By Goway Travel

Who is your favourite teacher? Is it the teacher who inspires you to be curious? The teacher who challenges you? Or is it the teacher who excites you by bringing new lessons to your classroom every day? 

Education is a lifelong journey, and lifelong journeys are made for globetrotters. Travel is our favourite teacher because it teaches you everything your favourite teacher can, and more. You can also do it with your family. 

Family trips and multi-generational trips that children and adults can learn from together are one of the best ways to learn about the world. You stand in front of the same sites, ask different questions, and compare answers over dinner. With many of those lessons lining up with subjects already on a school schedule, here are seven subjects that family travel teaches better than schools. 

1. History 

History lessons in a classroom are often just a list of dates. History lessons on the road are much more meaningful. At Giza, your family can stand beside the Great Pyramid, a 4,500-year-old structure raised from roughly 2.3 million stone blocks and the only surviving Wonder of the Ancient World, while a licensed Egyptologist explains how it was built. In Cambodia, you can cycle through the Angkor Archaeological Park, which spreads across some 400 square kilometres of temples, moats, and reservoirs. In Peru, you can ride the train to Machu Picchu, a fifteenth-century Inca estate set at 2,430 metres in the Andes. Visiting these sites with local guides often means getting answers to your family’s questions from people with direct, personal ties to the history being told. 

2. Physical Education 

Physical education on the road is as much about the terrain as it is the activity. In New Zealand, you can walk the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, a roughly 20-kilometre route over volcanic ridgelines, or watch your teenager step off the Kawarau Bridge outside Queenstown, where commercial bungy jumping began in 1988 with a 43-metre drop. In Costa Rica, your family can paddle Class III and IV rapids on the Pacuare River and cross the Monteverde cloud forest on canopy ziplines. Meanwhile, in Zambia’s South Luangwa Valley, where guides pioneered the walking safari in the 1950s, you follow a scout in single file and learn to read tracks, wind direction, and distance, which turns a morning of exercise into a lesson in attention. 

3. Arts 

Travel teaches you that art is something people do, not just something kept inside museums. In  Australia’s Red Centre, Arrernte artists, custodians of one of the world’s oldest continuous art traditions, give your family a step-by-step lesson and explain how they sell the finished pieces through community-owned art centres that return revenue to the artists. But don’t worry, museums still earn their place in the travel curriculum. Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus resides in the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, a collection the last Medici heiress willed to Florence in 1737 on the condition that nothing ever leave the city. At Zeitz MOCAA in Cape Town, South Africa, 100 galleries are carved out of a derelict 1920s grain silo, helping keep contemporary African art on the continent where it was produced. 

4. Cooking 

Cooking lessons in Hoi An’s central market begin at seven in the morning, when a chef hands your family a shopping list of fresh, local ingredients. By noon you are folding spring rolls and learning why fish sauce, lime, sugar, and chilli balance nearly every Vietnamese dish. Meanwhile, take your family to Marrakech, where you buy saffron and preserved lemons in the souk, layer them with lamb and garlic in a tall clay urn, seal it with paper and string, and carry it to the farnatchi, who tends the furnace beneath the neighbourhood hammam, to prepare Tanjia. Learning about the world’s cultures through its gastronomy is undoubtedly one of the best ways to do so, and a travel curriculum evolves with every step of your journey. 

5. Math 

Have you ever found yourself in a math class wondering “When will I ever use this in the real world?” Well, you don’t have to worry about that with a travel curriculum. Consider creating a budget with your family in Japanese yen, where prices run to three and four digits, and every vending machine in Tokyo rewards every correct answer with delicious snacks. Or, think of the calculations surrounding your trip to Fiji, when your family flight crosses the International Date Line and loses a calendar day flying out and regains it flying home. In Jaipur, India, geometry lessons leap off the page: the Samrat Yantra at the Jantar Mantar observatory, a stone sundial 27 metres tall, has read local solar time to within about two seconds since the 1730s. 

6. Science 

The scientific method begins with asking a question and doing background research, then forming a hypothesis, testing it with experiments, collecting and analyzing data, and finally, drawing conclusions. With a travel curriculum, that looks like a week in the Galapagos. You ask why the tortoises on Santa Cruz carry rounded domed shells while the ones on Española have shells that curve upward at the front. Your guide, a licensed naturalist, explains what they know. Your family arrives at a hypothesis: the saddlebacks come from dry islands where food grows out of reach. You test it by studying each coastline before you land, predicting the shell from the vegetation, then checking the prediction against the tortoise. By the last island, your family holds data and lifelong memories from a week of observation that helped draw the same conclusions as Charles Darwin in the mid-19th century. 

7. Social Studies 

Social studies lessons begin at the edge of a Fijian village, where your family waits to be invited in. Custom asks you to present a bundle of yaqona, the kava root, to the chief in a ceremony called sevusevu. Your family watches permission, protocol, and reciprocity operate in real time rather than through a book. Lessons about community-tourism await in Kenya, where the community conservancies bordering the Maasai Mara convert your nightly fees into land leases for Maasai families, funding schools and keeping wildlife corridors open. Similarly, island families on Lake Titicaca in Peru collect income from their homestays that host your family. Experiences like these teach the importance of responsible travel and supporting local communities so they are supported for generations to come. 

Taking your family outside of the classroom and on the road is one of the most rewarding educational experiences. It teaches you to manage and organize your time, embrace adventure, step outside your comfort zone, and, best of all, understand why the world is the way it is. So, gather your family and never stop learning by choosing a life of travel, together. 

About Goway Travel 

Goway Travel is one of North America’s leading travel companies with over 55 years of experience offering customized travel experiences to over 115 countries on all seven continents. Goway is a family-owned company still owned and operated by Founder & President Bruce Hodge that employs over 700 staff members worldwide. Its global headquarters is in Toronto, and it also has offices in Vancouver, Los Angeles, Sydney, and Manila. Goway sells retail and wholesale travel packages, plans trips for Globetrotters, and helps travel professionals turn clients’ travel dreams into reality. It also offers group, air consolidation, and corporate travel services.  

Reach out and chat to a Goway destination specialist or visit goway.com

The post 7 Subjects Family Travel Teaches Better Than School appeared first on USTOA Blog.

Written by Boris Sahakyan, the founder of Arara Tour 

The Caucasus and Central Asia: What are these regions about? 

