I think you've really tapped into an idea here that will have far reaching consequences. There are already a subset of travelers that consider themselves to be "conscious" and your goals of moving this out into the mainstream is very timely. Just as environmentalism and social consciousness is becoming more mainstream with movie stars and rock stars leading the way, it is important that we move to being more conscious in all aspects of life. You mention corporate travel as a potential venue for your services, I feel it is important for travelers to stay at locally run hotels rather than contribute to further growth of huge corporations, have you conducted any market tests to see if this would be a possibility to offer this rather than the usual corporate travelers staying at a Hilton/Hyatt/Marriott types of places?
Also, tourism is seen in development as being able to diversify an economy and create a service industry where before there were none. You focus of "giving" in these travels, I think it is important for you to focus more on how the travelers can benefit the locales they visit through spending their travel funds with and among the locals rather than simply give a hand out. Purchasing goods and services will go a much longer way in positively impacting the local economy and creating a cycle of reinvestment and injecting capital into an economy than simply giving.
Tyler,
Thank you for your comments. I think you bring up a very important point regarding "hand-outs" which we do not feel benefit communities in the long-term. Guests who travel with our company are linked with local social and conservation projects focused on self-sustainability. If guests would like to help support those initiatives they have a wonderful opportunity to do so but never in the way of hand-outs. They are guided and educated in the most appropriate ways to fund the projects. The important aspect of the traveler's support is that they have the opportunity to see and learn for themselves how the initiatives benefit the community. This physical and emotional connection to the project encourages respect for the local community and its efforts to self-sustain.
Regarding the hi-end and or corporate travel accommodations. Smaller locally run hotels are always an option with us yet we recognize a wonderful trend developing in many countries whereby luxury hotels are involving themselves in major community efforts as well - some are truly embracing it and the results are astounding. We have made it a focus to identify these hotels as they are providing wonderful avenues for economic growth on a large scale. For example, Punta Islita Hotel in Costa Rica is an extremely luxurious hotel yet it has created a beautiful marriage between its business and the local community by offering training and education, microloans, working together in recycling and resource projects and in enhancing and preserving culture. They are just one of many. These hotels are socially conscious while providing the necessary amenities for higher end travelers.
Our operation is very interested in partnering with your program. We have an entry called "Hermanos" which, on a very base level, is similar to what you are proposing. Perhaps we could cross promote our initiatives.
Have a look at Hermanos.... a Model of Micro-Philanthropy and lets see what we can do together.
I have read your entry and comments and you are offering a program that is truly moving people. You are definitely on to something. I am pleased to see that your efforts do focus on stabilizing the economic situation of certain population segments - it is key that "traveler giving" does not get in the way of self-sustainability. It's a very delicate matter. I do agree however with Yunus' Grameen Bank program of loan repayment and feel in the long run they get to do for themselves and feel very proud of that.
Would love to chat with you more about how our projects can link.
Lydia Dean
I have read your entry and comments and you are offering a program that is truly moving people. You are definitely on to something. I am pleased to see that your efforts do focus on stabilizing the economic situation of certain population segments - it is key that "traveler giving" does not get in the way of self-sustainability. It's a very delicate matter. I do agree however with Yunus' Grameen Bank program of loan repayment and feel in the long run they get to do for themselves and feel very proud of that.
Would love to chat with you more about how our projects can link.
Lydia Dean
Hello Lydia,
I really love the emphasis you put on both sides educating and sharing. In what ways to travelers have the opportunity to share their knowledge, skills and resources? Is there an open forum of some sort? Are travelers encouraged prior to their trip to think about what they could share?
How many trips have you planned? Have many individuals have taken part in Travel with Conscience trips? How many people work on your staff?
I look forward to hearing your response to this and the other comments.
Thank you for your questions Dana. We are currently finishing our program network in Costa Rica and will be launching within the week. I was so please to see two new competition entries from Costa Rica (Lapa Rios - Cayuga Sustainable Tourism) - two hotel organizations we are highlighting within our Costa Rica trips. We saw for ourselves what they are doing...fabulous.
