Who & How

Luca D’Angelo

I've dedicated a significant portion of my career to the tourism industry, focusing primarily on destination management. Following my studies in Tourism Economics and the Master's in Destination Management at tsm - Trentino School of Management (where I had the pleasure of meeting and befriending Andrea), I held key roles as a destination manager at prominent Tourism Boards in Trentino. My passion for the outdoors stems from my love for mountain biking, particularly trail & enduro, coupled with a vision to make this sport accessible to a wide range of bikers, especially the younger generation, and to offer new perspectives to territories beyond just the winter season. A tangible example of this approach is the Dolomiti Paganella Bike project, which has become one of the most renowned Bike Resorts in Europe. My ongoing pursuit is to challenge the dominant paradigm in tourism destination management models, aiming for a positive impact on the places and communities they inhabit. This principle continues to guide my work to this day.

Andrea Gelsomino

Owner and co-founder of The Outdoor Project, I achieved my goal of working on skis, on a bike, or in trekking shoes. Besides trying to save the outdoor world, I am a project manager at Trentino School of Management where I specialize in destination strategy, product development, change management, and innovation. I am also a wine lover and therefore have specialized in wine tourism and outdoor planning for wine destinations. I spend my life traveling, skiing, cycling, and visiting wineries, so I'm always working. But it’s ok…

How We Work

Here are some of the tools and methods we use to engage local communities and plan the development of territories, focusing on outdoor and more.

MetHOD

San Gallen

"The analysis of visitor flows using the San Gallo method for destination management allows us to map the tourist phenomenon, understood as the set of interactions between tourists and the territory: where flows concentrate, how people move, which services they use, how the hospitality and transport systems react, and which infrastructures are most affected. This type of information is crucial for understanding the real impact of tourism on the territory, not only in quantitative but also qualitative and behavioral terms. Moreover, it enables us to think and plan not only based on numbers but on the actual needs of tourists and the dynamics that require a response. Applying this method to the outdoor world provides us with the opportunity to obtain a comprehensive and holistic representation: how does the outdoor product relate to other tourist products? What are the priorities and needs of the tourist system and the territory? What are the growth margins and development potential? It's a collaborative, participatory, dynamic method that places the real needs of guests and the knowledge of local actors at the center."

Outdoor Lab is a two-day hands-on workshop that brings together experts and professionals in the field to explore opportunities and challenges related to sustainable planning of outdoor activities/experiences in outdoor-oriented territories. The workshop aims to:

Facilitate practical discussions on the outdoor development of tourist and non-tourist territories.
Reflect on the concept of balance: between humans and the environment, infrastructure and wilderness, conservation and economy.
Identify solutions, best practices, and guidelines for sustainable outdoor product planning.
Gather ideas and proposals for outdoor development specific to the targeted area.

The typical program spans two days, ideally with overnight stays "in the field" (in a refuge, camping, or similar accommodation).

The first day involves on-site visits where the TOP team and a select group of local operators explore the territory to assess its outdoor characteristics and potential.
The second day focuses on synthesizing findings and debating topics related to balanced planning and development in sensitive mountain areas, as well as the relationship between outdoor activities, tourism, and the well-being of the territory.

The output of the second day is a "programmatic document" that outlines guidelines for outdoor design in the area concerning disciplines, users, unique territorial elements, human/cultural/identity components, sustainable development, balance between the territory and visitors, as well as ideas and proposals for developing outdoor activities through concrete and achievable projects.

Partners

We work closely with companies that share our approach to the outdoors as a force for positive change in local communities. Together, we aim to guide territories from the strategic phase to implementation. Explore our partners!

Trail Zone

Outdoor Advisor

Just Good Tourism

Winedering

Frame & Work

Contact Form

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