Smithsonian’s Oxford Seminar In the 1970s, David Parry, ATA’s then President, traveled to Oxford with the idea of creating a “college” experience at one of the great British universities. A few years later, the Oxford Seminar was born, an academically rigorous program for life-long learners. Travelers choose course topics such as archeology, medieval history, garden design, or Churchill. They live at an historic Oxford college, eat at High Table with their tutors, and enjoy learning in an international university setting. This program has operated almost every year since 1979 with at least one partner. To ensure its continued success, past Oxford travelers are involved in course selection and tutors are selected for their ability to engage adult audiences. 0 years since our first Oxford program
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D-Day Crossing: London and Normandy via the English Channel
D-Day Crossing:London and Normandy via the English Channel Crossing the English Channel as the Allied Forces did on June 6, 1944 is on the bucket list of many family members of the Greatest Generation. For this reason, we have operated D-Day programs for over 30 years. Each 5th commemorative year, the experience takes on added poignancy, and is now the jewel in the crown of ATA’s military history-themed programs. Participants visit key Churchill sights in London, like the War Room itself, and learn about the Enigma Machine at Bletchley Park that deciphered the German’s encoded messages. During anniversary years, they also attend official D-Day ceremonies alongside of British, French and American dignitaries. In many cases, family members of D-Day veterans return home from this trip understanding for the first time the true nature of their loved one’s wartime experience. Previous Next This program highlights how ATA can take a well-told story and skillfully weave it throughout an itinerary. The places we visit are carefully curated and showcase the destination through the lens of history. It also demonstrates the seasoned organizational skills required to manage a myriad of details, including securing official invitations for travelers to attend the official D-Day ceremonies. Our planning for the 75th anniversary began two years in advance, allowing us to secure prime hotel space and add departures as space filled up. After travelers were booked, we also communicated extensively with them to set expectation vis-à-vis traffic logistics, security concerns, and Brexit! In the end, all nine groups had very memorable experiences.
Los Angeles Times’ Expeditions Design in the Desert
Los Angeles Times’ Expeditions Design in the Desert The L.A. Times has a loyal readership for architectural topics. To tap into that market, we designed a trip with Christopher Hawthorne, the Times’ architecture critic from 2004 to 2018. Hawthorne had written pieces for the paper about the architecture of Dubai. Dubai trips are fairly unusual in our corner of the travel industry, but with Hawthorne’s expertise, we saw an opportunity to tap into a new destination. With the content and activities he helped curate, other journalists were able to replicate the program for multiple departures. Participants visited a variety of neighborhoods in Dubai, learned about the city’s ultramodern architecture, and traveled to Abu Dhabi. One guest commented, “Each day was so different, it’s hard to say [what I enjoyed the most]. Memorable moments: the dinner at the Burj Al Arab, Christopher Hawthorne’s talk at the hotel, the days on the bus with Richard Wagner’s packed with informative talks, the talk on construction of Palm Island to name a few.” The trip fit the market perfectly and was an immediate sell out. The first program was led by Hawthorne himself. With the content and activities that he helped curate, other journalists were able to replicate the program on subsequent departures.
Behind the Scenes of New York Theater
Behind the Scenes of New York Theater One of the largest trip categories for New York Times Journeys is Arts and Culture. And, if you’re the partner designing a program for New York Times subscribers that takes place in New York City, the program has to exceed all expectations! “My husband and I take tours when a tour offers something that we cannot do on our own. Behind the Scenes far exceeded our expectations.” The itinerary for this immersive program changes each time we operate the program, depending on what’s happening in the world of theater at the time. This requires great attention to detail, quick decision making and flexibility woven into the structure of the trip. A certain degree of unpredictability and the element of surprise makes the program even more exciting for travelers. Past travelers have visited a well-known theater bookstore, taken a tap-dancing class, discussed theater criticism with Times’ reporters, and met cast members from a variety of productions. One traveler summed up what makes us most proud of this particular program: “My husband and I take tours when a tour offers something that we cannot do on our own. Behind the Scenes far exceeded our expectations.”
Philadelphia Orchestra’s Asian Patron Tour
Philadelphia Orchestra’s Asian Patron Tour In 2016, the Philadelphia Orchestra, continuing its 50-year legacy of international cultural exchange, became the first western orchestra to sign an official Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of Mongolia. In support of the ensuing celebration, ATA was hired to create a patron trip to three countries—China, Mongolia, and Korea. We took the orchestra’s performance schedule with its complicated logistics and concerts and built an exciting and meaningful program that allowed donors to hear their orchestra play in new venues, interact with the musicians and learn about local musical instruments and traditions. They even stayed in a Mongolian gher camp for a night to extend their understanding of traditional local life. Guests described the program as: “Exciting, exotic, well-planned, colorful, fun, informative, and comprehensive.” There is no better way to connect with others than traveling together. Patrons returned home with a deeper commitment to their orchestra and the orchestra cemented key relationships.
