EMERYVILLE, Calif., March 26, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mountain Travel Sobek, the adventure travel pioneer that began offering guided trips to the wilds of the world in 1969, is pleased to announce the addition of Greg Slyngstad to its board. Greg has deep roots in the online tech and travel industries. He spent 14 years at Microsoft where he was group program manager for Microsoft Word, and was the leader of the Microsoft team that founded Expedia in 1996. He was also a founding member of Kayak, co-founder of Vacation Spot and Trover, and is a true adventurer in his own right.
"We are excited to have Greg join the Board of Directors. His business experience with travel companies such as Expedia and Kayak will bring a wealth of knowledge to the company. Greg will be a valuable contributor to Mountain Travel Sobek and the opportunities in the future," says Tom Lee, Chairman of the Board at MTS.
Slyngstad isn't new to the adventure travel realm: he ran the Marathon des Sables in Morocco, a 150-mile footrace through the Sahara; climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro; rafted the Colorado River in a flood; raced his sailboat from San Francisco to Hawaii in the Pacific Cup; and won second place in the 2013 St. Maarten Heineken Regatta. He is also an avid rock climber, hiker, and biker, and has even taken personal sailing trips with his family that span over 5,000 miles.
"Greg's deep experience in bringing new products to life in complex and rapidly evolving markets, and his genuine passion for outdoor adventure is a perfect complement to the active lifestyles of the other board members," says Kevin Callaghan, President and CEO of Mountain Travel Sobek.
Other board members include:
Richard Bangs is a founder of Sobek Expeditions, the pioneer in world rafting exploration, author of 19 travel books, and host of his eponymous Emmy-winning travel series on PBS.
Tom Lee, Chairman of the Board, has a long history trekking internationally, has climbed Mount Kenya, and has done competitive sailing worldwide.
Tom McCormack, one of the company's earliest supporters, still holds the record for the highest first ascent by an American (Hidden Peak—Gasherbrum 1, 1958).
Kevin Callaghan, President and CEO, led Mountain Travel's first trip to North Korea, has sailed and trekked throughout the world, and has climbed Denali.
Press Contact: Allie Roqueta, (510) 594-6027, allie@mtsobek.com
About Mountain Travel Sobek
Mountain Travel was founded in 1969 to promote the exploration, enjoyment and protection of the world's mountain wilderness areas by enabling travelers to experience them for themselves. Using a knowledgeable team with backcountry expertise, Mountain Travel's founders led the first commercial trek to Nepal's Himalaya, quickly followed by the first sailing cruise to the Galápagos Islands in 1970 and many other "firsts" in the years to come.
Four years later, the international rafting company Sobek Expeditions was launched on a parallel path (merging with Mountain Travel in 1991). Today, Mountain Travel Sobek is partnered with National Geographic and consistently recognized as a top travel company by Outside, Men's Journal, and Travel + Leisure. With over 40 years of experience and expertise, MTS offers more than 200 adventure vacations in destinations worldwide. www.mtsobek.com
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