On the Road: Politics & Prose

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Washington, D.C.’s Politics & Prose Bookstore is bringing books and readers together through a travel program that more closely resembles a roving literary seminar. Working with Academic Travel Abroad, which sponsors travel groups for the Smithsonian and National Geographic, the bookstore is offering overseas tours with curated reading lists and book discussions.
 
The inaugural Politics & Prose Travel trip, slated for October, is to Ireland and coincides with the Dublin Theater Festival and includes a private poetry reading with award-winning poet and playwright Paula Meehan. It will be led by Gigi Bradford, former NEA director of literature and chair of the Folger Shakespeare Library Poetry board. Also in October, Politics & Prose’s chief buyer, Mark LaFramboise, will lead a trip to France that includes a Left Bank tour with the Paris editor of Tin House Magazine and a trip to the Cote d’Azur, which inspired works by Graham Greene, Ernest Hemingway, and F. Scott Fitzgerald. 

In 2013, Politics & Prose Travel will take readers to the Jaipur Literary Festival and to Israel.     

 
 

Politics & Prose Travel

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Politics & Prose TravelATA is delighted to be partnering with Politics & Prose bookstore in an exciting new series of journeys that will merge great books with great travel. Politics & Prose Travel was launched last week with the first two trips to France and Ireland scheduled for this fall. Full details can be found here:

Stayed tuned for further literary adventures that will expand the Politics & Prose tradition of bringing booklovers together and literally take readers and authors on the road.

ATA Welcomes MaryBeth Mullen!

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MaryBeth MullenMaryBeth Mullen will join ATA in late April as Director of Client Services.  MaryBeth spent the last 36 years working at the Smithsonian Institution in various capacities, from Regional Events Coordinator at Smithsonian Resident Associates to Senior Program Manager supervising a team of program managers, to her current position as Director of Marketing of Smithsonian Journeys. In this last position, she transformed Smithsonian Journeys’ marketing efforts into a highly sophisticated machine, refining the Smithsonian database and saving partner tour operators thousands in marketing dollars through smart and efficient marketing strategies. MaryBeth also acted as the main liaison to the Smithsonian Service Center, housed at ATA from 2006 to 2011, and now located in Saginaw, MI. She also accompanied many tours over the years, and has traveled to over 100 countries.

MaryBeth comes to ATA with a wealth of experience in program development, team and supplier management, marketing and sales strategy, customer service and direct marketing.

Welcome to ATA, MaryBeth!

Transition of Ownership at ATA

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ACADEMIC TRAVEL ABROAD, INC TRANSITIONS TO NEW OWNERS

David and Susan Parry sell final shares to Kate Simpson and Chase Poffenberger on January 1, 2012

Washington, DC, December, 2011—Academic Travel Abroad, a 61-year old international travel company that has served the country’s elite non-profit organizations, museums, and universities in operating specialized educational and immersive study abroad programs, will transition to new owners on January, 1, 2012. Long time employees and co-owners Kate M. Simpson and Chase V. Poffenberger will acquire the company’s remaining shares from David and Susan Parry in January 1, 2012.

On staff since the late 1980’s, Simpson and Poffenberger worked with David Parry to ensure the long term stability of the company through diversification of its portfolio. In 1994, ATA acquired CET Academic Programs, a premier study abroad organization. In 2008, the American Museum of Natural History in New York outsourced the management of their travel program (Expeditions) to ATA.  In 2009, the company launched Professionals Abroad to develop and market high quality international professional programs to associations for their members’ career development and continuing education. In addition, the company manages the reservation and customer service centers for National Geographic Expeditions and The American Museum of Natural History’s Expeditions.

Kate Simpson became ATA’s President in 2005. She is involved in all aspects of Academic Travel Abroad’s business, including its study abroad division, CET Academic Programs (www.cetacademicprograms.com). In 2008, she completed a three-year executive education program for owners and presidents at Harvard Business School and holds a degree in East Asian Studies from Yale University. She serves on the Board of Directors of NTA (the nation’s premier tour operator association) and is Vice President of the Board for the Fund for Education Abroad. (www.fundforeducationabroad.org).

Chase Poffenberger has served as Executive Vice President for the past five years. She oversees ATA’s tour business partnerships with non-profit institutions, as well as its professional delegation division, Professionals Abroad (www.professionalsabroad.org). Chase also leads ATA’s Sales & Creative team, developing new product and brainstorming new marketing approaches.  Chase completed her MBA at the University of Maryland in 1998 and holds a BA in Chinese Studies from Wellesley College.

David Parry acquired Academic Travel Abroad in 1972 from Fritz Kaufman, an Austrian Jewish refugee who committed to educating Americans about the world after WW2.

