:

    • Complimentary event registration (including Day of Adventure)
    • Access to the Marketplace with pre-schedule meetings
    • Option to participate in a complimentary 3-5 day Pre-Summit Adventure (PSA)
    • Accommodations, international airfare, and ground transfers will not be covered. Participation in a hosted Pre Summit Adventure (PSA) is optional for discounted buyer delegates. If participating in a complimentary PSA, buyers are expected to be researching the experience for potential new itineraries.

All hosted and discounted buyers are required to meet with suppliers and destinations during the Marketplace sessions.

PRE-SUMMIT ADVENTURES (PSA)

Selected buyers will receive information about the process for reserving and selecting the PSAs after registration is confirmed.

ABOUT THE SELECTION PROCESS
    • Hosted buyers selections will be made from the pool of applications received.
    • All applications will be considered, reviewed, and selected with the destination partner.
    • After initial evaluation, criteria used in the final buyers selection includes:
    • Representation from the specific countries listed above (limited per country).
      • A variety of representation of types of buyers, with a mix of Outbound Tour Operators, Travel Advisors and OTAs, and a mix of generalists to specialists (trekking, cycling, wildlife…)
      • A mix of buyers new to ATTA events with those who have attended prior events.
      • ATTA members and nonmembers are welcome to apply
    • Due to the large quantity of applications typically received for a limited number of spots, not all qualified applicants can be selected.
    • You will receive an email from the ATTA informing you of the status of your application.

Application Deadline: Submit your application by 15 January 2025. Final selections will be announced by mid-February 2025.

APPLY NOW