A travel event
unlike anything the world
has ever seen.
Peru
September, 2023.
Powered by Planeterra
GX-plained.
Taking place in Peru and centred around World Tourism Day, GX will bring all our communities together for a multi-day celebration of travel that’s destined to go down in history.
Together, we’ll explore the sights and sounds of Peru — Cusco, Machu Picchu, and the Sacred Valley, for starters — and learn from the who’s-who of the industry about Community Tourism’s power to change lives.
There’ll be a speaker series, live entertainment, community engagement projects, and lots, lots more — all leading up to one epic event on World Tourism Day on September 27th. Will there be an after-party? Don’t ask silly questions; we’ll see you on the dance floor.
The EXperience.
An unforgettable adventure. Extra inspiring talks. One unreal party. Mix it all together — you’ve got GX.
Explore Peru
Get up close and personal with the best of the best in Peru— Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley, the Pisac ruins. Tour ancient Incan cities and indulge in the spirit of Peru’s cuisine at local watering holes. Rest your head in, and wake up to do it all over again.
Expand your mind
Learn about the power of Community Tourism from key travel industry change-makers — including Bruce Poon Tip. Transform your teachings into action by visiting local Community Tourism projects and getting to know the stories behind the people and places we visit.
Network and connect
Rub shoulders with the who’s-who of the travel world. Connect with people from all over the globe who share a love for travel and a desire to make the world a better place. Grab your dancing shoes and toast to Community Travel with one epic party culminating on September 27 — we’ll see you on the dancefloor.
The Speakers.
Stay tuned to find out who else will be speaking at GX
Bruce Poon Tip
Founder of G Adventures and Planeterra
Passionate about the power of travel to change the world for the better, Bruce is a global leader in social entrepreneurship, leadership, immersive travel, and innovation. He is best-known as the founder of G Adventures, the award-winning small group adventure travel company and pioneer of community tourism. Bruce’s first book, Looptail: How One Company Changed the World by Reinventing Business, was released in 2013 and became a New York Times Best Seller. In 2020, he was honoured as one of Fast Company’s Most Creative People in Business and released an instabook titled Unlearn: The Year the Earth Stood Still.
Jamie Sweeting
President of Planeterra
Jamie Sweeting is the President of Planeterra Foundation and Vice President for Social Enterprise & Responsible Travel for G Adventures, where he leads the company’s social enterprise, stewardship and community development work. He is responsible for establishing the company’s long-term social enterprise strategy and working to ensure responsible corporate sustainability performance. Sweeting has over 30 years of experience in tourism, conservation, development and business management. Prior to working with Royal Caribbean Cruises, he served as senior business advisor and senior director of the Travel and Leisure program for Conservation International’s Center for Environmental Leadership in Business.
Jessica Nabongo
Global Citizen, Master Storyteller, and Travel Expert
Jessica Nabongo is a global citizen, master storyteller, and travel expert, who is the first black woman to have traveled to every country in the world. Named one of the 50 Most Notable People in Travel, by Travel and Leisure, Jessica uses her platforms to educate and inspire others to experience the world around them and build a global community, with an emphasis on bringing untold stories to the world. Her first book, The Catch Me If You Can: One Woman’s Journey to Every Country in the World, published by National Geographic, was an instant bestseller.
Tysonn Mayr
TV Presenter, Producer, Adventure Photographer, and Travel Expert
Back in 2009, Tyson Mayr quit his job, sold everything he owned, and bought a one-way ticket overseas. Visiting 28 countries in the first 12-months on a budget of $30 per day, it was soon after this that he won the highly publicized ‘Best Job in the World’, where his presenting and content career began. Some 100+ countries later, a range of acclaimed TV shows, and an incredible online community of 300,000 travel-hungry friends, Tyson feels fortunate he can share the stories he is most passionate about as his job. Whether wrestling Sumo’s, rescuing Koalas with IFAW, creating award-winning travel campaigns or hosting and producing TV Shows for the likes of National Geographic, Tyson will always be an adventurer at heart.
