This spring, ATA created a once-in-a-lifetime total solar eclipse tour for a leading cultural institution, sending nearly 400 travelers to the Texas Hill Country. Along the path of totality, travelers had the chance to witness the celestial spectacle. This was a record-breaking trip for ATA and our esteemed partners, and it encapsulated the spirit of adventure, learning, and community that defines us.
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Daughters of the American Revolution: Roman Holiday
The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) has always been dedicated to preserving American history. In its quest to honor those who provided essential support to the American Revolutionary War, 130 members embarked on an unforgettable journey to Rome, Italy last fall.
Arena Stage in Cuba: Uncovering Inspiration
Arena Stage in Cuba: Uncovering Inspiration In 2020, Arena Stage was slated to produce Eduardo Machado’s Celia and Fidel. Having traveled to Cuba in the past, Arena Stage Director Molly Smith, jumped at the opportunity to invite donors and board members to Cuba to explore the inspiration behind the play. Arena’s goal in going to Cuba was to give patrons the opportunity to see first-hand how creatives conducted pre-production research. By choosing Cuba as the destination, donors received an authentic glimpse into this research by meeting with people in the industry and visiting some of the very places shown in the play. Had they taken a “typical” NYC or London theater trip, they would have simply attended shows without taking a deep dive into the creative process or experiencing the destination, which is vital in bringing a play to life. Our Program Team, in consultation with Molly Smith and the playwright, Eduardo Machado, designed the perfect program for Arena Stage. What they got was an experience unlike any other. The group visited the Film School of San Antonio de los Baños for an exchange with students and teachers; learned about the training of performing and visual artists in Cuba at Instituto Superior de Arte; engaged in an exchange with musicians and independent artists on a visit to the Hermitage of Monserrate with the Miguel Failde Orchestra; visited the performing arts center, Danza-Retazos and learned about their cultural project and community work; and took a guided tour of the Museo de Revolución where the group was immersed in the historical context of post-revolutionary Cuba and the political setting of Celia and Fidel. The visits on this tour spoke directly to Arena’s mission without being directly related to theater and seeing plays. Cuba provided the backdrop for the play and allowed the playwright to talk about his history growing up in Cuba and share his inspiration for writing the play. The donors and board members enjoyed a truly unique experience in Cuba, which provided the space for a sustainable travel program rooted in season programming. With these trips, sponsors of the theater are able to have deeper engagement with the creatives and a greater window into how theater is made. The Arena Stage trip to Cuba was a huge success, and ATA is already planning future trips with Arena around production of upcoming plays.
The San Francisco Ballet Goes to London
The San Francisco Ballet Goes to London When the San Francisco Ballet returned to London in June 2019, it was the first time the company had performed in the city for seven years. To celebrate the occasion, they invited their top donors to join them for a week of world-premiere performances, receptions and dinners with the company, and private visits to some of the city’s lesser-known treasures. Their most important priority: engaging with their dedicated supporters and strengthening relationships through intimate gatherings and inspiring cultural experiences in London. What they didn’t want to worry about was the logistical details. That’s where ATA came in. Hosting a week of high-touch elegant events for VIPs is a bit like planning a series of small weddings. It requires a mastery of complex logistics, a network of tried-and-true contacts on the ground, a knack for creative thinking and problem solving, and a generous amount of inspiration. Our team worked with the Office of Development to craft and plan every element of the program, from designing a custom itinerary and brochure to taking reservations, working with a London florist, planning menus and providing options and upgrades for each guest. Every detail needed to reflect our client’s vision. The group of 20+ donors was treated to six magical nights in London, featuring four performances of the San Francisco Ballet at London’s prestigious Sadler’s Wells Theatre. In addition, donors enjoyed an exclusive behind-the-scenes visit to watch Royal Ballet rehearsals at the Royal Opera House; private receptions and dinners; a rare, curator-led tour of the dance collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum’s Blythe House; and an excursion to Althorp House—ancestral home of the Spencer family and burial site of Princess Diana—for a private lunch and tour. One of the program’s highlights was a gala evening, for over a hundred guests hosted, at the enchanting Two Temple Place, a gem of late-Victorian architecture built for Lord William Waldorf Astor. Over cocktails and dinner within this sumptuous but intimate mansion, the donors were able to mingle with the dancers, musicians, choreographers, and directors they generously support. In her letter inviting donors on the trip, Chief Development Officer Danielle St. Germain-Gordon promised an experience that would be “exciting, educational, and busy…a memorable week for us all.” With ATA backstage, planning and operating the program, they delivered on their promise, making the San Francisco Ballet’s return to London an unforgettable experience for its benefactors.
Pandaw: Luxury River Cruises in Asia
Pandaw Pandaw is a Saigon-based cruise operator specializing in trips on colonial-style expedition ships throughout South and Southeast Asia. Pandaw approached us in 2016 because they were seeking a US-based call center that understood the needs of American travelers. They made it clear that they wanted a long-term partner with whom they could build a relationship grounded in mutual trust. “We helped Pandaw increase its business by 16% in our first two years.” We now operate Pandaw’s call center, handling reservations and customer service for their travelers. Our management of the call center—one that is not only within a US time zone but also displays a thorough knowledge of American cultural expectations—helped Pandaw increase its business by 16% within two years. We are committed to building with Pandaw the kind of long-term relationship that they originally sought. To that end, we regularly and transparently communicate regarding the status of operations, and keep them informed every step of the way.
Babson Connect: Worldwide
Babson Connect: Worldwide Babson College operates Babson Connect: Worldwide (BCW), an annual global entrepreneurship summit for the Babson community and global business leaders. BCW is a large, high-stakes event that plays a key role in Babson’s efforts to foster loyalty and engagement with their global alumni, encourage philanthropy, and build relationships with key stakeholders. Babson worked with ATA in 2017 as event planners and travel partners and asked us to operate the 2018 conference in Madrid, Spain. An event of this size and importance requires a full throttled, top-to-bottom delivery of services. With 400+ attendees, we managed a pre-conference Babson trustee trip to Portugal, configured and implemented the conference tech platform and app, coordinated two hotel room blocks, supported keynote speakers and panel sessions, hired and managed a production company for lighting and staging, rented venues (like the Madrid Casino), planned and implemented off-site excursions, and created both print and digital marketing materials. “Very well organized event. From an attendee’s perspective, the logistics, the content, the location, the social elements, were all perfect!” But most importantly, we proactively and regularly communicated and worked with the many personnel at Babson who had skin in the conference organizing game. In this way, we were able to appropriately set and manage expectations across multiple in-house decision-makers, thereby alleviating much of the stress that managing an event of this magnitude can cause. The event was seamless. In the words of one participant, “Very well organized event. From an attendee’s perspective, the logistics, the content, the location, the social elements, were all perfect!” We also earned kudos from CVENT, the makers of the technology application we employed for the conference. CVENT instructed us that we needed 10 weeks of lead time to launch the application. We were able expedite the process in record time (6 weeks!), matching Babson’s schedule. Relying on us to manage these logistics gave Babson exactly what it needed: the chance to focus their energy on building relationships with key attendees and donors, and laying the foundation for the 2019 conference that would celebrate the college’s centennial.
