As part of our dedication to conservation and sustainable tourism, Adventure Life Journeys has partnered with a number of organizations to contribute back to the areas where we travel. By joining with other tour operators, conservation professionals, educators, and local communities, we can help insure that our tours have a positive impact on the people and places we encounter along the way.
IGTOA: An Important Part of the Galápagos Ecology
IGTOA members are tour companies and other organizations that seek the complete and lasting protection of the Galápagos marine and terrestrial ecosystems and all of its endemic species. Our mission is to preserve the Galápagos Islands as a unique world heritage that can provide education, adventure, and inspiration to future generations of travelers.
Collectively, we have a strong voice in the future of the islands. Each company member assesses itself a fee for each passenger it sends to the Galápagos. These fees are used to fund our projects.
IGTOA's website: http://www.igtoa.org/
IAATO is a member organization founded in 1991 to advocate, promote and practice safe and environmentally responsible private-sector travel to the Antarctic. Since the beginning of the modern Antarctic tourism industry in 1969, the number of tourists in Antarctica has grown from a few hundred to more than 20,000 each year. Recognizing the potential environmental impacts that such growing numbers of tourism could cause, seven private tour operators conducting excursions in Antarctica joined together in 1991 to practice and promote the highest possible standards of travel in this remote, wild and delicate region of the world.
In 2005, 69 Antarctica-bound outfitters are voluntary members of our organization, the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO). Together we have established extensive procedures and guidelines that ensure appropriate, safe and environmentally sound private-sector travel to the Antarctic: regulations and restrictions on numbers of people ashore; staff-to-passenger ratios; site-specific and activity guidelines; wildlife watching; pre- and post-visit activity reporting; passenger, crew and staff briefings; previous Antarctic experience for tour staff; contingency and emergency medical evacuation plans; and more.
IAATO is an industry group that has resolved to set the highest possible tourism operating standards in its effort to protect Antarctica. This effort is unique, and the challenge to maintain environmentally responsible tourism exists to this extent in no other region of the world. Our membership comprises ship operators, land-based operators, ship agents, travel agents, one government office and travel companies that charter ships and airplanes from existing operators.
International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators web-site: http://www.iaato.org
ASTA is the leading global advocate for travel agents, the travel industry and the traveling public. The mission of ASTA is to facilitate the business of selling travel through effective representation, shared knowledge and the enhancement of professionalism. ASTA seeks a retail travel marketplace that is profitable, growing and a rewarding place to work, invest and do business. Founded in 1931, ASTA and its affiliates now comprise the world's largest and most influential travel trade association with members in 140 countries. As the world's largest travel trade association, our work encompasses every aspect of the travel experience.
American Society of Travel Agents web-site: http://www.asta.org/
America Outdoors® is a national trade association (501)(c)(6), representing the interests of over 550 professional companies that provide a wide range of outdoor recreation services and outdoor equipment to more than two million Americans each year. Our members operate in 40 states and 60 foreign countries. Member companies offer whitewater raft trips, canoeing, kayaking, horseback riding and horsepacking, camping, hiking, fishing trips, bike tours, dude ranches, and a variety of other outdoor recreation services. America Outdoors® was established in 1990 with the merger of the Western River Guides Association and the Eastern Professional River Outfitters Association.
America Outdoors.® mission is the conservation and enhancement of quality outdoor experiences on America.s lands and waters. We represent the outfitting industry and the public that the industry serves in policy-making to maintain access to recreation resources while pursuing a goal of responsible shared-use of our precious natural heritage. America Outdoors® does not certify the qualifications of its members. Most are regulated by federal or state agencies in the areas where they operate.
America Outdoors' website: http://www.americaoutdoors.org
The mission of the Better Business Bureau is to promote and foster the highest ethical relationship between businesses and their customers. The Better Business Bureau serving Eastern Washington, North Idaho & Montana provides an ever-growing range of services to meet the needs of businesses and consumers including business reliability reports, alerts and news, membership roster and information, resource library, and dispute resolution.
Adventure Life Journeys is a member of this Better Business Bureau. In order to become a member, the business must meet a variety of eligibility requirements including maintaining a satisfactory record; fulfilling all licensing and bonding requirements by applicable city, county, state and federal agencies; promptly responding to any and all complaints forwarded by the Bureau; making a good faith effort to resolve all such complaints in accordance with generally accepted good business practices; adhering to established Better Business Bureau standards of advertising and selling; and complying with any decisions rendered through Bureau arbitration programs in which the firm agrees to participate.
Better Business Bureau's website: http://www.bbbonline.org/
IATAN (International Airlines Travel Agent Network) is a department of IATA and has been servicing all aspects of the US Travel and Tourism industry for more than 20 years.
Accreditation Requirements
IATAN is committed to upholding the integrity of the travel industry through its program. IATAN requirements are professional business standards globally recognized by the travel industry.
Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA) is a global membership organization and home to a thriving community of more than 700 responsible, profitable businesses, destinations and media who transform customers and businesses alike into advocates for sustainability and justice worldwide. ATTA members and leaders include tour operators, destination marketing organizations, tourism boards, specialty travel agents, guides, accommodations, media and service providers.
Working together for Sustainable Travel
Adventure Life and the Rainforest Alliance have established a partnership
to promote tourism operations that are part of the Rainforest Alliance's Best
Management Practices in Sustainable Tourism Program. Learn more.
The African Travel & Tourism Association (Atta) is a trade association that promotes tourism to Africa from all corners of the world. Recognised as the Voice of African Tourism, Atta serves and supports business leaders in Africa representing the elite buyers and suppliers of tourism product across 22 African countries. With over 550 members, Atta acts as Pan-Africa's largest network of tourism product covering not only accommodation, transport and travel specialists in Africa, but a formidable selection of tour operators, representation and PR companies in Europe, USA and worldwide promoting tourism to Africa. Learn more.
Founded in 1951, the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) is a not-for profit association that is internationally acclaimed for acting as a catalyst for the responsible development of travel and tourism to, from and within the Asia Pacific region. The Association provides aligned advocacy, insightful research and innovative events to its member organizations, comprising 87 government, state and city tourism bodies, nearly 31 international airlines, airports and cruise lines, 61 educational institutions, and hundreds of travel industry companies in Asia Pacific and beyond.Learn more.