The America Outdoors Conference & Outfitter Expo is headed to Phoenix for the first time this December for its annual event, designed for outfitters and outdoor recreation providers. The 2023 theme is “The Power of Belonging,” which will be explored through sessions focusing on burnout and resilience, feedback, inclusion, advances in outfitter training practices and more. The America Outdoors Conference is designed for owners and managers of organizations that deliver outdoor recreation experiences, such as rafting, hunting, guest ranching, fishing, paddlesports, aerial adventures, biking, heliskiing, and more. America Outdoors members provide guided services and rental opportunities to allow the public to experience the outdoors. Attendees will hear from two esteemed keynote speakers: Mikah Meyer and Stacy Bare, at the opening and closing sessions of the conference, respectively. Meyer spent 2016-2019 visiting all 400-plus National Park Service sites. He is committed to helping the outdoor industry tap into the diversity of America’s population. Bare, a veteran and accomplished skier and climber, was awarded the 2017 National Geographic Adventurer of the Year and has continued to stay in the spotlight as one of the industry’s thought leaders. He will speak about the power and process of building teams that care. Between the more than 30 conference sessions, there will be ample time to meet with exhibitors in the outfitter expo. Exhibitors include NRS, Canyon Coolers, SOL Paddle Boards, Challenge Design Innovations, Jackson Kayak, Conestoga Wagon Company, East West Printing, Dragon Fly Tarps, Huge Brands, Hyside Inflatables and more. More than 75 brands will showcase their gear and services for outfitters. Club Med, one of the world’s leading ski holiday companies, reports its bookings for the ‘23-24 season showing a 100 percent jump in people travelling by train. In more evidence that skiers are switching from air to rail, the company added it has seen a 17 percent decrease (comparing findings from 2022/23 with 2023/24) for people choosing to fly. This change comes as “holiday” companies and ski resorts encourage travel by rail with options as opposed to air. These include the return of the ski train service between London St Pancras and stations in the French Alps. Formerly a direct service, it was cancelled in 2020, but then restarted as a charter by Travelski, a division of Europe’s largest ski resort operator, the Compangie des Alps. For 23-24, package ski holidays are available, but the direct charter train has been cancelled. There is however, for the first half of the season into mid-February, a snow train service with a quick platform change at Lille. The advantages are more daytime services and you can once again book a train ticket only with Eurostar. Another big change this year is that more tour operators and travel agencies are keen to offer packages with rail instead of air travel. Outdoor Retailer, a leading U.S. business event for the $862 billion outdoor industry, will introduce a fresh format in 2024. The updates were developed through industry feedback and based on evolving business needs and timelines, and include: • Launching a large-scale Hosted Buyer program designed to build direct relationships between brands and buyers at onsite events. • Reimagining and expanding the sourcing area into a co-located Outdoor Design + Innovation show to provide more opportunities for source and supply exhibitors to connect with product developers and designers. • Introducing a simplified booth space plan and pricing structure to support exhibitors. The changes will roll out with Outdoor Retailer Summer 2024, June 17-19, 2024, at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. In the meantime, the Outdoor Retailer Winter show is scheduled two months earlier than usual – from Nov. 14-16, 2023, at the Salt Palace, and it will continue in its existing format. The Summer and Winter shows are now at the beginning of the respective seasonal sales cycles. The Summit by Outdoor Retailer, now alongside Winter Sports Market, provides business opportunities and bolsters the winter buying calendar. “Winter Sports Market fully supports this new Outdoor Retailer format and the dedicated attention to building stronger buyer and vendor relationships,” said Gary Fleming, president of the Snowsports Merchandising Corporation. “The new dates better support the buying timeline and establishes a more efficient selling season. We’re looking forward to having Snowsports Merchandising Corporation and Sports Specialists Ltd. working together with Outdoor Retailer to serve the industry’s needs.” America Outdoors Heading to Phoenix Ski Holidays by Rail Up 100% in Europe Outdoor Retailer Set for New Format in 2024 8 InsideOutdoor | WINTER 2023-24
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