As part of their commitment to get as many people as possible outside with us, REI has invested in a network of outdoor experiences near some of the United States’ most iconic destinations, building upon the 100+ U.S. trips they already offer. Expanding their domestic offerings allows them to give folks across the U.S, from all walks of life, easy access to the outdoors through our guided tours, small-group vacations, high-quality rental gear and more.
The Vermont Fresh Network (VFN) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization founded in 1996 with the mission of advancing relationships among farmers, chefs, and consumers to grow markets and eat more locally grown food.
VFN is dedicated to a flourishing local food system for the benefit of our environment, our communities, our health, and the overall strength of the rural economy.
An Argentina-based adventure travel company that creates customized, sustainable and immersive travel experiences for independent-minded travellers throughout Argentina & Chile that focus on connecting travellers with nature and their local communities. They craft each and every one of their trips using local knowledge and the highest international standards.
The spectacular northern environment of Fort Nelson and the Northern Rockies is where visitors experience adventure within the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality (NRRM), encountering the places, activities, and history that Fort Nelson, the Alaska Highway, the Northern Rockies and the Muskwa-Kechika wilderness have to offer.
Active travel including cycling and biking tours, walking tours, family adventures and multisport tours, through beautiful countryside and a host of iconic places.
Services: Trade Development
Worked Together Since: January 2020
AndAdventure is a locally-owned tour operator and DMC in Split, Croatia, founded in 2005 by experienced guides with the goal to bring the secrets of the Dalmatian Coast to international travelers. They specialize in combining active travel experiences (sea kayaking, hiking, cycling, mountain biking, sailing) with culinary and cultural elements for beautifully well-rounded FIT and group itineraries.
Services: Trade Development
Worked Together Since: January 2018
Prince Edward County is an island in Lake Ontario where you go to fall in love with food, nature, art and community all over again.
Services: Destination Development
Worked Together Since: March 2020
A tour operator that provides high quality eco-travel experiences in South and Central America. With decades of experience they provide guests with the flexibility to build and customize their ideal Latin America travel itinerary, or select from Southern Explorations’ finely crafted group adventures and cruises.
Services: Marketing & Social Media Marketing
Worked Together Since: 2016
Peterborough & the Kawarthas is home to Canada’s Treasured Waterway, the Trent-Severn Waterway.
Services: Destination Development
Worked Together Since: March 2020
A tour operator with over 260 cycling holidays in 36 destinations (and counting!)
Services: Media Relations, Marketing
Worked Together Since: February 2019
Built around permaculture design principles and located among the charming Antioquian fincas of the Central Andes of Colombia, Cannúa provides travelers looking for a distinguished escape with the opportunity to relax, learn, and grow at a holistically sustainable hotel.
Services: Marketing, Media Relations, Trade Development
Worked Together Since: April 2018
Tour operators offering small-group, self-guided and custom itineraries, Wilderness Ireland leads the way in active and nature-based travel to the remote corners of Ireland.
Services: Media Relations
Worked Together Since: 2016
Tour operators offering small-group, self-guided and custom itineraries, Wilderness Scotland leads the way in active and nature-based travel to the remote corners of Scotland.
Services: Media Relations
Worked Together Since: 2016
A tour operator that provides eco-conscious wildlife expeditions, from Antarctica to Zambia with a multitude of adventures in between. Natural Habitat Adventures is the world’s first 100-percent carbon-neutral travel company and the conservation travel partner of World Wildlife Fund.
Services: Media Relations
Worked Together Since: 2018
Azores Adventures Futurismo is the only Azores-based active tourism company offering year-round, high-quality, professionally lead sea- and land-based activities throughout the Azores archipelago.
An adventure tour operator that offers a vast range of adventure and active trips in places as diverse as Kilimanjaro, Machu Picchu, the Ice Hotel and Antarctica. Operating in 90 countries with over 600 tours, Exodus insists on low impact tourism and contributing to local communities.
Services: Media Relations
Worked Together Since: 2015
An expedition tour operator specializing in land-based and small-ship cruise adventures to the world’s more remote coastlines, including the Arctic, Antarctic, and Canada’s East Coast. Trips feature a wide array of special guests including musicians, authors, biologists and historians and emphasize wildlife, culture and education.
Services: Media Relations
Worked Together Since: 2012
Outer Shores Expeditions is a small-ship, niche adventure travel company specializing in wildlife and cultural sailing expeditions to Canada’s Haida Gwaii, Vancouver Island, and the Great Bear Rainforest aboard the classic wooden schooner Passing Cloud.
