After Jessica Blotter and Sean Krejci returned from a trip to Belize, they felt inspired to create a simple way to give travelers opportunities to make a difference in the destinations they visit. So, in August 2016 they launched Kind Traveler, the socially conscious hotel booking platform. This unique “give and get” concept rewards vacationers with exclusive hotel rates and other perks when they make a $10 nightly donation to one of the platform’s 50 partnering nonprofit groups.
So far, Kind Traveler contributions have fed 77 animals rescued from illegal circuses; funded 630 days of music lessons for students in underserved schools; and helped plant 250 trees in U.S. forests impacted by fires and natural disasters. Travelers also get a bonus from the internal benefits of giving back.
“Contributing to the local community evokes feelings of happiness and purpose in addition to creating a more meaningful travel experience,” Jessica says.
Want to leave a lasting impact during your summer vacation? Here are five of Kind Traveler’s favorite hotels and the organizations they benefit:
Hotel G, San Francisco
Using Kind Traveler to book a stay at the centrally located Hotel G in San Francisco’s iconic Union Square helps support animal welfare through the San Francisco Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SF SPCA).
These donations feed and provide shelter for rescue cats and dogs, meanwhile travelers can also attend one of the SF SPCA’s local events when they visit. In addition to its partnership with Kind Traveler, the 149-room boutique hotel sells the creative works of local artists with developmental disabilities on behalf of the nonprofit Creativity Explored.
The Standard, East Village, New York City
With a lobby housed inside a historic tenement-style building, it’s clear The Standard, East Village not only embraces the swanky and eclectic soul of New York City but also supports it. By contributing to the Lower East Side Girls Club (LESGC), the hotel helps provide free education and entrepreneurship training to local young women. LESGC also runs several local businesses like Sweet Things Bake Shop and Girl Made Gift Shop that offer job training and employment to teens and young mothers.
The Palms Hotel and Spa, Miami Beach
Those who vacation at this luxurious beachfront resort can support the Surfrider Foundation Miami Chapter. The nonprofit keeps beaches clean, tests and manages water quality and restores sand dunes. While in town, travelers can also volunteer during Surfrider’s quarterly beach cleanups. As an added perk, Kind Travelers receive a $50 spa credit per person per stay at the Palms Spa.Casa Chameleon at Las Catalinas, Costa Rica
A night at Casa Chameleon at Las Catalinas in Guanacaste, Costa Rica benefits Alfalit, a worldwide literacy and education nonprofit, which has helped more than 8 million people achieve literacy since 1961. A traveler’s nightly donation provides basic resources for students learning to read, write and do basic math. Beyond supporting education, the eco-friendly hotel adheres to green initiatives that help protect the local environment, including the adjacent 1,000 acres of tropical forest.
Hotel El Ganzo, San Jose del Cabo, Mexico
With the Sea of Cortez as its backdrop, Hotel El Ganzo in San José del Cabo, Mexico is making strides to educate its local community about the benefits of art, music and sustainable agricultural through the El Ganzo Community Center. Located on site, the center helps locals understand how to plant and harvest their own food. This encourages people to take care of the environment and grow ingredients for nutritious meals.
