Frequently Asked Questions

General FAQs

ATWS, or the Summit, is the preeminent global event for adventure travel professionals to gather. Over the course of this multi-day event, delegates network with adventure-based tour operators and media from around the world, advance their professional development and knowledge of adventure travel trends, and help promote their company’s adventure product to the adventure travel industry’s influencers and decision makers. It is not a traditional trade show.

This year’s Summit is a four-day event that kicks off with a Day of Adventure, giving delegates the opportunity to casually connect and network with other delegates while exploring Panama. The event days that follow are jam-packed with educational sessions, inspirational speakers, networking events, Marketplace (a session of pre-scheduled meetings between suppliers and buyers), MediaConnect (impromptu meetings with media members), and entertainment.

Check out our Events page to view videos of previous Summit adventures, plenary sessions, and highlights.

Every year, representatives from the adventure travel industry come together at the Adventure Travel World Summit (ATWS) to learn, get inspired and enjoy a decidedly adventurous destination anywhere in the world. Produced by the Adventure Travel Trade Association, the Summit is for tour operators, adventure travel writers and influencers, tourism boards, gear partners, and industry partners. More than just a conference, the Summit is a global gathering of an industry that works hard and plays hard, offering deep-dive educational content, keynote speakers and endless networking opportunities – both structured and impromptu — including a Tour Operator Marketplace with a globally diverse group of businesses and destinations and a MediaConnect session where delegates can pitch story ideas to international travel writers and editors.

Your paid registration includes entrance for one person to all four days of the Summit (7-10 October 2024) which includes:

Access to all ATWS educational and networking events
Listing in the online delegate directory
Scheduled Summit meals – three lunches
Access to the ATWS exclusive online community and networking app
The Day of Adventure – including transportation, an adventure activity, equipment (if needed), and lunch. Available on a first-come, first-served basis.

*A business member registration is per person rather than per company. If your company is an ATTA Member, you may purchase the member-priced ticket at $1,899 USD, instead of $2,299 USD. There is no limit to how many registrations can be purchased by a single company.

Marketplace Table – Marketplace is a special session of pre-scheduled meetings between suppliers and buyers. Suppliers including Inbound Tour Operators and Accommodations may purchase a Marketplace table while supplies last.

Please note: Within the event agenda, there are numerous other opportunities to network, such as during the Day of Adventure, social events, and meals. As a delegate you will receive access to ATTA Compass, the official event navigation and networking app for ATTA events. Additionally, the sessions are full of information to help you improve your business, and the MediaConnect networking session will enable you to meet editorial staff from many publications.

Lodging/Hotels – There are many hotels and lodging options with easy access to the Panama Convention Center, where the Summit will take place. A list of recommended hotels can be found at the Traveler Information page.

Flights/Airfare – Flights to and from Panama are not included in the registration fee.

Please see ATTA’s Refund Policy page for details about a cancellation or transfer.

No. Delegates must book their own accommodations. Recommendations for lodging can be found on the ATWS Traveler Information page.

Please check with the hotel you booked for its cancellation policy.

There are no special airline discounts available.

If you have not booked your flights yet, check with our friends at Exito Travel here.

No, we do not have any volunteer opportunities available.

There is no limit to how many people from one company may attend. Note: One registration is valid for one person. As long as there are Summit registrations still available for purchase, anyone can register.

If you produce, publish, or sell a media product, we encourage you to attend the Summit as a regular delegate and immerse yourself in the adventure travel community while helping promote your company’s adventure product to the industry’s influencers and decision makers. There are a limited number of official media delegate badges available for selected international freelance journalists, on-staff writers and editors, and professional bloggers/influencers. Official media delegate badge holders are selected through an application process well in advance of the event. If you applied for an official media designation but were not selected, or if the media application window is now closed, you are also welcome to register as a regular event delegate (without media credentials). Half-day passes may be available for local television, radio, or newspaper representatives to access a local press conference and the event’s opening session. Contact [email protected].

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Networking App

The official networking app for ATWS 2024 is ATTA Compass - just search using that term in your respective app store or use the links below.

Apple
Android

Please keep in mind that only registered delegates have access to ATTA Compass. You will need your ticket number in order to do so.

Watch this video tutorial on using the app. Please note the tutorial is using the AdventureNEXT Bogotá as the demo but features are the same across all events.

For more questions, you can reference the Attendee Knowledge Base.

Marketplace

Marketplace is a small, intimate environment that connects suppliers and buyers. Similar to “speed dating” but with an emphasis on quality over quantity. Marketplace provides a great atmosphere for introductions, learning about new opportunities, and engaging in product development discussions. Each meeting is 8 minutes long with a 2 minute transition between meetings, giving you the opportunity to have up to 17 meetings.

ATTA Compass is the first step to having a great Marketplace experience. Reaching out to buyers you wish to meet with prior to the appointment request process is the second step — the more you reach out in advance, the more meetings you will have on-site. Utilize the “Message” feature on the app to reach out to buyers and ask them to request you, as requests will be approved based on buyer-supplier matches.

In the weeks before ATWS, all Marketplace participants will be invited to request meetings by indicating who they would like to “Meet”, “Must Meet” or “No Thanks”. Our software then analyzes everyone’s preferences and schedules meetings so that everyone receives the maximum number of “Meet” and “Must Meet” matches that are mathematically possible. The algorithm ensures maximum fairness, but cannot guarantee any particular meetings.

The good news is that once you have your finalized Marketplace schedule, you are then free to request meetings through the app with any delegates that you wish outside of the Marketplace session.

The Summit is developed for networking throughout the entire event — Marketplace is just one of many ways to connect. Dedicated networking/coffee breaks and the Day of Adventure are great ways to connect with other delegates. Registered delegates may use the ATTA Compass app for pre-event networking, knowledge-sharing, and appointment scheduling at the event. There will be a dedicated MEET ME HERE location to help delegates find each other. Connecting with fellow delegates will also take place during lunches, at the partner networking tables, and during the concurrent sessions as well.

Table - Your table will be a rectangular table (table sizes will be confirmed soon), equipped with four chairs per table. Any table toppers or flags need to be short and narrow enough as to not block anyone's view during the meetings.

Recommended marketing materials - Whatever you are able to bring and pass out to your meeting attendees works great. ATTA is trying to reduce the amount of paper products we have at our events to be more sustainable, so here are some suggestions and other ideas that have been used before: pens, notepads, lip balms, stickers, artisan made crafts and souvenirs, fabric napkins/handkerchief, candy, mints, hand sanitizer, maps, bright rug (table cloth, table runner) etc.

Suppliers will be able to participate in one of the two Marketplace sessions. There is a morning session and an afternoon session. Your meeting location will specify which session you will participate in.

Example: “Table 1 - Morning” -OR- “Table 1 - Afternoon”

Buyers / Outbound Tour Operators will participate in both Morning and Afternoon Marketplace sessions.

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