atb_experience 2015 in Review

The interesting, exciting program offered some 100 international tour operators, opinion leaders and journalists from a total of 28 nations manifold opportunities to connect, exchange information, discuss, and build a network with some 100 Austrian hosts. On Monday afternoon the participants had the opportunity to engage in several hands-on outdoor explorations, the so-called “outdoor_experiences”. On these excursions that included, among others, the observation of wildlife in the Tyrolean Ködnitz Valley, the Krimml Waterfalls in Salzburg or glacier hikes on the Pasterze in Carinthia, participants could get a truly hands-on experience of “Nature Reloaded” based on specific tourism products and projects.

In the course of the three days participants in atb_experience also had the opportunity to explore areas beyond tourism with the showroom “Nature Reloaded” and investigate what type of creative and innovative solutions Austrian society, the arts, the sciences and the economic sector have come up with.

Twelve very different objects were showcased in and outside the hotel. Among the exhibits were the three prize winners from a “Nature Reloaded” art contest that the Austrian National Tourist Office established in close cooperation with the University of Applied Arts in Vienna in 2014.

The evening events at Kulturhaus Kals and at Gradonna Mountain Resort Châlets & Hotel rounded off the program and were the perfect setting for networking activities. After a final mountain breakfast at Adler Lounge on Tuesday the international participants continued their travel to the federal provinces. The programs of the so-called “best of_experiences” – from hiking with diving goggles in Upper Austria to visiting the “Natursprünge-Weg”, an interactive hiking trail in the Brandner Valley – were an invaluable additional opportunity to experience products all over Austria.

Already shortly after the event the organizers drew a first positive conclusion. Both the product experiences and the innovative dialog formats met with great enthusiasm among participants. The discussions were also inspiring for the Austrian participants, who could take home valuable experiences for their product development. In the weeks to come they will explore and pursue new ideas, adapt already existing products according to demand and finalize them for atb_sales in January 2016.