Services: Marketing & Media Relations
Worked with since: 2014
Wild Women Expeditions is an all-women outdoor adventure company operating across Canada and throughout the world. Now celebrating its 22nd Anniversary, Wild Women offers a wide variety of outdoor adventures, including canoe and kayak trips, multi-sport adventures, hiking trips and yoga retreats for individuals and groups.
Advising on a multi-year growth strategy
Developing WWE’s 25th Anniversary marketing strategy
Just one hour north of Toronto in the heart of the Headwaters region, Orangeville is a convenient and tempting destination for every visitor. Discover an impressive list of things to see and do. Explore a unique collection of shops and eateries. Experience award-winning events. As a day trip or overnight excursion, Orangeville offers more than you expect.
Zegrahm Expeditions is a company of explorers and adventurers. For the last 30 years, they have shared their passion for unique experiences with like-minded travelers by weaving together the world’s most inspiring and remote destinations, on all seven continents, into one-of-a-kind itineraries.
Services: Branding & Storytelling, Media Relations
Worked Together Since: January 2020
A local tour operator in Antioquia and Colombian destination management company (DMC), they specialize in offering fully customized trips and unique experiences throughout Colombia.
Services: Media Relations, Marketing
Worked Together since: February 2019
As Canada’s 9th largest city and one of the most diverse, Brampton offers visitors many unique opportunities from many great festivals, music, drama, sports tournaments and a great network of trails and parks to enjoy. Downtown Brampton offers many good restaurants and lots of entertainment at the Rose Theatre and Garden Square.
“Montecatini Terme e la Valdinievole – Da Leonardo a Pinocchio” is an ambitious project started in 2015 by the 11 municipalities in the Valdinievole, along with local associations and companies with the goal of generating awareness and disseminating the area’s tourist and cultural heritage.
PATA is a non-profit travel trade association serving government tourism offices, hotels, airlines, and other travel-related companies in Asia Pacific.
Services: Media Relations
Worked Together Since: February 2019
A destination management organization operated through a Board of Directors comprised of Oakville Tourism stakeholders.
Services: Destination Development
Worked Together Since: November 2018
Services: Trade Development
Worked Together Since: February 2019
A DMO that works to develop Finland’s travel image and helps Finnish travel companies to internationalize, develop, sell and market high-quality travel products. Visit Finland cooperates with travel destination regions, businesses in the travel industry and other export promoters and embassies.
Services: Trade Development
Worked Together Since: December 2018
A tour operator based in New Zealand, that has hand-crafted trips for over 20 years for travellers who love hiking and the outdoors.
Services: Trade Development
Worked Together Since: August 2018
TourRadar is an online marketplace for travellers to compare and book multi-day tours. The company works with over 500 tour and river cruise operators including: Avalon, Contiki, G Adventures, Globus, Intrepid Travel and Topdeck.
Services: Trade Development
Worked together from: July 2018
A tour operator offering luxury walking adventures through New Zealand’s wilderness. From discovering the pristine beauty of Milford Sound by foot, to dining at locally-renowned restaurants with award-winning wine, experiences are catered for travellers that enjoy the finer things in life.
Services: Media Relations
Worked Together Since: 2018
LWC is committed to the conservation of wildlife and the development of communities in and around the Lewa and Borana conservation landscape.
Services: Marketing
Worked together since 2017
Ecotours-BC is a tour operator specializing in grizzly bear and wildlife viewing experiences in British Columbia that work to connect guests to nature on a deeper level through completely natural wildlife encounters.
Services: Marketing & Trade Development
Worked together since: December 2017
A destination that continues to famously deliver legendary powder snow, 4,136 continuous vertical feet, 2500 acres of skiing and snowboarding and a genuine “Last of the Old West” atmosphere.
Services: Media Relations
Worked Together Since: 2015
As an industry-led Crown corporation, Destination British Columbia works collaboratively with tourism stakeholders across the province to coordinate marketing at the international, provincial, regional and local levels.
Rainforest Expeditions runs three eco-lodges in the Peruvian Amazon, including the most remote lodge in Madre de Dios, Tambopata Research Center. Rainforest Expeditions is known for their commitment to science and sustainability, pioneering macaw research since 1989 and launching an innovative citizen science program, Wired Amazon, in 2016.
Services: Trade Development – Asia & Marketing
Worked together since 2016
Tours of Distinction is a New England based tour company, with a forty year history.
