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Kind Traveler Launches, Empowering Travelers to Do Good

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LOS ANGELES—Today the travel industry welcomes Kind Traveler, the first “Give + Get” hotel booking platform that transforms travelers into a financial force that benefits communities, the environment, and animals. Travelers “give” to a local or global charity; as reward for their donation, they “get” an exclusive rate to book directly with the world’s best hotels and unique properties. All of the donations raised on the Kind Traveler platform are given to charity. This new travel site has tremendous potential for positive global impact, considering the financial power of the seven-trillion dollar travel industry. Last year alone more than one billion trips were taken.

According to Phocuswright’s “Good Travels” research study, “Nearly 75 percent of travelers polled think it’s important, somewhat important or extremely important that their travel dollars benefit the communities they visit.” Booking through Kind Traveler, donations support top-rated charities designed to impact local and global communities. The study also found that price is still the leading reason for booking with a particular travel company. By offering an exclusive rate on the hotel stay, Kind Traveler has created a solution that addresses both the consumer’s price motivation, as well as their desire to make a difference.

Kind Traveler is completely different than an online travel agency (OTA), primarily because of the booking process and the manner in which they profile the hotel. In terms of booking, the Kind Traveler development team created unique technology that sends the traveler’s information from Kind Traveler’s site directly to the hotel’s booking engine to complete the transaction. This direct booking provides a significant value for the hotel and traveler, allowing them to communicate directly with each other—before, during and after their stay. In terms of the hotel profile, Kind Traveler highlights the property’s local charitable affiliation and “Kind Factors”—the term they use to explain how the hotel is impacting individual wellness, sustainability, and community. This unique way of telling the hotel’s story communicates a commitment to corporate social responsibility, at a time when transparency is expected from today’s travelers and consumers.

Site Includes Travel Blog

Another major distinction between Kind Traveler and other travel booking sites is their desire to educate. According to Phocuswright, “three of 10 giving travelers were prompted to volunteer or donate because of something they read, heard, saw or experienced.” Kind Traveler’s blog provides stories that inspire travel while underscoring the importance of giving back, living consciously, and choosing with purpose.

Kind Traveler is positioned to make an impact on both a global and a local level. Kind Traveler’s goals are purposefully aligned with the United Nation’s Global Goals for sustainable development: preventing poverty and hunger, protecting the planet, and promoting wellbeing for individuals and animals. Kind Traveler aims to tackle these global issues through their network of global charities including the American Red Cross, The Salvation Army, Make-A-Wish, WildAid, Arbor Day Foundation, World Food Program USA, Keep A Breast, Project Aware, Animal Defenders International, The Gentle Barn, Little Kids Rock, and Bright Pink.

On a local level, when a hotel joins the platform, Kind Traveler helps them to facilitate an alliance with a local charity. This gives travelers the ability to address hyper-local issues through partners like the Surfrider Foundation Miami, Feeding South Florida, Boys & Girls Club Hollywood & Palm Springs, PAWS Chicago, New York Restoration Project, City Harvest, Community Housing Partnership, Bob Hope USO, Donda’s House, Two Hands Two Cans, Solmar Foundation, and Fundación Brisas.

Access to Exclusive Hotel Rates

“Our win-win platform offers solutions for everyone,” said CEO & Co-Founder Jessica Blotter. “For travelers, they become warriors for good and support hotels that are making a positive impact in the world—while receiving exclusive hotel rates. For hotels, they cultivate new relationships with cause-minded consumers and take another step towards corporate social responsibility. For charities, they receive 100 percent of donations and a new, sustainable channel for fundraising.”

Kind Travelers can now book hotels in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Miami, Palm Springs, Los Cabos, Acapulco, Manzanillo, and Turks and Caicos, with more destinations to come. This charity-driven company would not be possible without the support of hotel partners such as Virgin Hotels, 1 Hotels, Denihan Hospitality Group, COMO Hotels & Resorts, Solmar Hotels & Resorts, Grupo Brisas, Hollywood Roosevelt, Two Bunch Palms, Colony Palms, Hotel Angeleno, Hotel G, Serrano Hotel, Kensington Park, and The Mosser.

Kind Traveler’s mission has been supported by its founding sponsors Fathom and Gensler. Supporting sponsors include Visit California, Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board, Soapbox Soaps, LSTN Sound Co., Tourism Cares, Ethical Traveler, Travel + Social Good, Love Goodly, Unicomm and Acure Organics.

For all charity information and destinations, visit www.kindtraveler.com.

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