Travelers’ Philanthropy: Giving Time, Talent &Treasure

1. Travelers’ Philanthropy: Giving Time, Talent &Treasure Center for Responsible Travel Martha Honey, Co-Director, CREST Jill Talladay, Tourism Consultant Travelers’ Philanthropy Workshop Cape Cod Hospitality Marketing Association Thursday, March 22, 2012

2. Definition: fil-an'-thro-pilove + humansthe act of helping people Philanthropy is an act of helping based on love or strong caring.

3. The Good Samaritan Painting by Rembrandt

4. Definition of Travelers’ Philanthropy … tourism businesses and travelers making concrete contributions of ‘time, talent, or treasure’ to local projects that are beyond what is generated through normal tourism business transactions.

5. Travelers’ Philanthropy is… • Helping tourism businesses become actively involved as ‘good citizens’ in their host communities. • Enriching the travel experience through meaningful, culturally sensitive, and productive interactions with people in the host communities. • Generating travel resources to assist local projects that provide ‘a hand up’, not ‘a hand out’: to promote social empowerment, sustainable long term development, and environmental conservation in host destinations.

6. Travelers’ Philanthropy: Deepens Meaning of Responsible Tourism 3 legs of Responsible Tourism Travelers’ Philanthropy Benefits to conservation Benefits to communities Guest education

7. Origins of Travelers’ Philanthropy within the Travel Industry • Relatively new concept • Name coined in 2001 by U.S. organization: Held 2 small meetings for tourism businesses • 2003: CREST took over: Developed multi-dimensional program

8. Travelers’ Philanthropy Model Tourism Companies CSR Statement/ Certification Local Project or NGO Corporate Contributions Guest Contributions Tour Operators Accommodation Chains Restaurant Transport Vail Resorts & RockResorts New York Restoration Project Change for Children Intrepid Foundation National Forest Service

9. Travelers’ Philanthropy Documentary:

10. Travelers’ Philanthropy Promotional Video Clip

11. Travelers’ Philanthropy Today • Growing corporate social responsibility within the tourism industry • Civic-minded travelers and travel businesses giving “time, talent & treasure” • New source of development aid to host communities • Coalescing into more organized “best practices” • Grown exponentially, with many millions flowing into community projects • Capturing media attention

12. “Travel philanthropy is now core to sustainability,” said David Krantz, program director for the Center for Responsible Travel (CREST).

13. Pioneer Companies

14. Moving Toward Mainstream

15. Why are Companies Involved? • Vanguard are ecotourism companies with strong social & environmental ethic • Rising needs in poor countries ~ shrinking government budgets & donor aid • “Insurance policy” ~ easier to do business in host community • Offers marketing differentiation • Increases staff pride and commitment • Increasing consumer interest & demand

16. Consumer Support for Travelers’ Philanthropy • 70% of upscale U.S. travelers would pay $150 more for hotel with “responsible environmental attitude.” • 46 million U.S. travelers chose companies that “donate part of their proceeds to charities.” • In U.S., individuals represent largest single source (75%) of philanthropic dollars: est. $230 billion/year. • CREST’s study in Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica found travelers expressed willingness to contribute $68 to community programs. • Therefore well organized travelers’ philanthropy initiatives hold great potential for generating increased and sustained contributions .

17. Some Ways to Give Backto Communities & Conservation • Business or staff gives in-kind or financial support or provides time & expertise • Organized tours or interaction with local projects integrated into the tourism experience • Fee split between tour operator and project • Guests contribute money, supplies and/or volunteer to projects identified by tourism businesses • Tourism company (hotel, tour operator, attraction, restaurant) helps connect travelers with community projects • Solicits donations; add on to room night or restaurant bill

18. How Big is Travelers’ Philanthropy? • Grown exponentially~ thousands of companies • Well organized programs show success. • Lindblad Expeditions raised $4.5m in donations in Galapagos in decade • Myths & Mountains’ READ Global Fund raised over $10m in 20 years. • Virgin Airlines raises over 1 million lbs/year for children. • But total amount of giving unknown. • “Most companies keep no records and very few have systems in place to be able to easily report how much is raised by companies, staff and travelers.” (2009 :Travel Philanthropy Report, UK)

19. But…‘Doing good’ doesn’t always mean ‘doing right’… • Unintended consequences of ‘giving’: • Dependence, divisions, favoritism • Volunteers can take jobs from locals • Businesses lack “development” & nonprofit expertise • Hard to identify right projects & partners • Impacts on community & conservation if tourist $’s or volunteers dry up • How to ensure longevity of donations • How to give a hand up, not a handout

20. “Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today.  Teach a man to fish; and you have fed him for a lifetime” - Author unknown

21. This is where CREST Comes in • Travelers’ Philanthropy Website: • www.travelersphilanthropy.org • Donations portal • Trainings • companies, community organizations, NGOs, tourism associations, governments, aid agencies, foundations • Tool Kit • Video documentary • Short Course • Experts Bureau • Travelers’ Philanthropy Handbook • Conferences: 2004, 2008, 2011

22. Travelers’ Philanthropy Site www.travelersphilanthropy.com

23. Website: Donations Portal www.travelersphilanthropy.org

24. 2nd Travelers’ Philanthropy Conference December 2008 ~ Arusha, Tanzania • …. 230 participants from around the world

25. 3rd International Travelers’ Philanthropy ConferenceJune 2011 ~ Monteverde, Costa Rica 150 participants 20 countries

26. New idea…Destination Wide Travelers’ Philanthropy Funds • Potential to raise more support, involve more businesses and organizations. • Through community consultation develop a common list of community & conservation projects. • Create democratically selected committee & transparent processes oversee Fund. • Through tour businesses, solicit donations &/or volunteers for these projects. • Create common marketing materials, tours, presentations. • Monitor, evaluate projects; solicit new projects.

