Visit California & Kind Traveler Launch Regenerative Tourism Program to Empower Travelers to Give Back to Communities Across the Golden State

With more than 97% of travelers revealing it’s important for their vacation dollars to positively impact the communities they visit (Kind Traveler 2022 Impact Tourism Report), and 55% of Americans forfeiting vacation days each year, it has never been easier to dream big and plan a vacation 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 now travel kindly and support more than 25 California-based, vetted charities advancing both community wellbeing and environmental sustainability.

“As the first state to partner with Kind Traveler on a statewide regenerative travel program, we are thrilled to kick off 2023 by encouraging travelers to not only plan a trip to California, but to plan one that gives back to our communities,” said Caroline Beteta, president & CEO of Visit California. “Responsible and sustainable tourism is about ensuring that travel benefits both the visitors and the communities they are visiting. With every booking, travelers will provide a direct benefit to communities across California.”

The way it works is simple: Through Kind Traveler’s Give + Get hotel booking and education platform, travelers unlock exclusive offers from participating Kind Hotels with a $10 or more donation to a local charity that positively impacts the community they are visiting, or to another charity of choice on the platform. 100% of donations are given to the selected charity.

Travelers receive positive impact metrics with every booking to learn exactly how their travel dollars are supporting the local community along with local neighborhood guides to inspire conscious travel and tree planting opportunities. As an example, a $10 donation to Farm to Pantry in Sonoma County will provide 23 servings of produce for those facing food insecurity. In Monterey County, a $10 donation to Rancho Cielo Youth Campus will support 1/3 of the cost per day for a young person’s education.

Discover the new opportunities for 2023 to plan your vacation and travel kindly in the Golden State:

Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board
Hotels: Hotel Erwin, Hotel Indigo Los Angeles Downtown, an IHG Hotel, Hotel Per La, Sonesta Los Angeles Airport LAX, The Garland; Impact Partners: Marine Mammal Care Center LA, Midnight Mission, spcaLA, Venice Family Clinic.

Monterey County Convention & Visitors Bureau
Hotels: Bernardus Lodge & Spa, Post Ranch Inn, The Sanctuary Beach Resort; Impact Partner: Rancho Cielo Youth Campus.

North Lake Tahoe & Visit Lake Tahoe
Hotels: PlumpJack Inn, The Landing Tahoe Resort & Spa; Impact Partners: Take Care Tahoe, UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center.

Santa Monica Travel & Tourism
Hotels: Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows, Hotel Casa Del Mar, Hilton Santa Monica Hotel & Suites, Le Merigot Santa Monica Hotel, Pierside Hotel, Santa Monica Proper Hotel, Shutters on the Beach, The Ambrose Hotel Santa Monica, The Shore Hotel Santa Monica, Viceroy Santa Monica; Impact Partner: Santa MoniCARES.

Sonoma County Tourism
Hotels: The Lodge at Bodega Bay, The Stavrand; Additionally, The Stavrand, The Gables Wine Country Inn, Wildhaven Sonoma and are amongst the first hotels in California to enroll in Kind Traveler’s new community impact certification, Every Stay Gives Back (launching Feb. 2023). Impact Partners: Charlie’s Acres Farm Animal Sanctuary, Farm to Pantry, Pepperwood Preserve.

Visit Greater Palm Springs
Hotels: Azure Sky Hotel, Kimpton Rowan Palm Springs, Miramonte Resort & Spa, The Good House. Impact Partners: Friends of the Desert Mountains, The LGBTQ+ Community Center of the Desert.

Visit Oakland
Hotels: Kissel Uptown Oakland - The Unbound Collection by Hyatt, Moxy Oakland Downtown, Oakland Marriott City Center; Impact Partner: Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation.

Additional hotels and charities throughout California:
Hotels: Allegretto Vineyard Resort, Brannan Cottage Inn, Carneros Resort and Spa, Holbrooke Hotel, Hotel San Luis Obispo, North Block Hotel, The National Exchange; Impact Partners: Bear Yuba Land Trust, Napa Land Trust, Surfrider Foundation SLO Chapter.

"We are delighted to mobilize the first statewide regenerative travel program in partnership with Visit California, creating 38 new opportunities for travelers to give back and make a positive impact in communities across the state,” said Jessica Blotter, Co-Founder & CEO of Kind Traveler. “While giving back to charities connected to destination wellbeing helps California create a sustainable future, studies share that it’s also related to higher levels of trip satisfaction.”

A Kind Destination: California
Infusing tourism with the principles of stewardship is the key to the longevity of travel in California. Innovative by nature, Visit California is the first state DMO to mobilize Kind Traveler’s Kind Destination Program in advancing destination stewardship and sustainable & regenerative travel. Through Visit California’s seven guiding principles for tourism sustainability and a responsible travel code for visitors, Visit California recognizes the importance of encouraging destination stewardship efforts to preserve its iconic beauty and communities. Set across 12 distinct regions, California proudly boasts nine National Parks (the most of any state), 30 National Forests, 840 miles of diverse coastline, 37 natural landmarks, 147 National Historical Landmarks, 280+ State Park units, 3 World Heritage Sites, and 49.2 million acres of protected lands.

To start planning your kind vacation and #TravelKindly visit: https://www.kindtraveler.com/content/kind-destination-visit-california.

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Media Contacts:

Visit California Media Contact
Kristen Bonilla
916-319-5421
kbonilla@visitcalifornia.com

Kind Traveler Media Contact
Jessie Burns
702-461-7508            
Press@KindTraveler.com

For downloadable images, please see our media gallery here.

ABOUT KIND TRAVELER
Kind Traveler, a women-and-veteran-owned public benefit corporation, is the world’s first socially conscious Give + Get hotel booking and media platform that empowers travelers to positively impact the communities they visit through a network of 150+ destination-specific charities tied to the UN Global Goals. In advancing sustainable and regenerative tourism initiatives, Kind Traveler’s mission is to harness the next generation of travelers into a financial force that addresses some of the world’s greatest challenges and provides a positive impact to support local communities, the environment, and animals. Recognized with global awards from Fast Company (World Changing Ideas Award), Travel + Leisure (Global Vision Award), Newsweek (Future of Travel Award), Lufthansa Innovation Hub and UNWTO, Kind Traveler represents Kind Hotels and tourism boards in 22 countries globally. Visit us at KindTraveler.com and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.

ABOUT VISIT CALIFORNIA
Visit California is a nonprofit organization with a mission to develop and maintain marketing programs – in partnership with the state’s travel industry – that keep California top-of-mind as a premier travel destination. For more information about Visit California and for a free California Official State Visitor's Guide, go to visitcalifornia.com. For story ideas, media information, downloadable images, video and more, go to media.visitcalifornia.com.

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