PAST PURSUITS & CHALLENGERS

Since the inaugural PURE Pursuit in Iceland in 2016, PURE Pursuits have ventured into Idaho, Norway, Italy, Costa Rica, New Zealand, Portugal and Colorado…

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

INTO THE
MOUNTAIN PASS

LOCATION

USA

DATES

29 SEPTEMBER – 4 OCTOBER 2019

PURE Pursuits Colorado was perfectly timed as the leaves started to turn, while our group of industry leaders journeyed through the mighty peaks of Colorado. We cycled, rafted and hiked along the way, including the once in a lifetime hike from Aspen to Crested Butte. Along the way there were expert-led workshops as well as thought-provoking discussions from the Challengers.

Alejandra Ramírez
Founder & CEO, ÛNIK
Andrea Grisdale
CEO, IC Bellagio
Benedetta Mazzini
Founder, Ultimate Places
Enrique Velasco
Director, COLTUR Peru
Jen Deacon
Founder, Quench Trip Design
Mark Hehir
CEO, The Small Maldives Island Co
Monika Valentini
Sales Manager, Dolomite Mountains
Murray Gardiner
CEO, Giltedge Travel
Nicola Billens
Group Marketing for Concierge Travel Group, Alquemie
Raul Buenaventura
Founder & CEO, VM Elite
Simon Court
CEO & Founder, Value Partnership
Thomas Serrano
President, Havas
Zoran Pejovic
CEO, Paradox Hospitality
Serge Dive
CEO & Founder, This is Beyond Ltd
Jessica den Boer
Head of PURE Pursuits, This is Beyond Ltd
Joe Solomon
CEO, Iconic Adventures

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

WHERE THE STARS MEET THE SKY

LOCATION

PORTUGAL

DATES

2-7 JUNE 2019

PURE Pursuits Portugal took 18 Challengers deep into the untouched Alentejo region of Portugal where we slept under a dark sky reserve, hiked along Europe’s largest lake and cycled through ancient olive groves. Along the way there were countless discussions and two guru-led workshops topped off with a hot air balloon ride over the region.

Avi Lugasi
Founder/CEO, Windows to Japan
Benedetta Mazzini
Founder, Ultimate Places
Bernhard Stingl
GM/Owner, Top Tours GmbH
Christianna Teixeira
Owner/Partner, Hotel Casa dos Arandis
Eunice Schleier
Director, Alles Blau Viagens E Turismo LTDA
Gina Forte
Principal, Atelier Group
Ishwar Kumar Basnet
Responsible Tourism Manager, Tiger Mountain Nepal
Jemima Mann Baha
Co-Owner and Communications Director, Palais Amani
Jessica Pugh
Founder & Director, Blue Moon Escapes
Kristin Valdimarsdottir
Iceland/Greenland Chief Executive, Luxury Beyond
Lindsy Terry
Sales & Marketing Manager, Ellerman House
Marianne Suh
Managing Director, Jason Travel Service
Marit Miners
Co-Founder & Director of Sales and Marketing, Misool
Matias Schwab
Managing Partner, Designer Trips Argentina
Nathan Sharma
Managing Partner, Monastero Santa Rosa Hotel & Spa
Palma Michel
Leadership & Mindfulness Consultant
Rohit Kohli
Managing Director, Creative Travel
Senta Slingerland
Brand Strategy & Creative Consultant
Pedro Quaresma
Co-owner, Portuguese Ways
Jessica den Boer
PURE Pursuits Manager, This is Beyond

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

LAND OF THE LONG WHITE CLOUD

LOCATION

NEW ZEALAND

DATES

3-8 MARCH 2019

The first Pursuit of 2019 saw our most global mix of Challengers yet converge in New Zealand: hiking Ben Lomond, rafting grade 4 rapids, cycling, jet boating and camping under the stars. Dynamic discussions and guru-led workshops took place along the way, with incredible backdrops and in bright sunshine, before the guitars came out to wrap up each day.