Mario Rigby
Trailblazing Eco-Explorer, Motivational Speaker, and Global Connector
Mario Rigby is a trailblazing eco-explorer, motivational speaker, and global connector. With a mission to inspire others to strive for their best and push the limits of what’s possible, Mario shares captivating stories of exploration, determination, and the universal bonds that tie us all together. A proud Explorer-in-Residence for the Royal Canadian Geographical Society and an honoree on the Most Influential People of African Descent (MIPAD) Top 100 list in 2019, Mario has completed remarkable journeys, including a 12,000km walk across Africa, kayaking the lengths of Lake Ontario and Lake Malawi, and cycling across Canada. These adventures earned him an esteemed place in the Explorer’s Club EC50. Educated at the University of Western Ontario, Mario’s speaking engagements have spanned continents, from TEDx Talks in Al-Ubayyid to the United Nations Headquarters for MIPAD, Canadian Geographic Education, Google Talk, The Explorer’s Club, and more. Through gripping narratives, paired with striking visual biographies of expeditions, audiences are taken on a dramatic ride through incredible experiences, only to be grounded by heartfelt reflections on the kindness of strangers.
Thomas Armitt
Global Manager of Projects & Partnerships at Planeterra
As Planeterra’s Global Manager of Projects & Partnerships, Tom brings 16 years (and counting) of experience in responsible and sustainable tourism to the table. His expertise emerged from hands-on field work in community and conservation tourism projects in a variety of contexts. Presently, he leads Planeterra’s Global Climate & Biodiversity Initiative. Tom’s journey began during his undergraduate research in Senegal, where he discovered and was captivated by community-based ecotourism projects. This encounter shaped his career direction. Pursuing an MSc in Responsible Tourism Management further equipped him to expand the impact of his work. He lived in Sierra Leone supporting the development of a community-led heritage trail around a wildlife sanctuary, collaborated with governmental bodies to devise inclusive tourism strategies in Haiti and Brazil, enabled major tour operators and hotels in Cabo Verde and Croatia to adopt sustainable practices, and partnered with conservation NGOs for impactful tourism approaches in Benin, Chad and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
JoAnna Hagen
Award-Winning Writer, Speaker, Consultant, and Solutions Advocate
JoAnna Haugen is an award-winning writer, speaker, consultant, and solutions advocate who has worked in communications-related positions in the travel and tourism industry her entire career. She is also founder of Rooted, a solutions platform at the intersection of sustainable tourism, social impact, and storytelling. Through Rooted, JoAnna helps tourism professionals decolonize travel experiences and support sustainability using strategic storytelling. An international election observer, intrepid traveler, and American expat JoAnna currently resides in Carthage, Tunisia.
Dayvee Sutton
Two-time National Emmy Award winning journalist and a travel contributor and on-air expert to NBC News and The Weather Channel
Dayvee Sutton is a two-time National Emmy Award winning journalist who works as a travel contributor and on-air expert to NBC News across all platforms (including MSNBC and TODAY) and The Weather Channel. She is the host of series “Jet Set TODAY” on the TODAY Show and “GO! Explore” on The Weather Channel’s Local Now. Dayvee can also been seen as the go-to expert for other news networks like CNN, NewsNation, Scripps News, and more. She works as a highly-requested spokesperson for travel brands and destinations for branded TV segments and produces special series and documentaries through her production company Dream Network Media.
Meenu Vadera
Founder of Azad Foundation / Planeterra Partner
Meenu is a founding member & Chief Mentor of Azad Foundation, a social enterprise that supports resource-poor women to gain “livelihoods with dignity” in India. She has more than 30 years of experience as a grassroots worker, trainer, implementer, and leader in communities in South Asia, and represents Planeterra’s Women With Wheels partnership. Meenu comes to Planeterra with immense experience and represents many beneficiary and community partnerships.
Joe Koechlin
Inkaterra Founder & CEO
José Koechlin von Stein established Inkaterra in 1975, pioneering ecotourism and sustainable development in Peru. Aiming to underscore natural and cultural values, Inkaterra works under a holistic approach. Scientific research is produced as a basis for conservation, education and the wellbeing of local communities. Major flora and fauna inventories have been sponsored by José Koechlin since 1978, defining natural areas where Inkaterra hotels are located – the Amazon rainforest in Madre de Dios, the Machu Picchu cloud forest, the Sacred Valley of the Incas, the city of Cusco and the Cabo Blanco coastline. To promote travel experiences in Peru, José Koechlin co-produced Werner Herzog’s classic films Aguirre, The Wrath of God (1972) and Fitzcarraldo (Best Director, Cannes Film Festival 1982), and Les Blank’s documentary Burden of Dreams (1982). Appointed Chairman of the National Chamber of Tourism (CANATUR), José Koechlin was acknowledged by AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) in its ‘100 World Influential Leaders’ academic list.
Kevin Rushby
Chief Travel Writer at the Guardian
Kevin Rushby has been chief travel writer at The Guardian newspaper since 2005. He has written several acclaimed travel books and produced award-winning documentary films on environmental issues.
