As the first statewide regenerative travel program kicks off with Visit California and Kind Traveler, Visit Greater Palm Springs, (VGPS) a Kind Destination partner in the program, has launched a new wave of opportunities for travelers to make a positive impact when visiting Greater Palm Springs.
To mobilize this new opportunity, participating hotels in the region prioritizing sustainability and community impact are sharing exclusive offers on KindTraveler.com, incentivizing travelers to give back to selected nonprofits. The local nonprofit beneficiaries include Friends of the Desert Mountains, working to preserve land and support education, conservation and research in the Coachella Valley, and LGBTQ Community Center of the Desert (The Center), providing an open and welcoming environment for all members of the LGBTQ family.
With more than 97 percent of travelers revealing it’s important for their vacation dollars to positively impact the communities they visit, per the “Kind Traveler 2022 Impact Tourism Report,” it has never been easier to dream big and plan a trip that not only creates meaningful memories, necessary relaxation and mental health benefits, but also a lasting community impact. Through the simple act of booking a hotel with Kind Traveler, travelers can support the local community, with 100 percent of donations supporting the selected nonprofit.
Through Kind Traveler’s Give + Get hotel booking and media platform, travelers unlock exclusive offers from participating Kind Hotels with a $10 or more donation to Friends of the Desert Mountains or LGBTQ Community Center of the Desert, or to another charity of choice on the platform. Positive impact metrics are shared with every booking empowering future visitors with specific details on how their travel dollars will support the local community. For instance, a $10 donation to the former will provide outdoor science supplies for one East Coachella Valley youth; a $10 donation to the latter will provide one meal at The Center’s Community Food Bank. Travelers additionally have an opportunity to plant trees at the time of booking with Arbor Day Foundation; one dollar plants one tree.
Travelers looking to give back beyond a financial donation will also discover opportunities and experiences with participating charities. Each charity profile contains a “How You Can Travel Kindly” feature spotlighting additional ways travelers can get involved with the charity. For instance, with Friends of the Desert Mountains, you can sign up for an interpretive hike or nature walk, culture and history classes, bird watching, stargazing parties and yoga with a ranger. With LGBTQ Community Center of the Desert, explore a range of events from yoga, knitting classes, general support groups, youth hangouts, and more.
To increase sustainability awareness, travelers also have an opportunity to learn about the sustainability, wellness and community impact features of each property. Local neighborhood guides are shared with each hotel profile inspiring conscious, mindful, local travel opportunities and other ways to do good for the day or give back locally.
Participating hotels on Kind Traveler include Azure Sky Hotel, Kimpton Rowan Palm Springs, Miramonte Resort & Spa and The Good House (the first hotel in Greater Palm Springs to enroll in Kind Traveler’s new community impact certification, “Every Stay Gives Back”).
For more information, visit www.kindtraveler.com.
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