Our program in Vietnam/Cambodia/Thailand is recently finished and we have just launched that as well. We are only starting to book travel - I hope to have lots of successful stories to share are the year goes on!
Our focus is on educating the traveler (before the trip and before a project meeting) They need to be aware of the social and environmental issues facing each region. The avenues to contribute are structured so the projects themselves can make sure that the kind of help they are being offered supports self-sustainability. The guest will have previewed specific wish lists beforehand. Where I see guests contributing their knowledge and skills is another matter and I'm pleased you asked - this is where great networks will be formed between projects and travelers. With respect to orphanages and social institutions, we have had great interest from trained professionals in the US who would love the chance to travel and collaborate, offer workshops and training information. Environmental projects are open to learning/sharing ideas with travelers who may have helpful ideas and methods. The benefits of linking the traveler with community projects will have far reaching effects because it goes beyond financial support.
Thank you for your time and thought.
Lydia
Hi Lydia,
Thanks for your reply. How do you approve of the locations that you send people to? Is there a certain standard or criteria that the local places have to meet?
Thanks
Dana Frasz
Changemakers
Dana,
I will assume that you are referring to the outreach projects - We are fortunate to be connected to programs in Costa Rica and Indochina that have clearly defined needs with measurable results - this will not be so simple as we expand all over the world. The focus at Travel with Conscience is to be networked with organizations, such as Ashoka whose strengths are in identifying, prescreening and qualifing self-sustainable projects. Our role is then to connect the traveler to these good projects. In keeping a direct relationship with the programs we can constantly evaluate changing needs and results.
Lydia
Travel with Conscience
Comments
Dear Lydia,
I think you've really tapped into an idea here that will have far reaching consequences. There are already a subset of travelers that consider themselves to be "conscious" and your goals of moving this out into the mainstream is very timely. Just as environmentalism and social consciousness is becoming more mainstream with movie stars and rock stars leading the way, it is important that we move to being more conscious in all aspects of life. You mention corporate travel as a potential venue for your services, I feel it is important for travelers to stay at locally run hotels rather than contribute to further growth of huge corporations, have you conducted any market tests to see if this would be a possibility to offer this rather than the usual corporate travelers staying at a Hilton/Hyatt/Marriott types of places?
Also, tourism is seen in development as being able to diversify an economy and create a service industry where before there were none. You focus of "giving" in these travels, I think it is important for you to focus more on how the travelers can benefit the locales they visit through spending their travel funds with and among the locals rather than simply give a hand out. Purchasing goods and services will go a much longer way in positively impacting the local economy and creating a cycle of reinvestment and injecting capital into an economy than simply giving.
Thank you in advance for your response,
Tyler Ahn
Ashoka's Changemakers
Tyler,
Thank you for your comments. I think you bring up a very important point regarding "hand-outs" which we do not feel benefit communities in the long-term. Guests who travel with our company are linked with local social and conservation projects focused on self-sustainability. If guests would like to help support those initiatives they have a wonderful opportunity to do so but never in the way of hand-outs. They are guided and educated in the most appropriate ways to fund the projects. The important aspect of the traveler's support is that they have the opportunity to see and learn for themselves how the initiatives benefit the community. This physical and emotional connection to the project encourages respect for the local community and its efforts to self-sustain.
Regarding the hi-end and or corporate travel accommodations. Smaller locally run hotels are always an option with us yet we recognize a wonderful trend developing in many countries whereby luxury hotels are involving themselves in major community efforts as well - some are truly embracing it and the results are astounding. We have made it a focus to identify these hotels as they are providing wonderful avenues for economic growth on a large scale. For example, Punta Islita Hotel in Costa Rica is an extremely luxurious hotel yet it has created a beautiful marriage between its business and the local community by offering training and education, microloans, working together in recycling and resource projects and in enhancing and preserving culture. They are just one of many. These hotels are socially conscious while providing the necessary amenities for higher end travelers.