The Caucasus and Central Asia are two unique regions that have recently become increasingly attractive to tourists. They have much in common due to centuries of intertwined history, including the Silk Road and Soviet past, geographical proximity, and a shared cultural heritage. Yet, each country has its own unique traditions and highlights. Lying between Eastern Europe and Western Asia the Caucasus includes three neighboring countries: Armenia, Georgia, and Azerbaijan. Central Asia in its turn is located at the crossroads of Eurasia and includes Five Stans: Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan.  

So, what makes this land so attractive? Tourists are drawn by the rich cultural heritage, mountain nature, authentic national cuisine, deep-rooted traditions of hospitality, and the historical connection to the Great Silk Road. For thousands of years, the vast lands of the Caucasus and Central Asia have served as important crossroads of trade connecting East and West. That’s why history buffs often choose combined tours to both regions to fully plunge into the atmosphere of Silk Road and follow in the footsteps of ancient traders.  

Despite similarities, each country has its own unique characteristics and highlights. Being one of the first countries to adopt Christianity as state religion, Armenia is proud of its ancient churches set high in the mountains. Georgia is known as a cradle of winemaking with wine history stretching back over 8,000 years meanwhile Azerbaijan boasts traditions of carpet weaving and sericulture. In Uzbekistan travelers can plunge into the oriental fairy tale in Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva. Kyrgyzstan will surprise with its nomadic traditions, yurt life and the beauty of high-altitude landscapes. Kazakhstan in its turn is the land of endless steppes and nomads. Landlocked Tajikistan known as the Roof of the World stuns with its snow-peaked mountains and Turkmenistan is less discovered land with white marble capital and world renown Gates of Hell.  

Responsible Travel as a Solution to New Challenges 

Growing interest in these regions creates new challenges. The increased number of tourists contributes to economic development, creation of new jobs, and supports growth of local businesses. However, an insufficiently thought-out approach can place pressure on natural areas and historical monuments. So, what is the solution?  

The answer lies in responsible travel. It is not only about environmental protection – this approach encourages using local services, supporting family-owned businesses, respecting cultural norms, caring for nature, and creating opportunities for local residents to directly benefit from tourism development.  

Responsible travel is not yet very developed in the Caucasus and Five Stans, but over the past 6-7 years, there has been significant progress in the Caucasus countries. One of the main challenges is the lack of awareness among travelers and tour agencies, limited infrastructure and the regions’ scale and diversity. Eight countries represent different approaches to tourism development. As a result, there can be no single model of responsible tourism that applies equally to all of them. 

Thus, large tourism companies have an important role to play. Fortunately, more and more local tour operators are beginning to recognize the importance of this approach, and the regions are entering a new era of responsible tourism development. 

In Armenia, Georgia, and Azerbaijan responsible tourism means reaching beyond the luxury city centers and supporting communities. A small family-run guesthouse instead of a large international chain, dinner at a local family instead of a standard restaurant, purchasing a product directly from an artisan, and participating in master classes on preparing local dishes or on carpet-weaving – these are steps that are slowly becoming part of journeys through Armenia, Georgia, and Azerbaijan. 

In Central Asia, responsible tourism must address other challenges. The ecosystems of the steppes, deserts and high plateaus require a respectful approach. Respect for nomadic traditions is equally essential. A multi-country expedition across all Five Stans requires careful logistical planning to minimize environmental impact. 

Ultimately, responsible travel in the Caucasus and Central Asia is a conscious approach to travel, ensuring the impact we leave behind won’t harm future generations and helping preserve the magic of the Silk Road for centuries. 

About Arara Tour 

Arara Tour is a tour operator and destination management company in the Caucasus and Five Stans specializing in creating immersive, carefully thought-out tours to Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. The company has its own local agencies in all the countries of the Caucasus and Central Asia. This gives a significant advantage in organizing cross-country tours as it eliminates double profiting, provides a high level of quality, and gives an opportunity to quickly resolve any issues directly on-site. Having the own agencies also allows to effectively manage and follow the tour process at every stage. Arara Tour positions itself as а responsible tour operator with the tours designed to promote and support local communities, preserve cultural heritage, and minimize environmental impact. The company works with local hotels and guesthouses, family-run restaurants, producers of authentic local products like dried-fruits or cheese, small boutique wine yards and others. Arara is also a proud member of USTOA. For more information, visit www.araratour.com  or contact by email info@araratour.com. 

The post The New Era of Responsible Travel in the Caucasus and Central Asia  appeared first on USTOA Blog.

By Tess St. John, Tauck

There’s a certain satisfaction in visiting somewhere new – especially places that feel relatively untouched. A national park at sunrise. An underwater coral garden, quietly teeming with life. A stretch of beach where the horizon feels endless, waves crashing on the shore with a soft hush. These are the kinds of places that make you want to bring something home, something physical to hold onto the memory.  
 
For me, it’s always a rock or a shell, something glinting in the sand or smooth enough to skip across a glasslike lake.  
 
But once I bring it home, it never holds the same spark it did when I first found it. 

Maybe it’s the lighting. Maybe it’s the absence of wind or water or context. Or maybe it’s something simpler: once removed from its origin, it feels out of place, as if I pulled it from its own home. What felt like a small, harmless keepsake begins to feel like something taken.  
 
I can’t help but be reminded of Theodore Roosevelt standing at the edge of the Grand Canyon, urging future generations to “leave it as it is,” every time that realization hits. His words weren’t just about land – they were about restraint, about understanding that some things hold their meaning precisely because they remain where they are.  
 
And preservation, I’ve come to realize, extends far beyond the landscapes we’ve fought to protect.  

It lives in the people we meet along the way – the lacemakers in Venice shaping traditions passed down through generations; the local guides who carry histories not found in textbooks, in Petra’s rose-colored corridors where ancient stone wears quietly under modern footsteps; the communities whose identities are woven into the places we visit, whether one state over or an ocean away. A destination is never just its land; it is everything that fills it, sustains it, and gives it a voice. 

A place is not just what we see during peak seasons. There are kids walking to school, mothers walking miles for water on the same roads we take off-road jeep rides on – daily motions that exist long before we arrive and long after we leave.  

Often, we step into the frame of a destination without ever seeing the full picture. What we experience is only a fraction, a moment shaped for us to pass through. 

Our footprints fall on paths long established by others, and it’s up to us to move through them without shifting their course. These rhythms hold stories, traditions, and ways of life that don’t pause for our arrival. 

But it’s not all cautionary. We’re wired to explore, to connect, to step into lives beyond our own. And when done thoughtfully, travel has the power to build up the very communities we visit. 

