Malibu, California – 16 August 2017 –
Kind Traveler, touted as the travel industry’s “first socially-conscious, Give + Get hotel booking platform and blog”, nearly triples its hotel and destination inventory in its first year of business. Expanding on its mission “to empower travellers to become a force that benefits communities, the environment, and animals”, Kind Traveler now includes 130 hotels, destinations, and charities.
Celebrating 2017 as the UN-designated International Year of Sustainable Tourism, the 57 hotels, 50 charities, and 23 destinations that have teamed up with Kind Traveler are working together to fulfill its mission that is strategically aligned with the United Nations’ Global Goals for Sustainable Development: preventing poverty, protecting the planet, and promoting wellbeing for all.
Under the initiative, travellers give a US$10 nightly donation to a local charity that positively impacts the neighborhood they are travelling to, or to a charity of choice. As reward for their donation, travellers unlock an exclusive hotel rate and special perks with properties throughout the United States, Mexico, Canada, the Caribbean, and Costa Rica. All donations raised on the Kind Traveler platform are given to charity.
“We are witnessing a powerful shift towards consciousness in traveler spending, and Kind Traveler is facilitating the connection between travelers and businesses that want to be an active participant in addressing societal and environmental challenges,” said Jessica Blotter, CEO & co-founder of Kind Traveler.
Kelley Louise executive director of Travel+SocialGood, a nonprofit launched in partnership with +SocialGood Network, a United Nations Foundation initiative, said: “Today there are 1.2 billion international travellers and there are 1.8 billion projected by 2030.
“The impact of tourism on the world can be positive or negative. Kind Traveler helps everyday travelers become a positive force for good by providing values-aligned vacation options that serve the greater good.”