New ATA Partners
Quarter two has kept us in good company! We launched our new travel program with A+E Television Network’s HISTORY® Channel. As any partner who works with ATA knows, we love to delve deep into the history of a place and provide context through experts who accompany the groups. In HISTORY Travel’s™ case, world-class historians lead the journeys, linking the past to the present and curating the sites along the way. The launch was picked up by multiple media, including Travel Weekly and Essence Magazine.
ARTnews, a Penske Media Corporation brand, saw its first trip come and go to Santa Fe—with rave reviews. The trip kicked off with a private visit to Susan Eddings’ gallery where the artist welcomed the group and gifted each participant with a unique piece of art. One traveler said: “[ARTnews travel] will inspire, uplift your soul and change you in all the best ways.”
Another first this month was Decanter’s Rhone Valley Wines trip, led by award-winning freelance wine writer Matt Walls. Tasting 20+ wines a day and feasting on the delicacies of the region. The comprehensive itinerary included wines from both the Northern and Southern Rhône, from Hermitage and Saint Joseph to Avignon, by way of Cornas, Saint-Péray, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Gigondas and Vacqueyras.
A Step Forward Along ATA’s Sustainability Path
Emma Impavido, senior director of educational programs, proudly represented ATA at the Sustainability is Responsibility Summit hosted by the US Tour Operator Association in Bodø, Norway. As a panelist for The Internal Challenges of Sustainability Journey – Navigating Them Together discussion, Emma highlighted ATA’s journey from a green committee to a 10-year plan with measurable goals toward sustainability integrated into each team’s work. The summit was an illuminating and inspiring exchange of ideas and experiences between many of our industry peers.
“It was a very collaborative and open discussion with fellow tour operators at different stages of the process. The road is long and complex, but I’m incredibly proud of all ATA is already doing on the sustainability front.” Read more about the summit here.
Reunited for DC Week
In early June, we hosted “DC Week” — a wonderful opportunity to reconnect in-person with our remote colleagues from across the country. Kicking off the week, our CET Institutional Relations team, a fully remote team charged with managing our study abroad relationships at universities across the country, convened to review their strategy and goals for the coming year. Their hard work, and that of their DC-based colleagues, has resulted in a fall semester with an 30% higher enrollment rate than that of fall 2019!
Later in the week ATA’s directors from all over the US and Puerto Rico gathered to reconnect after so long physically apart to enjoy hugs and laughter, to celebrate our victory over this historic crisis, to ground ourselves in our current reality, and to envision the next two years. Mark Lenhart, ATA owner and CET Executive Director, led an “envisioning exercise,” allowing the team to visualize where we will be, what our programs will look like, who our partners will be, and more. Across the board, everyone pictured a bright future with many new employees and a bustling DC office! After more than two years of a historic crisis and navigating our pandemic plan of “Survive, Revive, and Thrive,” we’re happy to say that we’re well on our way to the ‘Thrive’ stage.
D-Day 2024: An 80th Commemoration
“Soldiers, Sailors, and Airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Force:
You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. The hopes and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you…In company with our brave Allies and brothers-in-arms on other Fronts you will bring about the destruction of the German war machine, the elimination of Nazi tyranny over oppressed peoples of Europe, and security for ourselves in a free world.”
General Dwight D. Eisenhower spoke these words on the eve of D-Day in 1944. Americans have reflected on his inspiring words every year when paying tribute to the Allied forces who served so bravely to secure the freedom of millions of people.
With the upcoming 80th D-Day anniversary in 2024, ATA will offer its partners both land and cruise-based programs featuring access to the official commemorative ceremonies in Normandy. Space is limited and in high demand! More details to come–please contact Chase Poffenberger to express interest and/or reserve your space.