It can look like choosing to shop locally supporting a seventh-generation winemaker in whose craft is as much inheritance as it is livelihood. It can mean contributing to the restoration of centuries-old landmarks and cultural sites, or sitting with a local family over a shared meal, where stories are passed across the table and culture is preserved not in monuments, but in memory. 

In these small, intentional choices, tourism becomes less about taking and more about giving back. 

At the end of the day, I don’t need the rock to remember the place. What stays with me are the stories – the subtle shifts in perspective that make the world feel both wider and more connected. It’s learning how to belong without taking from what was never ours to begin with ­– and leaving it whole for the next traveler. 

About the Author

Tess St. John is a writer for Tauck, where she explores the intersection of travel, culture, and human connection. Her work blends thoughtful storytelling with a deep appreciation for the places and people that shape each journey, inviting readers to experience the world with curiosity, care, and intention.

About Tauck

For more than 100 years, Tauck continues to deliver authentic travel experiences through exclusive access with some of the best guides in the world. With all-inclusive trips spanning 70+ countries across seven continents including river and small ship cruising, land journeys, safaris and family adventures, they continually raise the bar to find new ways to connect travelers more deeply with the places they explore. 

The post Preserving the Past for the Next Traveler: How Tourism Helps Protect Cultural Heritage  appeared first on USTOA Blog.

By Turespaña

Spain’s islands are home to some of the country’s most distinctive culinary traditions. From the Mediterranean flavors of the Balearic Islands to the volcanic cuisine of the Canary Islands, gastronomy here is deeply connected to the landscape, the sea and centuries of island life. 

The Balearic Islands: Mediterranean Tradition on a Plate 

The Balearic Islands are known for iconic specialties such as Maó cheese, sobrasada and ensaimadas — products that perfectly capture the essence of Mediterranean island cuisine. 

Maó Cheese: Menorca’s Signature Taste 

Maó cheese is one of Menorca’s most famous products. Made from cow’s milk, its flavor ranges from soft and creamy to rich and intense depending on the curing process. 

Influenced by sea breezes and local pastures, it has become one of the defining symbols of Menorcan gastronomy. 

Sobrasada and Ensaimadas: Mallorca’s Classics 

Sobrasada, Mallorca’s traditional paprika-cured sausage, is celebrated for its rich flavor and smooth texture. Equally iconic is the ensaimada, the island’s light spiral pastry dusted with powdered sugar. 

One of Mallorca’s most traditional combinations is ensaimada filled with sobrasada — a perfect balance of sweet and savory that reflects the originality of Balearic cuisine. 

The Canary Islands: Bold, Vibrant and Authentic 

Canarian cuisine is simple, colorful and full of flavor, shaped by volcanic landscapes, Atlantic waters and local traditions. 

From papas arrugadas with spicy mojo picón to fresh fish, slow-cooked stews and the ever-present gofio, every dish reflects the culture and history of the islands. Tropical fruits, volcanic wines and desserts rich in almonds and honey complete a cuisine that feels both rustic and unforgettable. 

The Canary Islands blend Spanish heritage with unique Atlantic influences, creating flavors that are vibrant, comforting and deeply authentic. 

La Geria: Wine Born from Volcanoes 

Among the Canary Islands, Lanzarote stands out for one of Spain’s most extraordinary wine regions. In the vineyards of La Geria, vines grow in deep hollows carved into black volcanic ash and protected by curved stone walls from Atlantic winds. 

This ingenious method allows the plants to capture moisture in one of Europe’s driest climates, producing wines with a distinctive volcanic character. The contrast of green vines against endless lava fields creates one of the world’s most spectacular wine landscapes. 

From Maó cheese and ensaimadas to volcanic wines and Canarian specialties, the Balearic and Canary Islands offer a gastronomy shaped by nature, tradition and island life — authentic flavors that capture the true spirit of Spain’s islands. 

About Turespaña

Turespaña is the official Spanish Tourism Board, dedicated to promoting Spain as a sustainable travel destination. From vibrant cities and world-class gastronomy to breathtaking landscapes, rich culture and unforgettable experiences, Turespaña inspires travelers from around the world to discover everything Spain has to offer, all year round.

The post The Islands of Flavor: Gastronomy Across the Balearic and Canary Islands  appeared first on USTOA Blog.

By Molly Lacob, USTOA Global Social Impact Manager

Each year after returning from the annual Sustainability is Responsibility (SIR) summit, there is a sense of momentum amongst the USTOA community that reminds us why we fell in love with Travel and Tourism in the first place – the willingness to collaborate for the betterment of people and places. Our time in Anchorage, Alaska for the 2026 SIR Summit was a wonderful example of partnership in practice. Throughout the summit, Indigenous leaders, business owners, policy advocates, and sustainability champions came together to explore vital questions: How do we grow without exploiting? How do people, places, and policy work together? We heard from those working to protect wildlife habitat, manage visitor pressure, and ensure that tourism strengthens—not overwhelm—the communities that call Alaska home. What stood out most was the shared belief that successful tourism isn’t measured solely by visitor numbers, but by the long-term benefits it creates for residents, businesses, and the environment.  

The rapidly evolving world of responsible tourism inspires us to create the summits around the current focuses of our members, meaning each summit will look different. Gina Bang, from Avanti Destinations explains how this evolution has assisted their sustainability strategy. “SIR transformed how I think about my company’s role in this industry. We started asking “What does sustainability mean to us?” After five summits, we’re asking “How do we embed these principles into everything we do?” That’s the shift SIR creates—from awareness to action, from individual effort to collective movement.” 

The introduction of SIR Working Groups brought together a new range of expertise from members, local environmental advocates in Alaska, and our facilitator, Graham Miller. The working groups, divided into focus areas surrounding overtourism, climate risk, aviation, and carbon calculators, inspired in-depth discussions regarding the future of our industry, while simultaneously listening to ongoing case studies from locals working towards a better future for Travel and Tourism in Alaska. 

Julia Cope from USTOA’s newest Active Member Backroads, arrived at the summit as a member of the Climate Risk Working Group, yet left eager to follow along the progress of the remining three working groups, as they all offer guidance for her upcoming goals. “As a first time SIR summit attendee, I can confidently say that the 2026 SIR summit was a pinnacle professional experience in my career to date. Working in small groups with brilliant, experienced minds at the niche intersection of travel and sustainability and reaching actionable outcomes towards solutions for some of the greatest community and environmental challenges we face as an industry, all while surrounded by the beauty of Alaska’s Chugach mountains, was surreal.” 

