Social Impact Travel Brand Fathom Establishes Preferred Supplier Agreement with Signature Travel Network

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Oct 15, 2015, 07:30 ET

SEATTLE, Oct. 15, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Fathom, the pioneer in social impact travel, today announced its agreement to become a preferred supplier with Signature Travel Network®, one of the leading networks of retail agencies in the travel industry. The relationship will enable Fathom to market to a broad audience of purpose-driven travelers by leveraging Signature's respected cooperative travel network of 205 members across 442 locations in the U.S. and Canada.

As a preferred Signature supplier, Fathom will reach travelers through a robust network of more than 6,000 front-line travel consultants globally who have proven track records of generating sales and driving market share for suppliers. Fathom will have access to an extensive range of discerning travelers who have long-term relationships with Signature and rely on the network's travel professionals to identify distinctive and meaningful travel opportunities.

"As a company that has created an entirely new category of travel, it is important for Fathom to have savvy business partners to engage social impact travelers – many of whom have been hungry to make an impact, but have not known where to begin," said Tara Russell, president of Fathom. "The Signature travel professionals are known for having lasting relationships with travelers seeking one-of-a-kind experiences and we feel fortunate to have a preferred partnership with them to effectively connect with our target audience of travelers."

Signature members represent a diverse grouping of retail travel companies, including many of the nation's top multi-location, market dominant organizations; single location boutique travel specialists; cruise-only agencies; and top internet-based marketers. Signature works with its preferred supplier network to provide its member agencies with access to a wide range of exclusive offers and benefits to help close sales and build client loyalty.

"We are pleased to welcome Fathom, a travel industry innovator, to our exceptional family of preferred suppliers," said Alex Sharpe, president and CEO at Signature Travel Network. "No other company provides what Fathom offers, and we believe Fathom will be a tremendous asset to our portfolio."

Fathom Has Potential to Open New Revenue Streams for Signature Members

Launched earlier this year, Fathom is a purpose-driven company enabling travelers to immerse, learn, serve and flourish while making enduring, sustainable contributions. Fathom exists for people who want to combine their love of travel with their desire to make a difference. Fathom is developing lasting collaboration with local organizations to enable systematic, long-term educational, environmental and economic development benefits in its partner countries. Beginning in April 2016, Fathom will make its maiden voyage to the Dominican Republic and intends to begin sailing to Cuba in May 2016, subject to Cuban approval, which we are confident is forthcoming.

Fathom travelers will have the opportunity to choose from the two destinations and a range of activities – from social impact in the Dominican Republic to educational and cultural exchanges in both countries – designed to have a positive, transformative effect on the lives of the travelers and the communities they visit. Fathom expects to initially attract 37,000 annual travelers who collectively could spend a total of more than 100,000 days a year either volunteering or immersing in educational and cultural exchanges in local communities.

Prices for the seven-day trips to the Dominican Republic start at $974 per person, excluding taxes, fees and port expenses and including all meals on the ship, onboard social impact immersion experiences, three on-shore social impact activities and related supplies. Prices will vary by season. To secure a spot on future sailings, a fully refundable $300 per person deposit is required for all cabin categories and occupancy levels. Final payment is due 90 days prior to departure.

Prices for seven-day itineraries to Cuba start at $1,800 per person, excluding Cuban visas, taxes, fees and port expenses and including all meals on the ship, onboard social impact immersion experiences and on-the-ground cultural immersion activities. Prices will vary by season. To secure a spot on future sailings, a fully refundable $600 per person deposit is required for all cabin categories and occupancy levels. Final payment is due 90 days prior to departure. To reserve a spot on future sailings, travelers may call 1-855-9Fathom or through a travel professional. Learn more at www.Fathom.org.

About Fathom
Fathom is a different kind of cruise that combines one's love of travel with the desire to make a difference in the world. It is a new category of travel, social impact travel. Part of the Carnival Corporation (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK) family of now ten brands, Fathom offers consumers authentic, meaningful travel experiences to enrich the life of the traveler and work alongside locals as they tackle community needs. Fathom is unique in that it leverages Carnival Corporation's expertise and scale for a one-of-a-kind business model to create long-term collaboration with its partner countries, allowing for sustained social impact and lasting development. Fathom will serve the sizable and growing market of potential social impact travel consumers – approximately one million North Americans – in addition to global travelers already pursuing service-oriented travel experiences worldwide.

Sailing aboard the MV Adonia, a 710-passenger vessel redeployed from Carnival Corporation's P&O Cruises (UK), Fathom will mobilize, educate and equip travelers on every trip allowing for thousands of impact activity days per week – and tens of thousands of travelers a year to communities of promise, providing unprecedented scale for impact.

About Signature Travel Network
Signature Travel Network® is a member-owned cooperative comprised of the travel industry's leading retail agencies representing more than 6,000 professional travel consultants — and generating more than $6 billion in annual sales. Created by a group of like-minded agency owners in 1956, Signature has continued to attract the travel industry's most successful and prominent retailers. Signature has partnered with some of the top cruise lines, tour operators, wholesalers and hoteliers, providing members a wide range of unique privileges that help close sales and build client loyalty.

For additional information about Signature Travel Network, please contact Kimberly Waters at [email protected] or visit www.joinsignaturetravelnetwork.com.

SOURCE Fathom