Alejandra Burro
Founder, Boarding Pass
Alexandra da Sacco
Partner, Beyond Dracula
Andy Lark
Marketing & Digital Leader, Group Lark
Angie Bradbury
Managing Director, Dig & Fish
Benedetta Mazzini
Founder, Ultimate Places
Caroline Ferguson
Founder, Luxury Bound
Daniel Brown
Managing Director, dmAFRICA
Darren Humphreys
Owner / Founder & CEO, Travel Sommelier
Don Martinson
Director of Travel Industry Relations, Natural Habitat Adventures
Gonçalo Alves
Sales Manager, Vila Monte Farm House
Hiran Cooray
Chairman, Jetwing Hotels
Joost Tania
Owner & Founder, Thika Travel
Maria Alzamora
Vice President Marketing, Mashpi Lodge / Metropolitan Touring
Miguel Cunat
CXO, The Fabulous Getaway
Silvia Rico
CEO & Founder, Enigma
Sisinio Alvarado
Co-Founder, Origen Escapes
Soliman Ma
Founder, LE Travel
Stavros Kapnias
Director of Sales & Charter, Abberley Yachts
Virgi Schiffino
Owner, Lux Voyage
Zoran Pejovic
Owner & Founder, Paradox Hospitality
Amy Cahill
Marketing & Community Director, This is Beyond
Jessica den Boer
PURE Pursuits Manager, This is Beyond

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

JUNGLE OUT THERE

LOCATION

COSTA RICA

DATES

25-30 NOVEMBER 2018

The final Pursuit of 2018 saw challengers joining forces to hike through puma-populated jungles, raft down 20km of grade 4 rapids, cycle, climb and swim through some of the most remote and magnificent parts of Costa Rica. Along the way, we had Discussions and Workshops in some of our most incredible locations to date on any Pursuit including a thermal hot spring and in the ocean while the sun set. Pura vida!

Alex Malcolm
Managing Director & Founder, Jacada Travel
Chase Poffenberger
Executive VP and Co-Owner, Academic Travel Abroad, Inc.
Dominik Babel
Owner, Elegant Travel GmbH
Gabbi Cahane
Chairman, Multiple
George Koletsos
Founder and MD, Kudos Life Experiences
Isabella Nardini
Experience Leader, MESA
Jay Ahmed
Managing Director, KMX Global
Justin Wateridge
Managing Director, Steppes Travel
Karina Moreton
Director, Panoramic Journeys Ltd
Luke Brown
Co-Owner, Vayeni
Maria Nikolakaki Koletsou
Founder and MD, Beyond Spaces Villas
Penny Rafferty
Excutive Officer, Luxury Lodges of Australia
Rana Dababneh
Owner, Pomalo Travel
Rebecca Dixon
Director of Sales & Marketing, Crafted Ireland
Siobhan Byrne Learat
CEO, Adams & Butler
Stuart Campbell
CEO, The Lodge at Blue Sky
Jessica den Boer
PURE Pursuits Manager, This is Beyond
Ryan Wallace
Managing Director, We Are Africa

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

LA DOLCE VITA

LOCATION

ITALY

DATES

20-25 MAY 2018

The second Pursuit of 2018 saw our global group of challengers live La Dolce Vita, winding through the sun-baked Puglia countryside on foot, by bike and even vintage car. With days punctuated by burrata making, afternoon hikes and candlelit dinners in ancient caves, the discussions and workshops that followed were among our most productive (and provocative) to date.

Agustina Lagos Marmol

Agustina Lagos Marmol
Founder & MD, Dolomite Mountains

Alexis Vincent

Alexis Vincent
Founder, Dive Butler / Life Butler

Andrew Wallas

Andrew Wallas
Founder & CEO, Business Alchemy Limited

Caroline Wallace

Caroline Wallace
Owner, Caroline Travels the World

Daniel Fraser

Daniel Fraser
Owner, Smiling Albino

Emilio Heredia

Emilio Heredia
Director, Papayaplaya Project

Eva Stelzer

Eva Stelzer
Founder, Evia Active Travel

George Dominic

George Dominic
Executive Director, CGH Earth

Joe Solomon

Joe Solomon
President, Iconic Adventures

Katherine Usher

Katherine Usher
Director of Sales and Guest Services, Trek Travel

Lila Fox

Lila Fox
Owner, Lila Fox Travel Co.

Maria Victoria Saiz

Maria Victoria Saiz
Owner & CEO, MVS Travel

Marlene Soto

Marlene Soto
Sales Director, Inkaterra

Rhett Lego

Rhett Lego
CEO, The Conjoint Marketing Group GmbH

Rohit Kohli

Rohit Kohli
Managing Director, Creative Travel

Scott Morrison

Scott Morrison
Founder, The Boom!