While there is a consensus that progress has been made over the last five years, the SIR Community’s momentum only continues to grow, inspiring many to return year after year to evolve alongside their fellow USTOA members. Our time in Anchorage taught us how intentionally they are thinking about the future of tourism while balancing visitor growth with community wellbeing, cultural preservation, and environmental stewardship – all while navigating a complex policy environment. 

Kelly P. Sahner from The Sahner Group shared “Attending my 5th USTOA Sustainability Is Responsibility (SIR) event was truly special. A heartfelt thank you to Alaska for hosting us and to Graham Miller for once again delivering such thought-provoking insights and education. There is something genuinely energizing about being in a room full of people who share a deep commitment to sustainability and the future of travel not because they have to be there, but because they believe in it. That passion is palpable, and it’s contagious. Sustainability is not just important to our industry, it is essential to its future. What USTOA has built with SIR is remarkable: a platform that not only champions this cause but actively supports travel organizations at every stage of their sustainability journey. The leadership and dedication shown by USTOA continue to raise the bar for what our industry can and should aspire to.  Here’s to continuing the journey — together.” 

The SIR community displays the USTOA community’s strength so beautifully, as there is a deep understanding that the stronger our bonds as an association, the further we will go individually and as an industry. We leave each summit with stronger member to member connections, a deeper appreciation for our destination host, a long list of practices to implement within our organizations, and a renewed sense of responsibility for driving change. It’s almost as if the summit is our annual opportunity to take a step back from the responsible tourism “puzzle”, listen to our fellow member’s challenges, and rearrange the pieces to discover something that positively impacts travelers, tour operators, the value chain, and most importantly, the people who call the beautiful destinations home. None of this would be possible without the honesty, transparency, and storytelling of those throughout our industry. Anchorage reminded us that the future of tourism depends on collaboration, transparency, and a willingness to learn from one another. As destinations around the world grapple with growth, climate challenges, and changing traveler expectations, the conversations happening in Alaska offer valuable lessons for us all. 

For more information on the SIR Summit, and other opportunities to join our community, please visit the SIR Resources Hub. 

The post Lessons from Anchorage: 5 Years of SIR and a Growing Commitment to Responsible Tourism  appeared first on USTOA Blog.

By Su-Jit Lin, ALG Vacations®  

A quarter millenium of pursuing life, liberty, and happiness – an impressive milestone for a “great experiment.” In the past 250 years, the United States has become an international power, one of the most influential and wealthy nations on the planet, and the foundation for democracies everywhere. With such tremendous reach, both geographically and globally, it’s easy to forget that the little rebellion that changed the world started with just a baker’s dozen nascent states lining only a fraction of our East Coast. 

For those who want to commemorate the occasion with experiential reflection, better understand our national roots, or just want a great reason to explore America the Beautiful as it was two and a half centuries ago, here’s what to see and what to eat where it all started.  

The New England Colonies  

If there’s anywhere to start your journey through the American Revolution, it’s the region independence began. It was Rhode Island that was the first to renounce its allegiance to King George, soon joined by neighbors in New Hampshire, Connecticut, and of course, Massachusetts.  

In Providence, walk down Benefit Street, nicknamed the Mile of History, to experience colonial architecture and the comingling of civic and educational institutions with private residences that made it all the easier for a community to come together. Then pop over to fellow small state, New Hampshire, to downtown Portsmouth to continue your architectural tour. These 17^th century homes reflect how the first Americans lived, and touring the strip lets you end the day with the timeless dinner view overlooking the same coastal vistas the founding settlers back in 1623 experienced.  

Connecticut’s Revolutionary War sites are a bit more somber. In Redding, Putnam Memorial State Park is a must-visit. Reconstructed log buildings, preserved trails, and an interpretive museum for this 1778 winter encampment area turns the past into present for visitors. Similarly, there are taverns of that era across the state – the Griswold Inn in Essex, Marlborough Tavern, and Abigail’s Grille & Wine Bar in Simsbury are good stops. Even better, sync up your visit with a Revolutionary War reenactment at participating parks.  

But if you must choose one state only, make it Massachusetts.  Boston is rightly famous for the most historical tea party of all time and as the hometown of legendary players like Samuel Adams, John Hancock, Paul Revere, and more. Follow the Freedom Trail for a deep dive, or rent a car to visit famed battle towns Lexington and Concord, just 30 minutes away.  

Heritage Eats: Coastal locations made these colonies critically important to our independence, but also, wonderful to eat in. Have fried whole belly clams, oysters, clam chowders (New England or Rhode Island-style!), calamari tossed with cherry peppers, and lobster rolls–cold with mayo in Massachusetts and hot with butter in Connecticut–at every opportunity.  

Warm the belly with baked beans and roast beef sandwiches in Boston; chicken tenders where they were invented (New Hampshire); and apple cider doughnuts if you’re lucky enough to plan to be in New England in the fall. And if you’re eating across Connecticut, try New Haven white clam pizza by the coast, steamed cheeseburgers inland, or hamburgers in their original historic form – onion, tomato, and white toast, no ketchup. 

The Middle Colonies  

New England (rightfully) gets a lot of glory for their ideological contributions to this time in history, but Pennsylvania’s Philadelphia, the Cradle of Liberty, is no slouch. The Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution were drafted and signed at UNESCO World Heritage Site Independence Hall near the famed Liberty Bell. The Museum of the American Revolution provides an even deeper look at these events, making Philly a key part of any heritage tour.  

For those traveling by road, add a stop in York, PA, too. Its colonial village served as the U.S.’s temporary capital and was where the Articles of Confederation were first adopted. 

Meanwhile, New York, New Jersey, and Delaware bear the scars of their physical contributions.  

New Jersey is singled out as the Crossroads of the Revolution, boasting sites like George Washington’s key military headquarters in what’s now known as Morristown National Historic Park, and important battles such as the ones in Trenton and Princeton that  created turning points in the war.  

Across the Hudson River is Manhattan, what most people think when they imagine New York. George Washington certainly did, choosing the still-in-operation Fraunces Tavern to be the place to famously bid goodbye to his officers in 1783. Federal Hall National Memorial’s service as the nation’s first capital and home to the inaugural Congress and first Supreme Court certainly doesn’t detract from the city’s significance.  

