WHY CHOOSE A PTGA ACCREDITED PROVIDER OR GUIDE?

The PTGA was developed out of a need to train and measure minimum standards of operation and competence for the range of skills a modern polar guide needs to service the demands of a rapidly growing industry and to help protect the environments we work in.

We are a federally recognized US 501-(c)6 non-profit Professional Industry Association servicing the competency needs of polar tourism operators, outfitters, field staff and polar guides across all platforms of polar guiding and tourism.

There are a number of good reasons to choose qualified PTGA Guide and/or a PTGA Accredited Provider Company for your holiday or journey in the polar regions:

  • Accredited Provider companies work collaboratively with the PTGA, train to industry standards, utilize the PTGA Qualifications Framework and believe in the value of 3rd party auditing of their staff and training systems.
  • PTGA guides are assessed by long term industry professionals via performance of skills. This allows for thorough examination of all skill areas but also the ability to test judgement and decision making in complex situations – two very important skills for a professional guide working in remote areas.
  • All PTGA guides contract to a professional Code of Conduct which includes not only moral and ethical standards but all the requirements of international bodies and associations governing environmental practice, guidelines and operations in the polar regions.
  • PTGA guides must revalidate their awards every three years and show proof of continual professional development.
  • Any PTGA Accredited Provider Company must be on track to have more than 80% of their staff qualified as Polar Guide or Senior Polar Guide.
  • PTGA Guides are vetted and qualified by an ISO:21102 compliant 3rd party Professional Industry Association set up solely to train and examine guide performance against industry standards.

OUR ACCREDITED PROVIDER COMPANIES

A Corporate Member of PTGA is vetted by the PTGA for its staff training and development systems. It uses the PTGA Workplace Based Assessment system, collaborates on training initiatives and resources, aims to have more than 80% of their staff as qualified Polar Guides with PTGA status and actively encourages Continual Professional Development. A Corporate Member may use their PTGA status for marketing and we have a proud and active team:

Polar Latitudes – Polar Latitudes focuses on delivering a highly personalized small ship experience, with a strong emphasis on individualized attention and ship-wide comradery, while sharing our founding passion for the Antarctic environment. As the first company to endorse and join PTGA, we are committed to delivering the highest level of safety, expertise and the overall excellence of our expedition teams and crew.

Antarctica21 – Antarctica21 pioneered the Antarctic Air-Cruise model. Motivated by a desire to make Antarctica accessible to travelers keen to avoid the Drake Passage, its founders pioneered the Antarctic air-cruise model in 2003. Since then, Antarctica21 has been the leader in this fast-growing segment of Antarctic tourism. As a boutique wilderness specialist, Antarctica21 designs and delivers adventurous yet comfortable small-scale expeditions to Antarctica. The aim is to offer guests a perfect balance between active exploration and high-quality hospitality for a trip of a lifetime. The Antarctica21 experience is created an international team of veteran Antarctic pilots, experienced sea captains, expert polar guides, academics, and seasoned travel professionals. Antarctica21 is a proud member of the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators.

Silversea Expeditions – Silversea is a cruise company that reflects generations of maritime and travel experience.  In the early 1990s, the Lefebvre family of Rome conceived and organized a unique cruse company pledging to build and operate the highest quality ships in the ultra-luxury segment.  The company’s first expedition ship debuted in June 2008, heralding the beginning of a new mode in exploration cruising – where the luxurious ambiance is just as important as an exotic and enriching itinerary.  Silversea caters to the cosmopolitan world traveler and maintains branch officers in the US, UK, Australia and Singapore.  The company’s headquarters are based in Monaco.

Aurora Expeditions – Aurora Expeditions specialises in small-ship expedition-style voyages to the polar regions, to Latin America, Wild Scotland, the Norway coast, and the Kimberley coast of north-west Australia. An Australian company founded by acclaimed mountaineer Greg Mortimer and his adventurous wife Margaret Mortimer, Aurora Expeditions celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2017. Aurora Expeditions prides itself on the calibre of its Expedition Team, and its ethos of taking like-minded people to explore the world’s great wildernesses, always with care and safety at the forefront. Aurora’s flagship vessel, the Greg Mortimer, will be in operation from October 2019.