Services: Trade Development – Asia
Worked together since 2018
Yukon is a destination of unparalleled scenic beauty that captivates its visitors under the spell of the midnight sun and the dance of northern lights. It’s a land that provides experiences distinguished by culture and its vast, wide-open spaces and the freedom inspired by the unending, pristine wilderness. Yukon, Larger Than Life.
TAAN is the umbrella association for trekking companies working in Nepal.
Services: Trade Development
Worked together since 2017
NTB is the organization responsible for tourism promotion and marketing in Nepal.
Services: Trade Development
With Algonquin Park, the Almaguin Highlands, Loring- Restoule, Muskoka and Parry Sound contained within its borders, Explorers’ Edge is one of the most beautiful travel destinations in Canada. Here there is something to impress every traveller, no matter what you’re seeking, from culinary delights, to arts and culture, to outdoor adventure, to blissful respite.
The City of Orillia is a city of 30,586 people in the heart of Central Ontario on the shores of Lake Couchiching and Lake Simcoe.
As trip designers, Enchanted Adventures takes the time to understand travellers’ preferred travel style, and then creates detailed and engrossing itineraries accordingly. Travellers can also choose from a selection of ready-made itineraries that – like all Enchanted Adventures experiences – are designed to leave a lasting impression on travellers, not the destination.
Services: Marketing & Social Media Marketing
Worked Together Since: 2017
Situated two hours north of Toronto, Grey County offers beauty you can’t get in the city along with a lifestyle that is more relaxed and family oriented.
ATTA is a global membership organization dedicated to promoting adventure tourism. ATTA has over 1000 members from 100 countries. Members include adventure operators, tourism boards, and industry partners.
Services: Research
Worked together since 2016
Neotropic Expeditions is a group of passionate explorers and adventurers. For over 25 years, they’ve shared their passion for one-of-a-kind experiences with their guests. They’ve created some of Ecuador and Colombia’s most inspiring destinations, in the Coast, Andes, Amazon and Galapagos Islands.
Quench Trip Design is a Toronto-based travel company providing trip design services to individuals and small groups. The Quench team works closely with clients from the outset, providing the ultimate in personalized trip planning services. Quench’s trip designers are seasoned and savvy travel professionals who use their own real-life experience and on the ground knowledge to create authentic and unforgettable travel experiences.
In 2015, Bannikin developed a marketing support strategy to communicate Quench Trip Design’s brand story across social media platforms and increase awareness of the their unique approach. We are also implementing a strategy to help Quench communicate their unique brand propositions to the media while positioning them as experts in multi-generational family travel and groups, as well as sabbatical travel.
The Southwest Ontario Tourism Corporation (SWOTC) is the provincially mandated Regional Tourism Organization, publicly branded as Ontario’s Southwest. SWOTC works with nine DMOs and tourism industry stakeholders across Southwestern Ontario to promote Ontario’s Southwest as a vibrant and prosperous tourism region.
Developed content for www.swotc.ca to share with SWOTC industry partners, regarding best practices and approaches for operators to start packaging and itinerary development within their region. This provided tour operators with a set of guidelines by which to adhere to create appealing, market-ready itineraries for their region.
H+I Adventures specializes in mountain biking adventures that are a carefully crafted combination of physical challenges and cultural adventures. H+I Adventures carefully curates the route, the tracks, the accommodation, the food, and the flow of the day to ensure each day is memorable. Their guides are highly experienced and qualified mountain bike experts that guide guests through every stage of the journey, keeping the pace just right and teaching them to be a technically better rider.
In 2015, Bannikin launched a targeted outreach program to North American soft adventure tour operators while also developing a Partner Guide to showcase H+I Adventures’ offering and value proposition. Additionally, Bannikin has assisted H+I Adventures in targeting media and developing strategic media relationships.
New Brunswick Department of Tourism, Heritage and Cultures’ goal is to promote New Brunswick as a destination, developing relationships with travel trade, media and consumers. The tourism office promotes New Brunswick as the hub to Canada’s Maritime Provinces, offering five distinctive regions, each with their own story to tell and packed with incredible bays, some of the oldest mountains on the planet, the rarest of dunes, and world-renowned rivers.
In 2015, Bannikin began working with Tourism New Brunswick in developing strong relationships with top travel representatives by designing and managing a series of FAM trips to introduce travel trade focused on the soft adventure space to the destination.