But there’s so much more to what’s actually a massive state. There’s where the turning point of the war occurred (Saratoga) and where the largest battle of the war was fought (in Brooklyn). And in the capital, upstate in Albany, the Schuyler Mansion State Historic Site  offers a privileged peek at how the fathers of our nations lived and gathered for strategy and social affairs.

For something even more immersive, Jessop’s Tavern in Delaware, offers colonial-inspired fare in historic Old New Castle. This city is where the largest concentration of The First State’s Revolutionary War sites are located.  

Heritage Eats: Outside of the abovementioned venues, eating as the colonists did is a bit more challenging when the allure of this area’s cultural melting pots waft so fragrantly. You know to get pizza, bagels, and American Italian food, sandwiches from Jewish delis and bodegas, and to go to a diner. In New Jersey, you’ll want your egg sandwich with pork roll instead of bacon, and Disco Fries at night. In Philly, a cheese steak or roast pork sandwich with provolone and broccoli rabe is essential. Upstate in New York, Buffalo wings and Rochester’s Garbage Plates are regional prides.  

But to tap into a historical palate, seek out Dutch/German-influenced dishes like pot pies, stews, apple dumplings, pierogies, and plenty of breads. And in Delaware, look to the sea, where blue crabs and raw bars are never a miss. 

The Southern Colonies 

With the concentration of historic sites and events occurring in the northern colonies, it’s easy to forget that it was the American South that bore the brunt of the battles, with intense and prolonged fighting from Maryland to Virginia to North and South Carolina and the tip of Georgia.  

To experience colonial life, there’s perhaps nowhere as famous as Virginia’s colonial Williamsburg, the world’s largest living history museum. Nearby, comprising the rest of the Historic Triangle, are Jamestown and Yorktown, both of which feature their own interactive reenactments, archaeological excavations, and even full-scale recreations of the original three ships that arrived in 1607.  

A state over, in Maryland, St. Mary’s City also boasts a large outdoor living history museum, including a 17^th century tobacco plantation and tall ship, while Annapolis’ colonial historic district and cobblestoned streets provide a look at urban life. And in Outer Banks, NC, the Roanoke Island Festival Park uses costumed interpreters to help visitors explore life as it was as far back as 1585. 

A focus on the Revolutionary time period, though, narrows the list to South Carolina: Charleston for its replica ship and downtown Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon; the Camden Revolutionary War Site, host of daily demonstrations of wartime life; and Brattonsville, where over 30 structures span the nation’s early centuries across 775 acres. Additionally, it’s one of the few remaining living history sites where the lives and stories of African Americans are told through interpretations.  

And if you can, add to your list Halifax, NC, where the first recommendation for independence was made. There, colonial crafts and living history activities occur regularly. Or visit Savannah, GA, whose history museum features artifacts from the war and streets offer timeless grace and beauty. 

Heritage Eats: Don’t skip the chance to eat all the crab dishes you can in Maryland, from cakes to soups. Vinegary Boardwalk Fries and oysters are recommended around those parts, too. You don’t want to miss out on Lowcountry South Carolina seafood either, where Gullah-inspired dishes like sweet shrimp and grits, gumbo, and garlic crabs or fried local fish tap into the West African heritage of the region. Pair with hush puppies and have boiled peanuts and pimento cheese if you get peckish in between meals. 

And of course, everyone knows how good meat is in the American South. Fried chicken is classic, especially with collard greens and cornbread, and you’ll want to try Virginia country ham in a biscuit, Pit Beef sandwiches, whole hog barbecue in various styles across the Carolinas (Lexington, Eastern/Piedmont, Carolina Gold), and Brunswick stew. Wash it down with sweet tea, then end with Smith Island cake, fudge shortbread Berger cookies, and peach and pecan pies when you can.  

About ALG Vacations

ALG Vacations^®, part of the Hyatt family (www.hyatt.com), is a collection of powerful and growing vacation brands widely recognized for providing the industry’s leading leisure travel experience across the world, as well as domestically in the United States. ALG Vacations is a member of the USTOA $1 Million Traveler’s Assistance Program. With more than three million passengers annually, ALG Vacations features well-established vacation brands including Apple Vacations^®, Funjet Vacations^®, Travel Impressions^®, Blue Sky Tours^®, and United Vacations^®. 

The post Celebrating the USA’s 250th Anniversary in its 13 Original Colonies  appeared first on USTOA Blog.

By WorldTrips Travel Insurance

If you’ve noticed that the best travel deals often come with a catch—a strict “no refund” policy—you’re not imagining it. The travel industry is undergoing a significant pricing shift, and it’s changing what it means to book a trip. Understanding what’s driving this trend can help you and your clients make smarter, more protected decisions. 

Why Are So Many Deals Now Non-Refundable? 

Airlines, hotels, and travel suppliers are increasingly using AI-driven “dynamic pricing” systems that adjust rates in real time based on demand, availability, and other factors. One of the clearest outcomes of this shift: the lowest prices are increasingly tied to non-refundable terms. 

Hotels, for example, offer non-refundable rates at discounts typically ranging from 5% to 15% compared to flexible options.¹ With travel costs remaining high, those savings are hard to pass up. But they come with real risk if plans change. 

Roughly 22% to 25% of hotel bookings today are non-refundable,¹ and that share is growing. Suppliers favor these bookings because they provide guaranteed revenue and reduce last-minute cancellations—which have exceeded 20% in some travel segments.² The result is a market where the most attractive prices come with the least flexibility. 

What This Means If You’re Booking a Tour or Package Trip 

Guided tours and travel packages are particularly affected. Tour operators build their packages using flights, hotels, and ground services and to offer competitive pricing, many of those components are now booked as non-refundable inventory. That means when you or your client cancels or changes a trip, the financial consequences can be significant. 

In group travel, the stakes are even higher. A few cancellations across a group can create serious losses when the underlying costs can’t be recovered. This isn’t a hypothetical, it’s the reality of how travel is being sold today. 

As a traveler, here’s what you should keep in mind: 

• The competitive price you’re seeing may be locked in, non-refundable in full or in part. 

• Cancellation policies have become stricter across the board, not just for budget options. 

• Flexibility now often comes at a premium and sometimes isn’t available at all. 

A Note for Travel Agents: This Is a Client Conversation Worth Having 

As a travel agent, you’re likely already navigating this shift firsthand. The packages and rates you book on behalf of clients increasingly involve non-refundable components, even when that isn’t always obvious upfront. Setting clear expectations early, and building protection into the booking process, is one of the best ways to preserve trust and avoid difficult conversations after the fact. 