27. Monteverde, Costa Rica

28. Organizational Structure: Monteverde Project

29. Model for Pilot Project Monteverde, Costa Rica /Expertise Advisory Committee: 6 community members Plus: 1 staff person Seed Funding Monteverde Institute: InstitutionalSupporter Local Project Participating Business

30. Why Cape Cod? • Help preserve environment & cultural heritage • Connect visitor to Cape & Islands- Enhance the visitor experience • Reach more socially responsible visitors who spend more money • Generate greatly needed resources for projects and nonprofits

31. Travelers’ Philanthropy SurveyMarch – April 2011 • Online survey of businesses by GWU graduate students • 20 questions • 32% responded (67 out of 211) • Survey findings: • 86% had not heard of of Travelers’ Philanthropy • 51% contributed each year to one or more community organizations or projects • Amount of donations ranges from $50 to $100,000 /year • Mean average = $7790

32. Survey of Cape Cod Businesses

33. Cape Cod Destination-wideTraveler’s Philanthropy Initiative • “Care for the Cape & Islands” • First CREST destination-wide Initiative in North America • Headed up by Jill Talladay

34. Care for the Cape & Islands:Steps Taken To Date • 1. Discussed idea with Cape businesses • 2. Assembling Advisory Committee • 3. Developing Pilot Program to launch late spring 2012 • 4. Created basic website • 5. Bookmark • 6. Researched other existing programs • 7. Researched potential projects • 8. Exploring fiscal sponsorships • 9. Writing business plan

35. Care for the Cape & Islands Website www.careforthecapeandislands.com

36. Possible Community Projects ~ Some Candidates Coast Guard Heritage MuseumThis museum aims to preserve the long and exciting history of the US Coast Guard

37. The Provincetown Center for Costal Studies The Provincetown Center for Costal Studies is dedicated to the issues of ecosystem management, habitat protection, and marine mammal and marine wildlife conservation. They collaborate with shipping companies, fishermen, municipal leaders, and government officials. In order to preserve natural habitats and ecosystems, the Center is comprised of policy makers, scientists, managers, and professors.

38. Cape Cod Museum of Natural History Founded in 1954, this museum is dedicated to education and exploration through exhibits of local ecosystems, animals, and costal change. It is compromised of a museum of natural history, a nature education center, and a steward of 400+ acres of land next to the museum.”

39. National Marine Life CenterNMLC is a nonprofit dedicated to the treatment of sea turtles and seals, mentioning future plans for dolphins, porpoises, and small whales. They also focus on public outreach and education by reach out to schools and even other states. They are comprised of scientists, educators, and management professionals.

40. Cape & Islands Historical AssociationThis Association is a database for historical landmarks and museums on the Cape of Massachusetts. The site breaks down the different areas of the Cape and provides respective links or each museum or site. In addition to acting as a database, the website provides an events calendar throughout the region.

41. Mass Audubon: Protecting the Nature of MassachusettsThis organization works on a number of different levels to promote conservation and sustainability. They work through the study and implementation of advocacy, land protection, conservation science, and climate change and energy. Reaching out to the public and running camps and educational programs for children is another way that they push forward their message..

42. PossibleModel: Care for the Cape & Islands /Expertise Institutional Supporter Advisory Committee Plus 1 Staff Member Seed Funding Local Projects Participating Business Hotels Gift Shops Tour Operators Attractions Restaurants Transportation

43. How Travelers’ Philanthropy Could Work on the Cape? 1) Regions or towns select project(s) to be supported by businesses in that area 2) Individual businesses select their own projects to support Both options have common: • Brand such as “Care for the Cape & Islands” • Advisory board & staff • Website & promo materials • Financial management

44. Hotels That Help:Joie de Vivre Gives Hotel Adagio

45. Oregon Travel Philanthropy Fund Funding Themes • Carbon footprint reduction • Community infrastructure • Sense of place • Environmental stewardship • Food & culture Businesses Double Diamond Lodge Bed and Breakfast

46. PossibleModel: Care for the Cape & Islands /Expertise Institutional Supporter Advisory Committee Plus 1 Staff Member Seed Funding Local Projects Participating Business Hotels Gift Shops Tour Operators Attractions Restaurants Transportation

47. Travelers’ Philanthropy:Care for the Cape & Islands Visit our websites: www.travelersphilanthropy.org www,careforthecapeandislands.org Thank you! Martha Honey mhoney@responsibletravel.org Jill Talladay talladayj@aol.com

49. Managing Guest Expectations • [Jill: I’ll put this together tonight]

50. Marketing, Fundraising & Communicating • [Jill: I will put this together]