David Goodman In 1987, David Goodman was a fledgling journalist living in Boston when he got a call from the Appalachian Mountain Club. That year, he d written a piece for
Cross Country Skier magazine about the revival of backcountry skiing, a back-to-the-land-esque movement of purists and adrenaline junkies. Disillusioned with the commercialization of downhill skiing, Goodman suggested, they were reclaiming the forgotten mountain trails cut by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Great Depression. The editors at the Appalachian Mountain Club asked Goodman if he d be willing to write a guide to skiing in the Northeast. Goodman, stunned by his luck, agreed. For the next year, he lived out of his 1974 Dodge Dart, crisscrossing the Northeast in search of the most scenic backcountry tours. When the book came out, in 1988, he figured it might sell a few hundred copies. Instead, it sold thousands.
More travel executives get their mission-critical industry news from Skift than any other source on the planet.Tell me more
Top executives at two companies accommodating customers who want to pursue the outdoors, especially when lockdowns make people feel like shut-ins, are grappling with ways to better serve their users online and the planet, as well.
That was the focus of a discussion on Bringing Outdoor Travel Into a Digital World, moderated by Skift Senior Travel Tech Editor Sean O’Neill at the Skift Short-Term & Outdoor Summit Thursday.
Curtis Kopf, head of digital at REI (Recreational Equipment Inc.), a co-op with 19 million lifetime members that sells gear as well as outdoor adventure trips, said one of its biggest challenges is serving customers who not only want to buy a new pair of boots, but also want to find good editorial content for their next hike.
More travel executives get their mission-critical industry news from Skift than any other source on the planet.Tell me more
The short-term rental and outdoor sectors are having their defining moments. As airlines and hotels battle government restrictions and, in some cases, unimaginable losses, Skift switched its attention to the highly fragmented but important industries over two days with a dedicated summit.
Coinciding with the Airbnb IPO, the short-term rental behemoth could have dominated discussions. But rather than casting a shadow over the summit, what turned out to be a record-breaking listing is rather a reminder of how crucial tourism will be to people, and governments, in the years of healing ahead.