Wilderness North is a Canadian company dedicated to providing guests with a pure and genuine outdoor adventure. The main goal is to deliver the best fly-in experience in the market, while also acting as stewards of the land, protecting it for future generations. Whether you are looking to explore the North in a single day adventure or on a multi-day trip, Wilderness North is the fly-in company for you. Combine your fishing experience with a cultural excursion to make your northern adventure just that much more enjoyable.
Marketing solutions and product development
PureQuest Adventures is a unique collection of DMCs focused on adventure travel in Bhutan, Nepal, India, China, Peru and Croatia, with plans to include more destinations in the near future. PureQuest was born of a desire to provide experiential tourism tour operators with a specific platform that showcases the value-addition of local talent and ideas. The collection specializes in all things adventure, including trekking, hiking, cycling, motorcycle tours, mountaineering, cultural discoveries, birdwatching, self-drive, surfing, volunteer, wildlife safaris, horseback riding, rafting, mounted safaris, overland journeys and special interest programs.
Along with PureQuest’s destination expertise, their enthusiasm for product innovation and the maturity that comes from years of experience on the travel scene, means the PureQuest team can tailor the perfect adventure product for all their operator partners.
Comprehensive sales development and representation for the North American adventure travel market.
Colorado is a four-season destination offering unparalleled adventure and recreational pursuits, a thriving arts scene, a rich cultural heritage, flavourful cuisine and 25 renowned ski areas and resorts. The state’s breathtaking scenic landscape boasts natural hot springs, the headwaters of seven major rivers, many peaceful lakes and reservoirs, 11 national parks and monuments and 58 mountain peaks that top 14,000 feet.
Increased Destination Profile
Managing Colorado’s Canadian Media Relations Strategy, We directly secured $3.5 million in annual Canadian media coverage. Substantial features established
in Canada’s major Canadian outlets included the National Post, enRoute Magazine, Zoomer, and Explore Magazine.
Smiling Albino is a Bangkok – based team of travel enthusiasts offering custom tours in Asia that are the result of continuous travel, innovation and refinement. Trips combine multiple activities, charming venues, the finest regional cuisine and passionate hosts. Discover hidden corners, insider sights and unique local characters.
An initiative supported by The Travel Corporation’s (TTC) family of brands, The TreadRight Foundation is a not-for-profit working to ensure the environment and communities TTC visits remain vibrant for generations to come.
Services: Marketing
Worked together from: 2008
The only home-porting cruise operator in Greece, Celestyal Cruises provides highly-personalized services in the Greek Islands. The foundation of the company’s philosophy is the ‘destination,’ where every cruise focuses on cultural immersion, both on board and onshore.
Services: Media Relations and Social Media Marketing
Worked Together Since: 2013
Mountain Taxi was established more than 16 years ago as one of Iceland’s first adventure tour companies. Through their capacity as a full service DMC, they organise and deliver luxury, multi-day tours throughout the country, via Super Jeep.
In 2011, Bannikin supported Mountain Taxi through a complete re-branding, including a website redesign. We followed this up with a marketing & media relations campaign complete with a press trip planned to feature Icelandic travel in the off-season for winter 2012.
Launched a dynamic, keyword rich website that showcases the beauty of Iceland and Mountain Taxi’s time-tested tours, within a short time frame and limited budget
Launched a strategic newsletter campaign, geared at driving more direct bookings in from Europe and North America
Generated buzz through creative social media and media relations campaigns
Belcampo Belize is a luxurious 12-room hotel, a 3000-acre farm, planned Agritourism centre, and a 15,000-acre rainforest reserve. Located in Belize’s Toledo District, the Lodge and Farms are at the heart of the watershed of one of nature’s most spectacular marine environments. Belcampo is proud to play a part in the conservation of the marine life of the Belizian reef through sustainable agricultural management and conservation of intact rainforest ecosystems.
Targeted media relations strategy & outreach
Sol Fitness Adventures is the go-to source for both adventure travel preparation and exclusive outdoor fitness trips near Zion National Park and Sundance Resort. Sol trains outdoor athletes, adventurous travellers, and those who want to become such. Included in Outside’s Top 10 Trips in or near a National Park, Sol’s backpacking expeditions combine the best in luxury and outdoor fitness.
Launched informative newsletter campaign, generating new leads and engaging existing leads
Developed strategic marketing and communications plan so the small team can effectively market and communicate in-house on a modest budget
Fine-tuned existing media relations efforts to a manageable degree.