Proactively discussing cancellation terms and travel insurance at the time of booking isn’t just good service. In today’s market, it’s essential client care. 

Travel Insurance: No Longer Optional 

As more trips are built on non-refundable components, travel insurance has shifted from a nice-to-have to a genuine necessity. Julie Biedenharn, VP of Sales at WorldTrips, explains: 

“Tour operators are carrying more financial exposure than ever before. When key components of a trip are non-refundable, even a small number of cancellations can have a meaningful impact on the business. Building travel insurance into the booking process is one of the most effective ways operators can protect both their clients and their own bottom line.” 

The numbers back this up. Squaremouth reports that travel insurance claims have risen 18% year-over-year, with payouts up 37%,³ largely driven by cancellations and trip interruptions involving prepaid, non-refundable expenses. That growth reflects how many travelers are experiencing the real financial impact of today’s stricter booking terms. 

Travel insurance can help by: 

• Reimbursing non-refundable costs if a trip is cancelled for a covered reason 

• Covering trip interruptions and unexpected changes mid-travel 

• Providing emergency medical coverage abroad, where personal health insurance may not apply 

• Giving travelers the confidence to commit to a trip knowing they have coverage 

Book Smart: Questions to Ask Before You Commit 

Whether you’re a traveler booking directly or an agent advising clients, these are the right questions to ask before finalizing any trip with non-refundable components: 

• Which parts of this trip are non-refundable, and what are the exact terms? 

• What happens financially if I need to cancel or change dates? 

• Is travel insurance included, or should I purchase a policy? 

• Does the insurance cover the full cost of my trip, including all pre-paid components? 

Travel Confidently in a Non-Refundable World 

The travel industry is more efficient than ever but also less forgiving when things don’t go as planned. The best prices today often come with the strictest terms, and that’s unlikely to change. For travelers and travel agents alike, the answer isn’t to avoid great deals. It’s to book them with the right protection in place. 

WorldTrips offers travel insurance solutions designed for today’s market, helping travelers protect their investment and giving agents a trusted tool to help clients with peace of mind. 

About WorldTrips Travel Insurance

WorldTrips is a leading provider of travel insurance solutions, delivering flexible, customer-focused coverage and assistance services to individuals, families, students, and organizations worldwide. Headquartered in Carmel, Indiana, the company is known for flexible product design, customer-first service, and the financial strength that comes with being part of one of the world’s most respected insurance groups, Tokio Marine Group.

Sources 

¹ Prostay. (2025). 2025 hotel guide: Non-refundable rates. https://www.prostay.com/blog/2025-hotel-guide-non-refundable-rates/ 

² SiteMinder, Hotel Booking Trends Report, accessed 2026, https://www.siteminder.com/hotel-booking-trends/ 

³ Squaremouth. (2024). Rising travel costs led to a big shift in travel insurance payouts in 2024. https://www.squaremouth.com/press-room/rising-travel-costs-led-to-a-big-shift-in-travel-insurance-payouts-in-2024/ 

The post Dynamic Pricing and the Rise of Non-Refundable Trips  appeared first on USTOA Blog.

By Richard Krieger, Director, Sky Vacations 

Luxury travel has evolved significantly over the past decade. Today’s travelers are not simply looking for beautiful hotels or iconic landmarks, they’re looking for experiences that feel personal, authentic, and genuinely connected to the destinations they visit. 

More than ever, travelers want to understand the culture behind a place. They want to experience the rhythm of local life, discover regional traditions, and engage with destinations in a way that feels meaningful rather than transactional. In many ways, luxury travel has become less about checking destinations off a list and more about creating moments that feel memorable, immersive, and emotionally rewarding. 

This shift is changing the expectations placed on travel advisors and tour operators alike. Access to information has never been greater, yet travelers increasingly recognize that online recommendations and generic itineraries often only scratch the surface. What many people truly value today is insight – the kind that comes from local relationships, destination expertise, and thoughtfully curated experiences. 

At Sky Vacations, we believe some of the most rewarding travel experiences come from going beyond the guidebook. Stepping outside the major capital cities and exploring smaller cities and towns, where the pace is slower, big tour buses fewer and the crowds, much smaller.  

Why Modern Luxury Travelers Want More Than Traditional Sightseeing 

For many years, luxury travel was often defined by price, accommodations, types of transportation, and seeing famous landmarks. While those elements still matter, traveler expectations have evolved considerably. 

Today’s affluent travelers increasingly value experiences over simply amenities. They are looking for journeys that feel thoughtfully designed, culturally engaging, and personally enriching. The experience itself has become the luxury. 

Travelers are increasingly drawn to: 

• Regional culinary experiences 

• Local storytelling 

• Artisan traditions 

• Cultural interaction  

• Wellness and slower-paced travel 

• and more personalized itineraries 

Rather than moving quickly between multiple destinations, many travelers now prefer to spend more time within a region, allowing for deeper exploration and a more meaningful understanding of local culture. This evolution has also changed how travelers define authenticity. Luxury no longer needs to feel formal, stuffy or overly structured.  

Increasingly, luxury travel is about emotional connection as much as physical destination. 

The Difference Between Visiting a Destination and Truly Experiencing It 

There is a significant difference between seeing a destination and understanding it. 

Traditional sightseeing often focuses on major landmarks and well-known attractions, but meaningful travel experiences usually happen beyond the surface. They come from context, perspective, and local insight. 

A traveler can visit a famous city and still leave without truly understanding its culture, traditions, or daily life. By contrast, immersive travel experiences allow travelers to engage with destinations in ways that feel more personal and memorable. 

This might include: 

• discovering a neighborhood through its cafes, shops and galleries 

• learning local customs and traditions 

• exploring lesser-known cultural districts 

• meeting artisans and craftspeople 

• attending local festivals 

• or hearing historical stories from guides who deeply understand the region.  

Importantly, cultural immersion does not mean sacrificing comfort or luxury. In fact, many of today’s most sophisticated luxury travelers are specifically looking for experiences that combine premium service with deeper local engagement. 

Luxury and authenticity are no longer viewed as opposites. The most successful modern travel experiences often blend both seamlessly. 

Why Insider Knowledge Matters More Than Ever in Today’s Travel Landscape 

In today’s digital world, travelers have access to endless travel information. Social media, online reviews, AI-generated itineraries, and travel apps have made destination research more accessible than ever before. 

Yet despite this abundance of information, travelers increasingly recognize that truly exceptional journeys still depend on expertise. 