SJ Lee

SJ Lee
Executive Director, The Travel&Leisure

Sunita Hedaoo

Sunita Hedaoo
Founder, Kora Journeys Powered by Frosch

Jessica Den Boer

Jessica Den Boer
PURE Pursuits Manager, This is Beyond

Serge Dive

Serge Dive
CEO & Founder, This is Beyond

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

LAND OF THE MIDNIGHT SUN

LOCATION

NORWAY

DATES

8-13 APRIL 2018

The first Pursuit of 2018 took our most global group of challengers to date to the land of the midnight sun where they kayaked, cycled and ski toured their way through Norway, all the while pushing themselves and their businesses forward together.

Benedetta Mazzini
Owner, Ultimate Places
Cornelius O'Shaugnessy
Founder, Bodhi Maya
Daniel Brown
Managing Director, dmAFRICA
Emily Brooke
Founder & CEO, Blaze
Fernanda Martin Del Campo
Independent Travel Advisor, International Travel Group
Giulio Da Sacco
Entrepreneur, Beyond Dracula Travel
Greg Norris
Director / Founder, OneNineFive
Nick DiBartolomeo
Vice President - Finance, Blackberry Farm
Nicolas Ramirez
Founder & Director, Tanit Trails
Nicole Krenzien Ellison
Vice President, Paul Klein Travel
Pedro Quaresma
Co-owner, Portuguese Ways
Soliman Ma
Founder, LE Travel
Stavros Kapnias
Director of Sales and Charter, Abberley Yachts
Steve Mitchell
Co-Founder & CFO, Angama
Yvonne Verstandig
Co-Founder - Head of Leisure, Executive Edge Travel
Amy Cahill
Marketing & Community Director, This is Beyond
Emma Squire
Event Director, This is Beyond
Jessica den Boer
PURE Pursuits Manager, This is Beyond

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

FRONTIER THINKING

LOCATION

IDAHO, USA

DATES

4-9 JUNE 2017

Our next group of challengers journeyed into the vast terrain of America’s Wild West, floating off-grid down the Salmon River and swapping WiFi connection for personal connection.

Aldo Melpignano

Aldo Melpignano
Founder, San Domenico Hotels

Alexis Vincent

Alexis Vincent
Managing Director, Dive Butler International

Antonello Losito

Antonello Losito
President & Founder, Southern Visions Travel

Benedetta Mazzini

Benedetta Mazzini
Owner / Managing Director, Ultimate Places

Craig Beal

Craig Beal
Owner, Travel Beyond

Don Martinson

Don Martinson
Director, Natural Habitat Adventures

Felipe Artinano De Bedout

Felipe Artinano De Bedout
Co-Founder & VP Operations, Origen Extraordinary Escapes

Inderpal Kochhar

Inderpal Kochhar
Founder, Sewara

Jef Moons

Jef Moons
CEO, Knai Bang Chatt

Jen Murphy

Jen Murphy
Freelance Travel Writer

Jody Shield

Jody Shield
Author

Justin Huxter

Justin Huxter
Owner, Cartology Travel

Justin Wateridge

Justin Wateridge
Managing Director, Steppes

Knut Flakk

Knut Flakk
Founder & Owner, 62º Nord

Louise Beveridge

Louise Beveridge
Communication & Advisory

Luca Franco

Luca Franco
CEO & Founder, Luxury Frontiers

Reid Bader

Reid Bader
VP, Ker & Downey

Rodrigo Garza

Rodrigo Garza
President & Owner, Lozano Travel de Mexico

Wendy Davis

Wendy Davis
CEO & President, Zebrano Travel

Emma Squire

Emma Squire
PURE Event Director, This is Beyond

Jessica Den Boer

Jessica Den Boer
PURE Pursuits Manager, This is Beyond

Serge Dive

Serge Dive
CEO & Founder, This is Beyond

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

FIRE AND ICE

LOCATION

ICELAND

DATES

2-6 MARCH 2016

The inaugural Pursuit took the first brave group of challengers to the land of fire and ice: Iceland, as they touched base off-road, hit the ground ski-dooing, took the dive into the blue sea thinking and got (their ice-axes) stuck into new ideas.