Outstanding Business Innovation - Winner

Women's Own Adventure
Marika Martinez

Women's Own Adventure offers a truly innovative travel experience that has been comprehensively developed for and tailored to a demanding niche market.

Women's Own Adventure was launched in 2007 after extensive research and development when Marika recognised a market niche that was simply not serviced by any existing travel specialists. An adventure lover herself (living on an island, flying a seaplane, parachuting, paragliding and naturally, extensive travelling and just some of her hobbies) Marika tapped into an emerging market of woman who, after focusing on their families and other responsibilities for many years, and now ready to meet their own personal challenges - they are fit, healthy and eager to explore!

Participants in a Women's Only Adventure are taken not only across physical borders, but also transcend the personal and societal barriers that have prevented them from pursuing adventure travel in the past. Marika's clients come from all walks of life, and are keen to be adventurous in travel without any of the fears or uncertainties of travelling alone or the isolation that comes with travelling in a group of mostly couples when you are the one without a partner.

The innovative tours that Marika has created open the world of adventure, exotic locations, cultural interaction, nature and wildlife to women in the same age bracket in small groups with similar expectations. It's not surprising that enduring friendships are often the final result as future adventures are planned!