Julie Fitzgerald
VP of Global Buying and Supply Chain for GTC
Julie FitzGerald is the VP of Global Buying and Supply Chain for GTC, appointed in August 2023. Julie learnt the business of travel from the ground up, after completing her university studies in her home country Ireland, with degrees in both law and social policy Julie pursued a career in Social housing. In 2005 Julie made the decision to do a radical change in career and to chase her passion which is travel, she started as a tour leader in Asia, leading across 12 countries over a three year period. In 2008 Julie became the Regional Operations Manager for G Adventures in South Asia based in New Delhi. Followed by a stint in head office Basecamp. Returning to Asia to lead the region as General Manager in 2012, she set about strengthening the brand and the G adventures community throughout the continent. Julie is passionate about people, building strong communities where everyone benefits from a win win approach.
Juan Sebastian Sanchez Chica
Tourism Specialist
Juan Sebastian Sanchez Chica is a seasoned professional with a wealth of expertise in the field of tourism. Armed with a Masters in Tourism Planning & Territories Management and a certification in Sustainable Tourism from the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, Juan boasts over 14 years of hands-on experience in the realms of destination planning, marketing, promotion, and product design. His journey at PROCOLOMBIA has seen him spearhead promotion strategies for specialized segments, notably Luxury and Community Based Tourism. Juan was instrumental in crafting Colombia’s very first community-based tourism map, a pioneering effort for the nation. Currently serving as the ProColombia Tourism Representative for Canada, Juan Sebastian leads the charge in promoting and marketing Colombia as an absolute must-visit destination in Latin America. His passion and expertise continue to drive the country’s tourism endeavors to new heights
In Partnership with Planeterra
Planeterra is the world’s leading Community Tourism organization. With an ever-growing network of Community Tourism partners around the world, Planeterra ensures economic opportunities are created, places are protected, and cultures are celebrated through travel.
For the past two decades, G Adventures and Planeterra have been at the forefront of the movement to use travel as a force for good. By breaking down barriers and supporting communities to earn an income from tourism, we have shown that travel can have a positive impact on both the travellers and the local people alike.
Be part of the change
All funds raised through GX will support Planeterra. Join the movement for a better kind of tourism — one that benefits everyone involved and helps Planeterra transform travel into impact.
Visit Planeterra’s website here to learn more about their work and how you can get involved.
FAQs
Still got questions about GX? We’ve got answers.
At G Adventures we’ve always believed in the power of Community Tourism and its impact on our world. In partnership with Planeterra, GX is bringing together all of our communities for the first time ever to celebrate the positive impacts community tourism can present. Planeterra helps local organizations and communities use tourism as a catalyst to improve people’s lives, protect their natural environments, and celebrate their culture. At GX, in recognition of Planeterra’s 20th anniversary, we will all be supporting this cause and helping uplift communities through tourism with Planeterra, all while attending the most epic event on the planet.
It’s two-fold: to connect over 300 people from across the entire tourism community, and to raise over $500,000 for Planeterra in celebration of their 20th Anniversary all while having the time of our lives!
Depending on your role in the tourism industry, you’ll be invited to participate in a multi-day trip throughout Peru where you’ll witness community tourism in action. The trip will culminate in bringing us all together to celebrate World Tourism Day on September 27th in Cusco.
Well, we aren’t there just yet! Let us know you’re interested in attending and we’ll have the right people at G Adventures and Planeterra contact you with more information.
The agenda for the event will be different for each group attending. If you are registered to attend, keep an eye out for an email that will share the schedule and key event details. We’ll also have an event app that will keep you updated on everything you need to know leading up to GX.
We’ll have different speakers throughout the event depending on what group you’re in but on World Tourism Day everyone will have the chance to see Bruce Poon Tip take the stage along with a few other key speakers. More to come on that later, but keep an eye on our speakers page for more information.
Right now, GX is an invite only event but if you are interested in attending you can let us know here and we’ll be in touch.
While we would love to have everyone join us at GX, right now it is an invite only event for members of our travel community. If you are a member of the media and would like to attend, please let us know here and we can get back to you.
Yes, if you are interested in being a sponsor for GX, please reach out to us and we can get back to you.
We’re sorry to hear you can’t attend but it’s wonderful that you would still like to donate. You can donate to Planeterra here.
For general support information, you can reach out to us at events@gadventures.com.
Join us
Want to join us at GX? Apply today, then keep your eye on your inbox for more information.
