Tourism Cares hosts its 2024 Meaningful Travel Summit with the Willamette Valley from 30 Sept to 2 Oct

Tourism Cares, a non-profit advancing sustainability within the travel industry, will launch its 2024 North  American Meaningful Travel Summit in partnership with the Willamette Valley Visitors  Association on  30 September  –  2October.  The Summit, held in Eugene, Oregon,  focuses on uniting, inspiring, and activating the industry around best practices in sustainable tourism and meaningful travel by growing partnerships, building relationships, and highlighting Willamette Valley’s leadership in responsible travel. 

More than 150 professionals from across the travel industry will gather at this sold out program to explore how meaningful travel can drive local impact and enhance the visitor experience. This year’s Summit will focus on inclusion and accessibility in travel, agritourism, and community-based tourism, showcasing local organizations,  non-profits, and businesses who are making a positive difference in their communities through travel and tourism. The objectives for this year’s North  American Meaningful Travel Summit include:  

• Connecting professionals to vetted non-profits and social enterprises for  product development 

• Facilitating cross-sector networking opportunities to build partnerships

• Providing actionable best practices in destination stewardship and  community tourism 

• Inspiring collective action through the commitments made by Summit  attendees  

“Tourism Cares’ North American Meaningful Travel Summit is a travel conference unlike any other as it brings together travel professionals across all sectors to collectively work together and explore how we can contribute to positive social,  environmental, and economic impact through tourism,” shares Greg Takehara, CEO  of Tourism Cares. “Our programming is designed to tackle global issues through a local lens, providing attendees with practical strategies and tactics around sustainable tourism. The Willamette Valley is an exemplary model of how tourism  can be a force for good, and we are excited to inspire our attendees to create similar  impact-driven programs in their own regions.” 

At the core of the Summit is a comprehensive educational program, featuring local community voices and industry leaders. These experts will share insights on topics such as regenerative tourism, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), and sustainable business models and partnerships. Key educational sessions will include agritourism  and rural community empowerment; understanding disability inclusion in travel; and building sustainable and meaningful partnerships. 

Participants will also engage in immersive tours showcasing the Willamette Valley’s commitment to sustainable tourism, providing firsthand insight into meaningful travel’s positive impact on the environment and local communities. 

“The Eugene, Cascades & Coast region offers Oregon’s greatest outdoor adventures in easy-to-reach, uncrowded places,” noted Andy Vobora, Travel Lane County’s Vice  President of Stakeholder Relations. “Three strategic pillars guide our efforts to promote leisure travel, sports, and conventions – sustainability, accessibility and inclusion. We could not be more thrilled to host the Tourism Cares’ North American  Meaningful Travel Summit and have attendees experience everything we have to  offer here in the Southern Willamette Valley.”  

As part of Tourism Cares’ Meaningful Travel Program, the Willamette Valley launched its Meaningful Travel Map, an interactive tool for the travel trade that showcases vetted, sustainable, community-led enterprises, products, services,  accommodations, and tours. The Meaningful Travel Map of the Willamette Valley includes 20 local organizations from across the region that are working to promote environmental conservation, sustainable farming and winemaking, cultural heritage,  and regenerative practices. To further build connections with the travel trade and these local impact partners, Summit attendees will engage with several of the Map’s  Impact Partners through immersive tours and experiences, including: Antiquum  Farm, Camas Country Mill, 20X21 Mural Project, First Nature Tours, Jordan Schnitzer  Museum of Art, King Estate Winery, Museum of Natural and Cultural History, Oregon  Black Pioneers, and Strides for Social Justice. 

“The Willamette Valley is fortunate to have forward-thinking leaders in regenerative and sustainable travel, and our organization is honored to share their stories,  showcasing what makes each one unique,” says Jessy Fabrizio-Stover, Destination  Development Manager for the Willamette Valley Visitors Association. “We are proud  to have this opportunity to offer memorable, hands-on experiences at our diverse  farms and storied cultural and heritage sites with community leaders throughout the  Willamette Valley.” 

To further support local impact-driven organizations in the Willamette Valley,  Tourism Cares has invested $15,000 in grant funding to INSPIRE Culinary Academy, a program dedicated to equipping low-income, disenfranchised youth (ages 16-24)  with essential culinary, nutrition, safety and sanitation, and employability skills. This initiative provides participants with a pathway to a sustainable career, offering them the opportunity to earn a living wage and achieve financial independence. 

The Tourism Cares North American Meaningful Travel Summit with the Willamette  Valley is made possible through the support of the program’s hosts and sponsors:  the Willamette Valley Visitors Association, Travel Lane County, American Society of  

Travel Advisors (ASTA), Expedia Group, Destination Greater Victoria, International  Inbound Travel Association (IITA), Experience Kissimmee, MMGY Global, Rocky  Mountaineer, Simpleview, Travel Oregon, Trip Mate, Brand USA, 4VI Social Enterprise 

Tourism Cares is thrilled to announce that Thailand will be the host destination for the 2025 Global Meaningful Travel Summit. In partnership with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), the event is scheduled to take place in the fall of 2025.