Luxury Active Travel Company Rises to the Top In Survey of the World's Best Adventure Travel Outfitters
In the worldwide arena of adventure travel companies, National Geographic Adventure magazine has singled out a rising industry star, Austin-Lehman Adventures (ALA) for its highest accolade as one of the "Best Adventure Travel Companies on Earth."


BILLINGS, MT, January 17, 2009 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Announced online and in its February 2009 print edition, ALA was ranked third in the luxury category and 13th in the world overall in the magazines' selection of the 200 best adventure outfitters worldwide.

"We are honored to be recognized as one of the preeminent adventure travel companies in the world, shoulder to shoulder with such esteemed veteran companies as Mountain Travel Sobek, Wilderness Travel, Butterfield and Robinson, and Wildland Adventures," said Dan Austin, ALA's co-founder and Director.

Using a scoring system with criteria synonymous with the high standards set by National Geographic -- sustainability, quality of service, education, spirit of adventure, and client satisfaction -- 248 outfitters and tour operators were considered. Of those ALA scored in the top 5 percent.

Austin says he tips his hat to the ALA team that consistently delivers the ALA service promise to its discerning clientele after his company scored in the top 2 percent worldwide in overall client satisfaction. "Really, we owe this award to our folks on the firing line—our sales people and guides."

ALA takes pride in its extensive staff and guide training programs and boasts one of the most generous (1:6) guide to guest ratios in the business.

One of the premises of the scoring is that a traveler's most important decision is not always where to go but who to go with. For details please see
http://adventure.nationalgeographic.com/2009/02/adventure-ratings-text

Austin's partner, Paul Lehman, notes that in these challenging economic times where dollars are stretched, "being singled out by this prestigious magazine underscores how important it is that we at ALA continue to deliver the trip of a lifetime, the first time and every time."

Lehman added, "We have always strived to provide the best quality trips and customer service in the industry. It's nice to have the leading adventure travel magazine recognize our accomplishments."

The magazine wrote of an ALA experience: "You may come away from a trip with Austin-Lehman to Europe or the Americas feeling downright spoiled. High thread-count sheets are the standard - even while hiking, biking and kayaking the Alaskan outback - as are nightly surprise gifts and obsessively researched lodging (including the sole Machu Picchu hotel with in-room oxygen)."

While this may be the crowning feather in its hat to date, this is not the first time the company has been recognized for its excellence. For three consecutive years from 2006 to 2008 ALA was awarded the "World's 25 Best New Trips" accolade from National Geographic Adventure and in 2007 the outfitter was recognized by National Geographic Traveler in their "50 Tours of a Lifetime" edition.

Austin-Lehman Adventures manages all of the arrangements for its selected destinations that include iconic regions of North, Central and South America as well as southern Africa and in spring 2009, cycling holidays in Europe. Small groups are limited to 12 guests (18 on family departures). Rates include first-class accommodations, most meals and beverages, expert guides, park entry fees, multisport activities such as hiking, biking, rafting, horseback riding and more, ground transportation and luggage service. Not included is round trip travel to the host city.

For a copy of the 2009 catalog as well as information on ALA's 66 unique itineraries for active adult and family travel, please call toll-free 1.800.575.1540, or e-mail info@austinlehman.com. To review current trips, schedules and itineraries you can log onto its website: www.austinlehman.com.



For more information and photos on Austin-Lehman Adventures please contact:

Sara Widness / 802-234-6704 / sara@widnesspr.com
or
Dave Wiggins / 303-554-8821 / d.wiggins@comcast.net

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Press Release Contact Information:

Dan Austin
Austin-Lehman Adventures
Director
2703 Poly Drive
Billings, Montana
United States 59102
Voice: 800-575-1540
Website: Visit Our Website