The initiative was conceived by a group of Rotarian adventurers who wanted to contribute to the well being of children in Nepal by organizing a fundraising trek. The Rotary Everest Trek 2012 Committee is subcommittee of the Rotary Club of Calgary West. The treks have been organized with help of Rotarians from other clubs to ensure proper project implementation, exposure and public relations.

Committee
Karl Herzog (Calgary West) Committee Chair
Hans Wiesner (Red Deer East) World Traveller, Engineer
Surinder Khanna (Heritage Park) World Traveller, Management
Murray Pritchard (Lethbridge), Trekker/Climber Lawyer
Kathryn Kaldestad (Calgary Chinook), Public Relations
David Layden (Innisfail), Travel Company Owner
Jeff Rickard (Non Rotarian) Website/Communications

Advisory
Mike French (Calgary West) Financial
Jim Wilson (Calgary West) Lawyer
Chris Davis (Calgary West) Lawyer
Karen O’Connor – President,
Byron Smith Everest Summiter and Director, The Sir Edmund Hillary Foundation

To ensure the trekkers enjoy a safe and enjoyable adventure, the Rotary Everest Trek 2012 Committee has identified the two professional companies to provide services:

1. ITS Travel / Select Holidays: To arrange flights to Kathmandu for use individuals wishing to use their services.
2. Asian Trekking Ltd. To handle all Nepal air & ground travel, accommodation and trekking support services

August 2010 marks 29 years since Innisfail Travel opened its doors for business. Many changes have happened over the years not only in the world around us but also in the travel business. Companies have come and gone, once the most popular destinations have been replaced by new destinations that allow the traveler to see and experience more of the world…….

Lawrence and Loretta Layden along with current partners at the time, opened Innisfail Travel Service Ltd in August 1981. The office started as a full service travel office offering airlines tickets, package holidays, cruise vacations plus other travel related items. There was also a need for escorted tours & vacations around the world and in 1998, Select Holidays was formed and started by offering short weekend tours for the local seniors. It was also at this time that David and Brenda Layden became owners of Innisfail Travel Service Ltd.

Select Holidays started out by offering short tours to Banff and Lake Louise and the majority of the clients were seniors from the communities surrounding Central Alberta. Then over time the tours grew to longer and more extensive tours such as cruises, Eastern Canada tours and the USA and today has expanded to Australia/ New Zealand, Africa, South America, Europe and beyond. From the beginning, customer service and offering a unique product was and is the corner-stone of the company’s success. The company’s slogan is “Deluxe tours with a difference”. Today over 60% of the company’s business does not come from Alberta but from other parts of Canada and around the world.

With the travel business industry changing more and more every year, the way travel is sold and the type of travel that is purchased by the public has changed as well. ITS Travel / Select Holidays are proud of the leading edge development of products and top quality of services. The companies have won many major travel industry awards over the years but both are most proud of their staff and the connection with Innisfail and the rural community over the years. Even though you are from a smaller community does not mean you cannot dream big and offer unique product to the world.

ITS Travel / Select Holidays have grown every year and are in the top 10 independent travel agencies in Alberta. Select Holidays is one of only two companies offering its unique product in Canada. Both companies are respected very highly in the industry and are true leaders into "small hospitality but dreaming big".

Established in 1982 by Ang Tshering Sherpa as a family business, Asian Trekking continues to maintain high standards of professionalism and quality services catering to needs of the discerning traveler: individuals, families and friends.

Ang Tshering’s son, Dawa Steven Sherpa, as Managing Director of Asian Trekking and organizer of the successful Eco Everest Expedition 2008, oversees the daily operation of all Asian Trekking treks and expeditions in Nepal and Tibet.

Logistic support and government liaison for mountaineering expeditions, treks, and tours in Nepal and Tibet is Asian Trekking's specialty. Professional and highly trained field staffs assure customized services for mountaineering teams, advanced climbers, beginners in search of new challenges, or someone wanting to explore the rich culture and traditions of the region.

Our trekking services provide comfort without detracting from reality. The pace is relaxed yet exhilarating and there always exists the possibility of an unforeseen moment in time when a chance meeting becomes an unforgettable encounter, the satisfaction of completing a journey out of the ordinary.

Our Guides and field staff have trained the hard way - working with expeditions and climbing some of the highest mountains in the world. They are personally committed to preserving their environment and culture, and to provide personalized, quality service. The assurance of the expertise of your field staff team and the professionalism of Asian Trekking bring new dimensions to your experiences of Nepal. Our field staff have years of experience that have led to a thorough understanding of your needs and all the factors that go into making a memorable and rewarding adventure. This local knowledge adds that extra bit of garnishing that goes to make a delicious repast.

Safety and health are essential for an unforgettable vacation - and we are proud of our track record. We make sure there is proper acclimatization days and rest days built into each trek and expedition.

Our continued efforts endeavor to deliver consistently high quality and personalized services, offering great value for money. We are now consolidating our experiences and professionalism in every aspect of adventure tourism and allied services and are now moving ahead to a wider spectrum of professional quality services not only in Nepal, but also in India, Tibet, Sikkim and Bhutan.

The Rotary Club of Calgary West is a "can-do" club that on May 26, 1967. It has been highly integrated into our community. We are a group of men and women, active or retired professional and business people, with a diverse range of experiences and interests, who share a commitment to offer help to those less fortunate than we.

Vision: An improved world, one project at a time.

Mission: To serve and to lead through local and international projects which enrich lives and brighten the future for all.

The Rotary Club of Calgary West meets once a week to share in fellow-ship and fun, while advancing our projects. As well, we have informative and interesting programs and speakers. We seek out and undertake projects to help others, in Calgary, in Canada, or around the world. We raise funds in various ways, including our regular Casinos, our annual Straw-berry Shortcake sale and our Stampede Breakfast.

The Club meets Fridays at 12:15 PM at the Holiday Inn South 4206 MacLeod Trail South Calgary, Alberta T2G 2R7

Rotary International is made up of over 33,000 clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas. Its members form a global network of business and professional leaders who volunteer their time and talents to serve their communities and the world.

Rotary's motto, Service Above Self, exemplifies the humanitarian spirit of the organization's more than 1.2 million members. Strong fellowship among Rotarians and meaningful community and international service projects characterize Rotary worldwide.

Rotary enjoys a rich and sometimes complex tradition and organizational structure, with many programs that can be confusing to new and even not-so-new members. The Rotary website www.rotary.org offers a basic Rotary education & the fundamental knowledge that will make every member better informed about Rotary and proud to be a Rotarian.