Hi Lydia,
Our operation is very interested in partnering with your program. We have an entry called "Hermanos" which, on a very base level, is similar to what you are proposing. Perhaps we could cross promote our initiatives.
Have a look at Hermanos.... a Model of Micro-Philanthropy and lets see what we can do together.
jim
I have read your entry and comments and you are offering a program that is truly moving people. You are definitely on to something. I am pleased to see that your efforts do focus on stabilizing the economic situation of certain population segments - it is key that "traveler giving" does not get in the way of self-sustainability. It's a very delicate matter. I do agree however with Yunus' Grameen Bank program of loan repayment and feel in the long run they get to do for themselves and feel very proud of that.
Would love to chat with you more about how our projects can link.
Lydia Dean
I have read your entry and comments and you are offering a program that is truly moving people. You are definitely on to something. I am pleased to see that your efforts do focus on stabilizing the economic situation of certain population segments - it is key that "traveler giving" does not get in the way of self-sustainability. It's a very delicate matter. I do agree however with Yunus' Grameen Bank program of loan repayment and feel in the long run they get to do for themselves and feel very proud of that.
Would love to chat with you more about how our projects can link.
Lydia Dean
Hello Lydia,
I really love the emphasis you put on both sides educating and sharing. In what ways to travelers have the opportunity to share their knowledge, skills and resources? Is there an open forum of some sort? Are travelers encouraged prior to their trip to think about what they could share?
How many trips have you planned? Have many individuals have taken part in Travel with Conscience trips? How many people work on your staff?
I look forward to hearing your response to this and the other comments.
All the best,
Dana Frasz
Ashoka's Changemakers
Thank you for your questions Dana. We are currently finishing our program network in Costa Rica and will be launching within the week. I was so please to see two new competition entries from Costa Rica (Lapa Rios - Cayuga Sustainable Tourism) - two hotel organizations we are highlighting within our Costa Rica trips. We saw for ourselves what they are doing...fabulous.
Our program in Vietnam/Cambodia/Thailand is recently finished and we have just launched that as well. We are only starting to book travel - I hope to have lots of successful stories to share are the year goes on!
Our focus is on educating the traveler (before the trip and before a project meeting) They need to be aware of the social and environmental issues facing each region. The avenues to contribute are structured so the projects themselves can make sure that the kind of help they are being offered supports self-sustainability. The guest will have previewed specific wish lists beforehand. Where I see guests contributing their knowledge and skills is another matter and I'm pleased you asked - this is where great networks will be formed between projects and travelers. With respect to orphanages and social institutions, we have had great interest from trained professionals in the US who would love the chance to travel and collaborate, offer workshops and training information. Environmental projects are open to learning/sharing ideas with travelers who may have helpful ideas and methods. The benefits of linking the traveler with community projects will have far reaching effects because it goes beyond financial support.
Thank you for your time and thought.
Lydia
Hi Lydia,
Thanks for your reply. How do you approve of the locations that you send people to? Is there a certain standard or criteria that the local places have to meet?
Thanks
Dana Frasz
Changemakers
Dana,
I will assume that you are referring to the outreach projects - We are fortunate to be connected to programs in Costa Rica and Indochina that have clearly defined needs with measurable results - this will not be so simple as we expand all over the world. The focus at Travel with Conscience is to be networked with organizations, such as Ashoka whose strengths are in identifying, prescreening and qualifing self-sustainable projects. Our role is then to connect the traveler to these good projects. In keeping a direct relationship with the programs we can constantly evaluate changing needs and results.
Lydia
Travel with Conscience
Check out the article on Philanthropic Travel at http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/11/giving/11TRAVEL.html?_r=1&ref=todayspaper&oref=slogin
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Tyler Ahn
Changemakers
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