During National Volunteer Month, Travelocity launches interactive map to connect volunteers with nonprofits in top summer vacation destinations across the U.S.
More than half of travelers want to volunteer in states affected by natural disasters
DALLAS, Texas (March 28, 2019) – With temperatures warming up across the country, the countdown to summer travel season has officially begun. And this year, as travelers start scouting out destinations, they’re picking places where they can feel good and do good at the same time.
Volunteering on vacation is one of the fastest growing travel trends in 2019, according to a recent survey from Travelocity®, with one in four U.S. travelers reporting they’ll volunteer on a trip this year[1] and more than two-thirds citing that they’ve volunteered on a previous vacation[2].
“As travelers become more socially conscious of the impact travel has on communities, we’re seeing an increase in people searching for ways to do good in their favorite destinations,” said Bruce Horner, marketing director at Travelocity brand. “In fact, nearly half of travelers (47 percent) say that volunteer opportunities would influence where they vacation this summer.”
Traveling for Disaster Relief
The survey also revealed that U.S. travelers – particularly Gen X bookers – increasingly want to help causes closer to home. More than 40 percent said they will travel out of state to volunteer and over half (54 percent) said they want to volunteer in states and cities affected by natural disasters such as wildfire, flooding or hurricanes.
To support disaster relief efforts in the U.S., Travelocity is collaborating with the American Red Cross. Travelers who book a hotel stay using promo code TRAVELFORGOOD will receive $25 off their booking and trigger a $25 donation from Travelocity throughout April for National Volunteer Month.
Finding Nonprofits in Need
Travelocity is helping vacationers easily find and add volunteer opportunities to their itineraries through its refreshed Travel for Good™ program. A new interactive map on Travelocity.com/TravelForGood connects travelers to more than 30 nonprofits registered through Benevity Charity Database and verified by Charity Navigator and Guidestar that are accepting volunteers on an ongoing basis throughout the year.
The nonprofits support causes that travelers indicated were most important to them – including humanitarian (61 percent), animal welfare (53 percent) and environmental (40 percent) issues[3] – and are located in the travel site’s top 10 most booked destinations this summer.
Many of the volunteer opportunities are suitable for families and projects range in length from just 30 minutes to a full day. Examples include:
- Help end hunger. Travel to New York City to volunteer for Rescuing Leftover Cuisine. This non-profit organization saves food from New York City restaurants that would otherwise go to waste, and volunteers deliver food to those in need in 30-minutes or less.
- Care for rescue animals. Dog and cat-lovers can help out at an animal shelter, such as Best Friends Animal Society in New York, Lucky Dog Animal Rescue in Washington, D.C., or PAWS Chicago.
- Promote sustainability. Spend a vacation day in San Francisco tending the land at Alemany Farm, the largest urban farm in the Bay Area, which educates visitors on how to become healthy food producers. Or build backyard gardens to promote healthy eating and community sustainability with Green Light in New Orleans.
Become a Go-Gooder
Travelocity is making it even easier to Travel for Good by giving away three volunteer trips as prizes in its #SweepstakesForGood promotion April 2-May 13 on Instagram[4]. The drawings for a trip will take place April 16, April 30, and May 14, 2019. To enter the sweepstakes, users should follow @Travelocity and like and comment on the sweepstakes post using the hashtag #Sweepstakesforgood.
The first trip Travelocity is giving away will benefit Alemany Farm in San Francisco. The winner and a friend will spend four days in San Francisco, including up to five hours at Alemany Farm to plant seedlings and clean up garden beds and orchards. Learn more about the sweepstakes at Travelocity.com/sweepstakesforgood.
Highlights from Travelocity’s Volunteer on Vacation Survey
- One in four travelers say they’re planning to volunteer on vacation this year
- 62 percent of respondents said they would volunteer on vacation with family (kids over 18) and 31percent said they would do it alone
- 42 percent of respondents would travel out of state for a volunteer trip
- More than half (54 percent) would volunteer in a community affected by natural disasters
- Almost half of travelers (47 percent) would book a destination because it offers a volunteer opportunity they are passionate about
- Travelers are most likely to support humanitarian (61 percent), animal welfare (53 percent) and environmental (40 percent) causes
Vacationers looking to make their next trip both memorable and meaningful can explore volunteer opportunities, tips from fellow volunteer travelers and more at Travelocity.com/TravelforGood.
1 Report based on Google Consumer Survey conducted among 300 US adults 18+ from March 11-13, 2019.
[2] Report based on Qualtrics survey conducted among 504 US adults 18+ from November 2018.
3 NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Legal residents of the 50 United States (D.C.) 18 years and older. To enter and for Official Rules, including odds, and prize descriptions visit Travelocity.com/sweepstakesforgood. Void where prohibited.
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