September 2, 2010
Academic Travel Abroad celebrated 60 years in business over this past weekend at Rocky Gap Resort. All employees and their family members were invited to this memorable weekend to pay tribute to this company that not just survived but thrived over the span of decades.
Kicking off the weekend’s activities were group activities by the lake for both kids and adults alike. From there we were off to enjoy all that Rocky Gap resort offers such as kayaking, boating, hiking, tennis, swimming, etc. After drying off and cooling down, we were welcomed to hors d’oeuvres in a beautiful room with an outdoor veranda overlooking the lake.
David Parry, ATA Chairman, started the dinner with remarks on the genesis of the company, its history, challenges, and its bright future. We have weathered many storms over the decades, enjoyed many successes, and in present day we continue to innovate with products and offerings to new markets and in more corners of the world.
Team leaders then gave individual tributes to staff highlighting their skills, contributions, and personality traits (and just when we thought our embarrassing stories would stay within our team.) The evening was capped with dancing and dessert.
The next day we met for breakfast and then ventured out for another day of outdoor activities including kayaking, horseback riding, canoeing, etc.
A big thank you to the 60th anniversary planning committee, Randall, Janet, and Chase for a wonderful job! Here’s to the next 60 years for ATA!
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May 5, 2010
Academic Travel Abroad’s staff and their families will celebrate the company’s 60th anniversary at Rocky Gap Resort in August. (www.rockygapresort.com ). The resort is located in bucolic western Maryland and was selected for its natural beauty, its warm service and because it offers so many opportunities to have fun outdoors.
For over 60 years, our creative programs and dynamic staff have helped educated travelers unveil the splendors the world has to offer and now it’s time to celebrate with a fun day in the outdoors.
Academic Travel Abroad
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August 27, 2009
ACADEMIC TRAVEL ABROAD, INC. LAUNCHES NEW SALES DIVISION
Professionals Abroad debuts on September 1, 2009
Washington, DC, September 2009—Academic Travel Abroad, a 59-year old international travel company that has served the country’s elite non-profit organizations, museums, and universities in operating specialized educational and cultural programs, will launch a new sales division on September 1st.
Professionals Abroad will develop and market high quality international professional programs to associations for their members’ career development, continuing education and cultural enrichment. These programs will provide an opportunity for associations to engage in counterpart exchange and international outreach. Dawn Davis, formerly the Executive Director of Citizen Ambassador Program, a division of the People to People Ambassador Program in Spokane, Washington, will lead the Professionals Abroad team. Dawn brings over twenty years of experience with professional delegations to ATA, and maintains strong relationships with many of the country’s largest professional organizations.
ATA has ensured its long term stability through diversification of its portfolio. In 1994, ATA acquired CET Academic Programs, a premier study abroad organization. In 2005, ATA acquired Grandtravel, the originator of travel programs designed exclusively for grandparents and grandchildren. In addition, the company manages the reservation and customer service centers for National Geographic Expeditions, Smithsonian Journeys, and The American Museum of Natural History’s Expeditions, as well as managing the overall AMNH tour program as the Museum’s outsource partner.
“We are delighted to be entering a new market,” said Chase Poffenberger, ATA’s Executive Vice President. “Dawn Davis brings a wealth of energy, creativity and professionalism to the company and we feel fortunate that she will be leading our new division.” While Dawn will reside in Washington State, she will travel to ATA’s offices in Washington, DC regularly and collaborate with ATA’s marketing, programming and customer service teams.
To learn more about this program, contact:
Chase Poffenberger
Executive Vice President
Academic Travel Abroad
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Posted by academictravel
August 7, 2009
Even in tough economic times, people are turning to group tours as a reliable way to travel that provides value and peace of mind. Tour operators negotiate group discounts, plan activities with smooth logistics in mind, access unique venues and draw on well-connected contacts in destinations around the globe. With years of experience under their belt, tour operators offer travelers the most value and security for their dollars.
Here are ten pointers from the National Tour Association’s latest newsletter that reinforces why Academic Travel Abroad is proud to be part of this organization of tourism professionals who share our common goals.
Excerpt from the NTA's "Trip Planner" for August 2009
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March 5, 2009
A view of where the desert meets the greens of the Nile basin.
Last Sunday, I was on the Nile with the Smithsonian Journeys “Egyptian Odyssey” tour group. It had already been an exciting day since five of us started the morning with a hot air balloon ride over the Valley of the Kings. Delightful. Then the whole group toured Karnak Temple together, led by our guide Jihan Hussein. Magnificent! This was my fourth time through Karnak and I never cease to be dazzled by it. Then we spent the afternoon cruising upstream on the Nile on the M/S Tamr Henna toward the Esna lock.
The tour is over now and I am relaxing with friends in Cairo. This latest Egyptian Odyssey group was, I have to say, quite wonderful. Despite being focused on Pharaonic Egypt, they were very curious about contemporary culture. In the short couple weeks in this country, they started to really “get” modern Egypt. During the
Aloft over the Valley of the Kings
last few days of the tour, many of them expressed surprise, satisfaction, even joy at realizing how rich and varied is the culture of this crazy, gritty, delightful place.
When you first get under the surface a new culture, there is always a little bit of that feeling Howard Carter must have had when he first looked into the tomb of Tutankhamun. “Yes,” he is reported to have replied to Lord Carnavon’s eager queries, “I see wonderful things.”
Andrew Simon
Tour Manager
Smithsonian Journeys Egyptian Odyssey
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December 30, 2008
With the turning of another new year, the Auld Lang Syne asks us,
“Should old acquaintances be forgotten?”
