Kind Traveler and Visit California Partner to Foster Sustainable Travel

Just in time for National Plan for Vacation Day on Jan. 31, the first statewide regenerative travel program launched between Visit California and Kind Traveler, a sustainable travel booking platform. The program spotlights new opportunities for travelers to make a positive impact in the communities they visit while unlocking exclusive offers. Participating properties include more than 58 iconic hotels across 13 stunning destinations in the Golden State — featuring 38 brand-new hotels and impact opportunities for 2023.

With more than 97% of travelers revealing they feel 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 and fosters necessary relaxation and mental health benefits, but also generates 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.

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

Travelers also 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. For 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.

Listed below are the current participating destinations, hotels and charities. To learn more about joining the Kind Traveler platform through Visit California, visit the co-op page.

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 include:
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.