Online recommendations often lack nuance, local understanding, and real-time perspective. They rarely account for seasonality, cultural context, pacing, or the subtle details that shape how a destination is actually experienced. 

Insider knowledge helps elevate travel in ways that generic recommendations cannot. 

Experienced destination specialists understand: 

• best times to visit a destination 

• how to avoid overcrowded experiences 

• which local experiences feel authentic 

• how to structure itineraries more comfortably, at a travelers pace 

This expertise also becomes especially valuable in destinations where culture, history, and logistics require deeper understanding. 

In many ways, insider knowledge has become one of the defining elements of premium travel. Travelers increasingly value not just access, but informed access – experiences curated with thought, cultural understanding, and local perspective. 

The Growing Importance of Local Partnerships in Luxury Travel 

Meaningful travel experiences rarely happen in isolation. They are often made possible through strong local relationships and trusted destination partnerships. 

Behind every seamless luxury journey is usually a network of knowledgeable guides, regional experts, hospitality partners, and local specialists who help bring a destination to life. 

These relationships matter for many reasons. 

Operationally, strong local partnerships help ensure consistency, flexibility, and personalized service. They also allow travel experiences to feel more natural and less transactional. 

Culturally, local partnerships create opportunities for travelers to engage with destinations in more authentic ways. Experienced local guides can provide historical insight, cultural understanding, and personal perspective that enrich the overall journey. 

Local expertise also allows travelers to move beyond surface-level tourism. Whether it’s discovering regional culinary traditions, understanding cultural etiquette, or exploring areas less commonly included in standard itineraries, these details help create more rewarding travel experiences. 

At the same time, local partnerships play an important role in responsible tourism. Thoughtful collaboration with local communities, guides, and businesses helps support more sustainable and culturally respectful travel experiences. 

As travelers increasingly seek authenticity and personalization, trusted local relationships have become one of the most valuable components of luxury travel planning. 

How Cultural Immersion Creates More Memorable Travel Experiences 

The experiences travelers remember most are often not the most extravagant – they are the most meaningful. 

A conversation with a local guide, a traditional cooking experience, an intimate wine tasting in a regional vineyard, or an afternoon exploring artisan workshops can leave a far deeper impression than simply visiting a famous landmark. 

These moments create emotional connection. They provide travelers with a sense of understanding and perspective that transforms how they experience a destination. 

Cultural immersion also creates a stronger sense of place. Travelers begin to understand not only what makes a destination beautiful, but also what makes it culturally distinct. 

This is particularly important in today’s luxury travel landscape, where many travelers are seeking experiences that feel more personal and enriching. 

Experiential travel can take many forms: 

• culinary exploration 

• cultural storytelling  

• wellness traditions  

• regional history 

• artisan craftsmanship  

• music and performance  

• or community-based experiences  

What matters most is that the experience feels thoughtful, respectful, and genuinely connected to the destination itself. 

Increasingly, travelers are seeking journeys that allow them to return home not only with photographs, but with a deeper understanding of the places they visited and the people they encountered along the way. 

How Sky Vacations Incorporates Local Insight Into Curated Journeys 

At Sky Vacations, local immersion and destination expertise are central to how journeys are designed. 

Across Europe, many itineraries are built around regional experiences that allow travelers to engage more deeply with local culture. Culinary traditions, wine regions, historic towns, and locally guided experiences all help create journeys that feel more connected to the character of each destination rather than limited to major tourist attractions alone. 

In destinations such as Egypt and the Middle East, cultural context and expert guidance play an especially important role. Experiences become significantly more meaningful when travelers gain deeper historical understanding through knowledgeable local guides and carefully curated itineraries that provide greater perspective on the destination’s heritage and traditions. 

Japan is another destination where thoughtful itinerary design and regional insight can greatly enhance the travel experience. While major cities remain important highlights, many travelers increasingly appreciate opportunities to explore regional culture, traditional hospitality, and experiences that extend beyond the country’s best-known tourism routes. 

Sky Vacations also places strong emphasis on flexibility and personalization, particularly through FIT and small-group travel experiences. Smaller-scale journeys often allow for more meaningful engagement, personalized pacing, and opportunities to experience destinations in a way that feels more natural and immersive. 

Equally important are the relationships developed with trusted local partners, guides, and destination specialists. These connections help ensure that experiences are thoughtfully delivered, culturally respectful, and aligned with the expectations of today’s luxury travelers. 

Rather than approaching travel as a standardized product, Sky Vacations focuses on creating journeys that feel curated, culturally informed, and experience-driven – reflecting the growing demand for travel that feels both enriching and personal. 

Why Travel Advisors Increasingly Value Immersive Travel Specialists 

As traveler expectations evolve, travel advisors increasingly seek partners who can provide not only operational support, but also meaningful destination expertise. 

Clients today often expect highly personalized recommendations, immersive experiences, and thoughtfully curated itineraries. Delivering those experiences requires more than booking logistics alone – it requires insight, relationships, and a strong understanding of the destination itself. 

This is one reason why immersive travel specialists have become increasingly valuable within the luxury travel sector. 

Trusted tour operator partnerships help advisors: 

• create more differentiated itineraries 

• access culturally enriching experiences  

• navigate destination complexity  

• and deliver more personalized travel recommendations 

At the same time, advisors benefit from working with partners who understand how to balance luxury, logistics, and authenticity in a way that aligns with modern traveler expectations. 

As experiential travel continues to grow, strong destination expertise is becoming an increasingly important differentiator within the advisor community. 

The Future of Luxury Travel Is Increasingly Experience Led 

Looking ahead, the luxury travel industry will likely continue moving toward more immersive and experience-focused journeys. 

Several trends are shaping this evolution: 

• slower travel 

• wellness-focused itineraries  

• culinary exploration 

• personalized travel design  

• sustainability and conscious tourism  

• and culturally immersive experiences  

Travelers increasingly value quality over quantity. Rather than trying to see everything, many now prefer to engage more deeply with fewer destinations and experiences. 

This shift is also changing how luxury itself is defined. Increasingly, luxury is about access, understanding, personalization, and emotional connection rather than simply exclusivity alone. 

As a result, local insight and cultural immersion are becoming central expectations within premium travel. 

The future of luxury travel will likely belong to experiences that feel thoughtful, authentic, and genuinely connected to the destinations travelers explore. 

