NEW YORK – Thrillist, the James Beard award-winning resource for food, travel, and entertainment has taken their travel database and licensed travel planner Academic Travel Abroad, Inc. to curate over the top immersive itineraries for Thrillist’s intellectually curious and adventurous global travelers. The first two trips opened for booking on Feb 3. with the first trips departing starting in the fall.

The partnership marks Thrillist’s first licensing agreement for international travel.  Thrillist’s exclusive licensing agency, Seltzer Licensing Group, helped broker the deal between Thrillist and Academic Travel Abroad. Thrillist parent Group Nine Media has itself previously hosted Thrillist hotel and culinary events, the latter having launched as “100 Course Meal” in December at the Hudson Loft in Los Angeles.

Thrillist trips are designed to offer travelers itineraries that capture the essence of each destination with behind-the-scenes, enriching experiences that highlight the culture and food of the region. Thrillist will create a series of travel packages starting with Mole and Mezcal: A Taste of Oaxaca in Mexico and The Best of Marrakesh: Day to Night in Marrakesh, Morocco.  The Mexico trip will run Sept. 30-Oct. 4 and carry a $2,995 cost, while Morocco ($3,450) will be Nov. 7-14. Thrillist is looking to create an additional 8-10 new trips for 2021.

“At Thrillist we have such a rich travel database, which has grown over the years so it made sense for us to create our own curated trips leveraging our hyper-local knowledge for our fans,” said Ocean MacAdams, President of Thrillist. “We tapped into our massive, engaged community of global travelers to identify the most desirable travel destinations and activities that people have been seeking out.”

Full descriptions of Thrillist’s first two Experiences below: 

Mole and Mezcal: A Taste of Oaxaca – Hotel Casantica

Immerse yourself in the lively markets, shaded plazas, and colorful cobblestone streets of Oaxaca, one of Mexico’s beloved foodie destinations. Some of the country’s most renowned, exciting cuisine hails from this Southern region, also known for its archaeological ruins, indigenous artisanry, and mezcal culture. On this five-day trip, you will get to know the incredible colonial architecture, hospitality, and flavors of Oaxaca City. Go behind the scenes with chefs, brewers, and distillers to experience the elegant subtleties of Oaxacan mole and smoky mezcal straight from the agave fields. Taste for yourself why Oaxaca represents the best of both old and new Mexico.

The Best of Marrakesh: Day to Night – Kenzi Menara Palace

Marrakesh will awaken every last one of your senses. This is a city of Culture, with a capital ‘C’ — underlined twice, in red. On this eight-day trip, we’ll bring you along to experience the inventive flavors and dazzling colors of Morocco’s most camera-ready city in unforgettable ways. Get ready to snake your way through the enchanting souks, taste vibrant tagines (and learn to make ‘em yourself), take in the city’s coolest museums and gardens, and relax at a traditional hammam spa. We’ll also venture out into the surrounding mountain and desert landscapes to ride a camel — and an ATV — over desert sands. You’ll even have the chance to take a hot air balloon ride at sunrise. Just leave extra room in your suitcase — in Marrakesh, “souvenirs” is an understatement.

About Thrillist:

Thrillist means fun; we are the essential resource for how to spend your time and money. We’re eaters, drinkers, travelers, and doers. We serve the curious and believe that new experiences are what drive the richest lives. We bring our passion, expertise, and taste to bear on the things that are truly worth your time and money. Life’s for living, and that’s why we’re here. Today will be great. In December 2016, Thrillist joined forces with NowThis, The Dodo and Seeker to form Group Nine Media — a global top 10 publisher.

About Academic Travel Abroad:

Academic Travel Abroad, Inc. is an educational travel provider for some of this country’s most prestigious organizations. Riding the post-war wave of interest in travel to Europe, ATA launched operations in 1950 by assisting universities and cultural institutions in the creation of group travel programs for their members. Today, ATA is a leader in cultural and educational group travel and serves partners such as The New York Times, Smithsonian Institution, American Institute of Architects, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

About Seltzer Licensing Group:

Seltzer Licensing Group, www.SeltzerLicensing.com, is a full service NYC based, global brand licensing agency founded in 1998 focusing on revenue growth for its clients through strategic partnerships. Their services include creation and implementation of licensing strategic plans; acquisition of licenses; evaluation of current licensing programs and brand valuation. Besides Group Nine’s Thrillist and Dodo, Seltzer Licensing Group currently represents The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, NBC Television Properties, American Red Cross, Unilever and others.

Contact:

Stacey Richman, Thrillist

srichman@groupninemedia.com  (646) 218-9314

Nick Manzo, Seltzer Licensing Group

nick@seltzerlicening.com (212) 244-5544