Agents hail Aspire and Atas’ inaugural Luxury Adventure Showcase

Nearly 50 travel agents attended the inaugural Luxury Adventure Showcase by Jacobs Media sister brands Aspire and the Association of Touring and Adventure Suppliers (Atas) at London’s Tobacco Dock on December 8. 

 

The event put a spotlight on the luxury adventure sector in partnership with Quark Expeditions, activation sponsor AE Expeditions and sponsors Abercrombie & Kent and Cox & Kings, Rocky Mountaineer, Seabourn, Tourism Australia and Wendy Wu Tours.

 

The day began with a talk on “tectonic shifts” in the luxury adventure market from Debra Fox, managing director for the UK, Europe and Asia-Pacific at Abercrombie & Kent, who shared that clients are travelling less but spending more, especially on adventurous itineraries.

 

Fox was then joined on stage by Wendy Wu, owner of Wendy Wu Tours, and Hazel Mansell, UK national sales manager for the Rocky Mountaineer, for a panel diving deeper into the “endless possibilities” in the adventure travel sector, and the huge scope for “client loyalty” in the space.

 

The second panel of the day saw Sarah Schlederer, Quark Expeditions’ national strategic key account manager for the UK & Ireland; Jane Middleton, managing director at Authentic Travel Company; and Claire Brighton, director of Atas, discuss expedition cruising’s appeal for a wide range of travellers.

 

Following a networking lunch, agents had the opportunity to meet with each of the sponsors in attendance to discuss the opportunities available to their clients. 

 

The day ended with a networking drinks reception, during which activation sponsor AE Expeditions provided guests with an immersive VR experience simulating kayaking in the Polar regions. 

 

Reflecting on the day, Andara Travel director Dave Allen said: “It was a fantastic day with a great range of operators showcasing the intersection between luxury and adventure, which is precisely the area we’re trying to pivot our business to. It’s a real area for travel agents to exploit – high margins, complex itineraries and tremendous booking value for our customers.”

 

Joan Jones, owner of Once in a Lifetime Holidays, added: “I thought it was a really useful day. There were some great presentations, especially Debra Fox from Abercrombie & Kent who explained the difference between premium and ultra-luxury clients really well. Hearing about all the opportunities in the luxury adventure space makes me very excited.”

 

Travel Counsellor Katrina Smith said: “Sometimes you don’t realise what you don’t know, and today I’ve learned quite a bit, especially around the expeditions sector. It’s been really interesting and useful – it’s inspired me to start an expedition-focused newsletter for my clients. I would definitely come back next year and recommend my colleagues to come as well.”

 

Reflecting on speaking at the event, Authentic Travel Company’s Jane Middleton said: “It’s been great to see Aspire and Atas come together to look at adventure, because, let’s be honest, that’s where it’s at.”