Visit.org Launches Distribution Partnership with Expedia® Expanding Network for Social Travel Activities
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The lead marketplace of immersive and impactful travel experiences, Visit.org, has launched a distribution partnership with Expedia, one of the world’s largest full-service online travel companies. The venture will offer Visit.org’s social impact travel experiences to Expedia’s massive audience. Customers will be able to add short experiences hosted by local social ventures (nonprofits and other community-based enterprises) with the click of a mouse through Expedia Local Expert®.
Visit.org creates mainstream tourism products for its charitable partners that are unique to their cause pro-bono. The platform offers users these authentic activities that can be added to any trip itinerary in 67 countries. 100% of the hosts’ revenue is then invested back into the local community that they aid. The partnership is poised to reach the goal of featuring all 545+ activities and will continue to grow as the Visit.org network of partners expands.
Expedia travelers may book over 50 impactful experiences on more than 60 points of sale including Expedia.com®, localized Expedia Local Expert sites and sister sites such as LastMinute.com.au®, Wotif.com®, Orbitz®, Travelocity®, etc. After a user books flights or accommodations, they are prompted with the opportunity to book social travel experiences located in the area they are visiting. Once they find an activity that fits their interests they are able to make an instant booking to add the short immersive activity to their travel plans. This technology expands the social ventures tourism product offering by making it both mainstream, user-friendly, and easy to book.
Travelers may discover ancient Greek mythology in Athens through walking in the footsteps of philosophers ($40), try weaving with craftswomen in a Rwanda village ($62), make coffee with farmers in at a plantation in Guatemala, learn about upcycling and urban gardening inNew York City ($28) or adventure around Siem Reap on a motorbike ($84). Travelers fold these unique experiences into their itineraries that benefit local communities and hosts’ revenue is invested back into the local community.
“Responsible travel is one of Expedia’s core values. Expedia Local Expert has been live for over 15 years and are thrilled to join the UN Year of Sustainable Travel by debuting this collaborative effort with Visit.org in 2017. We appreciate the opportunity to promote sustainable travel experiences that will benefit local communities.” said Jen O’Twomney, Vice President of Expedia Local Expert.
“Partnering with Expedia Local Expert has vastly expanded our audience and therefore potential advocates for the various causes we promote. Expedia is a leader in the travel industry and we are honored that they’ve chosen to expand their tour offering by adding in philanthropic experiences with Visit.org. We share a common mission of increasing local impactful travel to communities globally,” said Michal Alter, Visit.org CEO.