“During my forty years in travel, I found myself in four or five different businesses as the industry changed. Exciting times! Since Kate and Chase became owners in 2005, they have charted a wise course balancing risk management with innovative new business approaches, and have achieved amazing results, even during an economic downturn. Now I look forward to passing the torch to Kate and Chase to shape the future of ATA,” said Parry. “For my part, I’ll serve happily as a consultant; continue to hike in the Alps and spend more time with my grandchildren!”

Academic Travel Abroad, Inc.

 

 

Dylan Thomas is alive and well in Swansea, Wales

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Two weeks ago, I spent a day in Swansea, southern Wales, where I became thoroughly steeped in the legacy of the poet, playwright and writer, Dylan Thomas.

I feel fortunate to have met several exceptional individuals who are keeping of the legacy alive for future generations.

At 5 Cwmdonkin Drive, Dylan Thomas’ birthplace, we spoke with the lovely Anne Haden, who, with her husband Geoff, have lovingly restored the birthplace home of the author, while quite literally resurrecting the spirit of his family. Their venture is a unique way to educate visitors about domestic life in Wales during the early part of the 20th century. (http://www.5cwmdonkindrive.com/). Here a bit of Anne’s commentary about Dylan’s parents and his early years.

A wonderful treat for us was to have a chance to get to know acclaimed actor Peter Read., who originated the role of Dylan Thomas at the Edinburgh Festival and has appeared in many venues as the poet and playwright. A highlight was our visit to the Welsh town of Laugharne, where Dylan lived and worked and raised his young family. Peter joined us for lunch and a dramatic reading at Dylan’s gravesite. Hear Peter Read reciting “Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night.”

Well know artist Jeff Phillips was also a joy to meet. He was tremendously modest about his artistic talents and experience, but he has devoted the last several years to creating images of Dylan Thomas at various stages of his life and career. His artwork can be viewed at http://www.dylanthomasexperience.co.uk/

A huge thanks to Alan Maggs creator of The Dylan Thomas Experience, for bringing it all together for us.

And to all of our new friends in Swansea: see you on Dylan’s 100th birthday in 2014 at the White Horse Tavern in New York City’s West Village!

Chase Poffenberger
Academic Travel Abroad, Inc.

Memories of Greece Amongst the Snow

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Walking about through the slushy sidewalks and salt-ridden streets of Washington, DC this time of year makes me nostalgic of the time I spent in Greece a year or so ago.

For every chilled passer-by here wrapped in woolen scarves and fleeced ear muffs I think of the locals walking the inner streets in the town of Mykonos, dressed in their traditional island attire, making their way to the local baker for their loaf of bread.

For every chain restaurant franchisee I pass by from the metro station to the office, I think of the local Greek cafe’s, serving local delights, lining the edges of the islands small inner harbor, in which the colorful local fisherman’s boats bob up and down in the warm Aegean waters.

For every chunk of rippled ice I see float by in the Potomac along the shores of the Mall, I think of warm breezes blowing across our ship bow as we sailed out of the caldera cliffs of Santorini.  The white-washed towns along the caldera’s edges almost appearing like snow-capped peaks rising against a deep blue sky.

Sitting at my desk, occasionally peering out the window over the street below takes me back to walking atop the Acropolis in Athens, and being both amazed of the view and absorbing the historical background of the fortified perch I stood upon.

It’s the brisk winter days like these in Washington, DC that make my mind wander back to Greece and the amazing vistas, warm sun upon my back, and the cultural richness that is,… well,  one of my favorite places to be.

Kalispera!

Launching AuthentiCity: Behind the Scenes

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AuthentiCity Travel logo

www.authenticitytravel.com

“You never want a serious crisis to go to waste. And what I mean by that is an opportunity to do things you think you could not do otherwise …” – Rahm Emanuel

When Rahm Emanuel uttered these words in late 2008 at the height of the financial crisis, we were watching the travel industry go into a dramatic free fall, as consumers faced great uncertainty and cancelled or postponed their travel plans.

We braced ourselves for a tough 2009 season as we had done many times before during times of volatility. But this time, we took a bigger step. We innovated! Over the course of several months, our team of incurable explorers traveled, researched, brainstormed and finally conceived of a fresh, immersive travel concept for an independent-minded, well-traveled traveler called AuthentiCity!

We kept hearing that travelers wanted to experience an international destination as authentically as possible, but they were missing the tools to do so. Now, we have solved that with AuthentiCity!

In 2011, AuthentiCity programs will debut in Athens, Beijing, Cairo and Siena with over 15 departures. Travelers will be sure catch their breath and have their breath taken away over the course of 12 to 14 days. They will live like the locals in their neighborhoods, markets, and squares. They will enjoy unhurried itineraries where they’ll have unprecedented access to places and people not found in any guidebook, learn some language, and savor deliciously-prepared cuisine—the very essence of AuthentiCity and the heart of our motto, “Travel Deeper.”

Please visit www.authenticitytravel.com to read about the details of these new trips!

Chase Poffenberger

Executive Vice President
Academic Travel Abroad