Philadelphia Travel Company Wins Award
Context Travel singled out for Urban Adventures Prize in National Geographic's Geotourism Challenge
Philadelphia. September 25, 2009 - Philadelphia-based walking tour company Context Travel is the winner of this year's Urban Adventures Prize in National Geographic's Geotourism Challenge. The Urban Adventures Prize is awarded to finalists in the Geotourism Challenge that demonstrate a strong commitment to destinations and incorporate the "power of place" into their travel experiences.
Context Travel organizes in-depth walking tours, called "walking seminars," in cities around the world. The walks are capped at six people and led by scholars in art, history, architecture, archaeology, and other subject areas. Context has been named one of the top tour operators by Travel + Leisure and is considered a pioneer in small-group walking tours. Through the Context Foundation for Sustainable Tourism, Context supports cultural preservation and economic development projects in the cities where it operates. The award committee singled out Context's commitment to urban destinations, a rarity in the world of sustainable tourism.
"We were honored to be selected as a finalist in the Geotourism Challenge this year, and extremely happy to walk away with the Urban Adventures Prize," said Context founder Paul Bennett. "We've put a lot of thought, effort, and money into our sustainability initiative, and it's fantastic to get recognition for our efforts."
Context was selected as one of ten finalists out more than 600 entries in the second annual "Geotourism Challenge" sponsored by the National Geographic Society and Ashoka's Changemakers. The competition, focusing on "Power of Place - Sustaining the Future of Destinations," sought to identify individuals and companies worldwide that have introduced the most innovative practices in geotourism: tourism that sustains or enhances the geographical character of a place - its environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage and the well-being of its residents.
The Urban Adventures Prize is sponsored by Urban Adventures, a recently launched joint venture between Intrepid Travel and the WHL Group.
Founded by writer Paul Bennett and designer Lani Bevacqua, Context is a network of scholars and experts in such fields as art history, archaeology, gastronomy, and architecture who organize and lead thematic walking seminars in nine culture capitals: Rome, Paris, London, Naples, Florence, Venice, Istanbul, New York, and Philadelphia. Travel + Leisure has named Context one of the top European tour companies for its innovative approach to travel and the depth of its programs. To learn more about Context visit its website at: www.contexttravel.com
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