Un Alaska – Travel and Leisure

article Susanne Pacher

Yesterday I had the opportunity to Bruce Poon Tip, owner and CEO of GAP Adventures, one of Canada’s most successful entrepreneurs will travel to meet. You may ask yourself, what does he want? Bruce is the owner of most adventure travel agency in Canada, a charming man of about 37 years old, dressed in casual clothes and is not afraid to speak off the cuff. Definitely a charismatic personality who was able to conquer the whole house last night, the GAP concept store in Toronto’s Annex neighborhood.

In 1990, Bruce went on organized backpacking trip to Thailand, where he had the opportunity to people and explore the country at 0.00 per day. This experience gave him the idea of ??GAP Adventures, Canada’s largest adventure travel agency today, which sells thousands of trips per year and sent to 40 000 passengers in their own small group adventures to create. GAP has about 300 employees today, headquartered in Toronto, with operational offices in different countries in Latin America. It is the most recent efforts, the GAP concept stores recently opened in high traffic areas in Toronto and Vancouver, places where travelers can book a journey, an adventure to study, get more information about the selected item and the value of their once-in-lifetime experience in support of good advice without sales pressure.

His savvy entrepreneurs, Bruce has won numerous awards, in addition to receiving the prize as one of the Top 40 in Canada 40, Bruce was also honored as one of Canada’s top 5 entrepreneurs in Canadian business and Canada’s 100 leaders of tomorrow. Profit Magazine named him the 20th anniversary of the cover story is one of the Top 10 Entrepreneurs of Canada for the past 20 years. Bruce also received the Global Traders Leadership Award for his pioneering ideas of government export services.

Recently Bruce asked the World Bank and UNESCO to establish a team to visit China to lecture on sustainable development. In January 2002, Bruce was the only Canadian operator invited to speak at the United Nations launch of the Eco Tourism in New York. Bruce once again defied the odds last year by winning Canada’s prestigious Entrepreneur of the Year and the National Citation for entrepreneurship.

GAP: In addition to the prizes to take two trips to the TOP 25 Adventures in the World, National Geographic Adventure magazine, Ethical Action Award, Global Award merchants and the Clean Air Commute Award five years in a row.

Although a skilled businessman, Bruce Poon Tip has a conscience and he has focused its entire business concept of sustainability and a pre-established practices that link the natural environment and local culture. By limiting the travel group size is 12 people, by the local transport and stay in small local hotels and guesthouses, GAP travelers to reduce the footprint of foreign corporations and the maximum credit risk to the local culture.

Plan for Terra is a non-profit organization founded to give back to the GAP. Today Terra Plan raises funds several community projects, international aid organizations and the endowment fund long-term support community development and conservation projects to ensure the coming years. Some of the community projects supported by donations from the GAP Community School in Ecuador, Honduras Foundation to help women in their own businesses, non-governmental organization in Costa Rica environmental and conservation projects, a local recycling project in Chile, for example, drop-in center for street children Cuczo, Peru, and much more. GAP Adventures and myself began women’s Weaving project in Peru that taught local women ancient weaving techniques and natural fabric dye processes. Today all GAP group tours visiting the Sacred Valley in Peru is a chance to see and purchase high quality textiles for these weavers, all sold at fair trade prices.

Another example of innovation in his company, Bruce told us the story of how he went to the “Explorer”, the world’s first specifically for expedition cruising to purchase. In March 2004, Bruce went on an expedition cruise of Antarctica, and fell in love with experience. He thought that he needs to buy his own expedition cruise ship, and went in search of suitable vessels. In April 2004, he found the “Explorer”, a historic expedition ship with a capacity of 112 passengers and crew of 60 people. The ship was docked in Genoa, Italy, for many months, because the economic problems of the owners. Only a further 2 months later, but after many complications, GAP took over the ship. Only another 4 months later, after extensive restoration, Explorer went on his first journey, and today offers this unique expedition cruises to places like Antarctica, the Amazon, Svalbard and Greenland. (By the way, the GAP has agreed with our first trip to Story Contest and the winner of the competition sponsors to win an exciting adventure cruise the Amazon Explorer – all thanks to GAP Adventures.)

GAP’s innovative business ideas do not end. GAP is also a mobile TV Show: Great Adventure People in the audience in the world – GAP Adventures style. The camera comes in small groups in GAP Adventure travelers and followed them unique GAP adventure travel, cycling in Vietnam a fascinating country to study exotic Morocco and the hiking, biking and rafting through captivating Spain and Italy. New episodes appear on CTV in Canada and soon to be available in Britain are British Travel Channel.

GAP is a unique company with a unique philosophy and a unique way of working. I look forward to interviewing Bruce personally and find out how he can become a successful fast-growing adventure tourism, as well as his dedication to social causes and sustainable tourism. Stay tuned for interesting insights into the great enterprise ….

About the Author Susanne Pacher is the publisher http://www.travelandtransitions.com, web portal for unconventional travel and cultural contacts. Check out our new