With the passing of time and the predictions of what the future may bring, we all tend to reflect on past memories and long-standing friendships as foundations for how we define ourselves and the paths we’ve travelled. We look to our family, friends and peers to grasp a measure of who we are and how to preceed.
Academic Travel Abroad has been very fortunate to have had developed such a solid path since beginning in 1950 and understands the value of building further on the future of strong relationships within the staff and among it’s valued partners. We now operate tours for many industry leaders in the world of educational travel such as; National Geographic, the Smithsonian, the American Museum of Natural History, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Brookings Institute, Yale and so many more and can’t help feel a certain level of privilege in this.
2009 is a new year and we look forward to working with our partners and sharing in all of our travelers unique experiences abroad. With a strong focus on our three primary goals of providing unique destinations, luxury travel accommodations and most importantly – quality service – we look forward to the new year and what lasting memories it will bring to all of our travelers.
Even in an unpredictable economy, we are still seeing that people understand travel opportunities as real investments in their personal ”stock” and are still choosing to commit to discovering new places and unique destinations across the globe.
One of our recent travelers mentioned that the added benefit of having a “tour expert” on the trip was something they truly underestimated and concluded that the added insights rendered tangible value that they would not have experienced by touring on their own. Another traveler recently mentioned that they not only met new people on one of our tours, but made life long friends with people that shared a mutual passion and expressed that this also would have been difficult to find on their own.
So venture into this new year with solid foundations of past memories, but seek to create new ones while traveling to hidden corners of the world and developing new life-long friendships.
Best wishes, and safe travels in the New Year!
Academic Travel Abroad
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November 18, 2008
As Senior Program Manager at Academic Travel Abroad (ATA), I have the responsibility of visiting international destinations and inspecting all aspects of the itineraries our groups will follow. The past twelve years at ATA have given me countless opportunities to travel to and develop programs in far-flung destinations in the South Pacific, Latin America, the Iberian Peninsula, Italy, Scandinavia, and Cuba , However, my recent visit to Ethiopia profoundly impacted me in a way that rarely occurs to well-seasoned travelers.
My journey followed the highland route, just like the Pacific Science Center’s itinerary. This encompasses Addis Ababa, Bahir Dar, Gondar, the Simien Mountains, Axum, and Lalibela. Each site I visited in these cities fascinated me and offered insight to distinct aspects of Ethiopia’s history, art, and lifestyles.
One of my favorite stops was Awaramba, a unique secular community where the people work hard to support their residents from cradle to grave. Men and women are equal, the elderly are cared for, children are not responsible for chores beyond their ability, and daily tasks are designated according to an individual’s skill.
I also enjoyed a visit to Lalibela, where the numerous rock-hewn churches are Ethiopia’s most famous site. These architectural and engineering feats are most impressive, but what also impacted me was how important these churches and the Orthodox Christian religion are to Ethiopians.
Another great surprise for me was the beautiful landscapes. The drives were never dull because there was always something new to see, whether it was extensive plains full of crops or the changing perspectives while driving through the mountains. In addition, there were always people to observe as they engaged in their daily activities—children on their way to school, people walking miles to the local market, subsistence farmers clearing crops of sorghum with ancient tools, or young boys shepherding their animals. I also kept quite busy waving back to all the people who waved to us as we drove by.
At the end of each day, I would think, “Wow, that was an amazing day.” I always enjoy my travels to other countries, but I can’t think of a time where I would consistently describe each day with such superlatives.
Michelle
Academic Travel Abroad
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September 15, 2008
This is a particularly busy fall for ATA staff! Many of us are traveling to far flung parts of the world to research new itineraries, touch base with key contacts, discover new special touches, and keep abreast of opportunities that will enhance our programs.
Although we conduct an extraordinary amount of research as arm chair travelers from Washington, sometimes there is no substitute for being there. Our investment of time and resources in staff travel makes an impact on the quality of tours we offer around the world.
Research Trips
President Kate Simpson will be heading to Morocco to put the finishing touches on our new itinerary. Senior Program Manager Michelle Korczynski will accompany Chairman David Parry to Ethiopia, a country with resurging interest among ATA’s clients. David is just back from hiking in the Italian Dolomites, where he tested the difficulty of the trails that are planned for next year’s Smithsonian Institution members.
Inspection Trips
Senior Program Managers Chris Roper and Janet Varn will be inspecting new luxury ships in Vietnam and Greece, respectively. We expect to showcase several of these new vessels in our 2010 tours.
Upcoming Conferences
Direct Marketing Manager Emilia Pawlowski and Smithsonian Service Center Manager Megan Pierce will be attending the National Tour Association’s annual convention in Pittsburgh. ATA is active in the NTA, a trade organization of thousands of tourism professionals involved in the growth and development of the packaged travel industry. They will delve into the convention’s “green” theme, bringing back ideas for conservation, both on tour and in our offices. Vice President Chase Poffenberger, Senior Program Manager Janet Varn and President Kate Simpson will attend the World Travel Market in London, a four-day global travel industry event that brings together worldwide buyers and sellers from every sector of the industry. Finally, Chairman David Parry will gather in Cairo with fellow members of the American Tourism Society, a destination marketing organization representing the Baltics, Central Europe, Russia and the Mediterranean, for ATS’ annual meeting.
And In Our Spare Time
Director of Business Development Larry Guillemette is retuning from Norway where he spent his vacation touring Oslo, Bergen and the lovely Norwegian fjords. And Michelle Korczynski will vacation in Columbia later this month and see how the country is living up to its new reputation as the next “up and coming” destination!
What destinations will you be exploring next? Tell us!
Don’t forget to visit us at www.academic-travel.com
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