Why Local Insight Will Continue to Shape Luxury Travel 

Luxury travel today is increasingly shaped by the desire for meaningful experiences and deeper cultural connection. Travelers are looking beyond traditional sightseeing in search of journeys that feel immersive, personal, and enriching. 

Insider knowledge and trusted local expertise play an essential role in creating these experiences. They help transform travel from something transactional into something memorable – allowing travelers to engage more thoughtfully with the people, traditions, and stories that define a destination. 

At the same time, local immersion helps create journeys that feel more authentic, more rewarding, and ultimately more impactful. 

As the luxury travel landscape continues to evolve, thoughtfully curated experiences and genuine destination insight will only become more important – not just for travelers, but also for the travel advisors and specialists helping shape those journeys. 

About Sky Vacations

Sky Vacations is an award-winning tour operator specializing in immersive, experience-driven travel across the globe. From custom FITs and specialty groups to culinary journeys, wellness retreats, cultural experiences, luxury travel, and small group departures, Sky Vacations helps travel advisors create unforgettable journeys for their clients. Backed by competitive global airfare, destination expertise, and high-touch support, the company is committed to delivering seamless planning, exceptional service, and curated travel experiences that inspire.

Sky Vacations

1-877-666-3113

letsgo@skyvacations.net

www.skyvacations.net

The post Beyond the Guidebook: Why Local Insight Matters More Than Ever  appeared first on USTOA Blog.

By: Deanna Caffrey 

Travel has always evolved alongside the world around it, but the past few years have accelerated that change dramatically. As we move further into 2026, modern travelers are no longer focused solely on where they want to go. Instead, they are thinking more intentionally about how they travel, how flexible their plans are, how transparent the process feels, and how protected they are if something does not go as expected. 

Flexibility has become a defining feature of the modern travel experience. Not long ago, trip planning revolved around fixed dates, rigid itineraries, and non-refundable bookings. Today, travelers are far more conscious of uncertainty and actively seek options that allow them to adapt. Whether it is shifting a departure date, adjusting an itinerary mid-trip, or navigating disruptions like weather delays, flexibility is no longer a luxury. It is an expectation. Travel providers that embrace this mindset and build adaptability into their offerings are better equipped to meet travelers where they are. 

At the same time, transparency has become essential to building traveler confidence. Modern travelers want clear, honest information at every stage of the journey, from upfront pricing and cancellation policies to health requirements and on-the-ground logistics. This desire for clarity extends beyond booking platforms to the broader travel ecosystem. Tour operators, advisors, and service providers who communicate proactively and openly help travelers feel more in control in an environment where uncertainty still exists. 

Preparedness is another key shift shaping traveler expectations. Recent years have reinforced a simple reality: disruptions can happen anywhere, at any time. As a result, travelers are placing greater value on being prepared before they even leave home. They want to understand what support systems are in place, what resources are available if plans change, and how they can quickly access help when they need it. 

This is where travel protection has quietly become part of the modern travel mindset. Rather than being an afterthought, it is increasingly viewed as a tool that supports flexibility and peace of mind. Travelers are looking for solutions that do not just reimburse costs, but also provide real-time assistance, guidance, and support throughout their journey. When integrated thoughtfully into the planning process, whether through a travel advisor or tour operator, travel protection can reinforce the sense that a trip is not only exciting, but also well supported. 

Technology continues to play a critical role in delivering on these expectations. From real-time alerts and mobile itineraries to digital support services, travelers are more connected than ever. But even as technology enhances convenience, it has not replaced the need for human expertise. Travelers still value knowledgeable professionals who can help them navigate complex decisions, offer reassurance, and step in when things do not go according to plan. 

Ultimately, modern travel is becoming less about perfection and more about resilience. Travelers understand that even the most carefully planned trips can encounter unexpected challenges. What matters most is how those challenges are managed and whether they feel supported along the way. 

For the travel industry, this shift presents a meaningful opportunity. By prioritizing transparency, building flexibility into the travel experience, and incorporating thoughtful support systems, including travel protection, providers can create journeys that feel both inspiring and secure. Companies like Redpoint Travel Protection are part of a broader movement toward more responsive, traveler-focused support, helping ensure that when plans change, travelers are not left navigating those moments alone. 

In 2026 and beyond, the most successful travel experiences will be those that balance inspiration with preparation, giving travelers the confidence to explore the world knowing they are supported every step of the way. 

About the Author

Deanna Caffrey is Director at Redpoint Travel Protection, where she leads strategic initiatives that drive growth, strengthen partner relationships, and enhance engagement across the travel industry. She brings over a decade of experience in travel and tourism, with expertise spanning sales leadership, team development, and operational performance. 

Throughout her career, Deanna has focused on building and leading high-performing teams, optimizing sales and service strategies, and developing training programs that improve both employee performance and customer experience. Her work is grounded in a deep understanding of the travel advisor and tour operator community and a commitment to delivering meaningful value across the traveler journey. 

She is passionate about advancing the role of travel protection in supporting more confident, resilient travelers. 

About Redpoint Travel Protection

Redpoint Travel Protection provides travel insurance and emergency assistance solutions designed for today’s travelers and travel professionals. With a focus on flexibility, transparency, and responsive support, Redpoint helps travelers navigate unexpected disruptions while giving travel advisors and tour operators tools to better support their clients. Through innovative coverage options and a traveler-first approach, Redpoint is committed to helping people explore the world with confidence. 

The post What Modern Travelers Expect in 2026 and Beyond  appeared first on USTOA Blog.

By Melissa Snape 

Two young men crouch over a blue bucket, kneeling in the sand on a beach in Kilifi, Kenya. The sun is setting behind them, and the air is hazy with mist rolling in on the tide. They look inside the bucket and smile at one another.  

The bucket is full of sea turtle eggs.  

Salim and Baraka are Turtle Rangers with Ocean Sole, and those eggs are about to be carefully relocated to a safer nesting area protected from predators, rising tides, and poachers. It’s a small moment, but it says a lot about the work they’re doing and why it matters.  

It’s also exactly the kind of impact Collette aims to support through responsible travel. Because responsible travel is at the core of how we operate, we partner with organizations that are creating real, lasting impact in the destinations we visit, and Ocean Sole is one of them.  

While they’re mostly known for transforming ocean waste, like discarded flip-flops, into colorful works of art, Ocean Sole’s mission extends far beyond the workshop. Through their TurtleSafe Project, they protect endangered sea turtles along Kenya’s coast and create employment opportunities for local people in the process.

That connection between conservation and livelihoods is what makes the work stand out.  

Collette supports this work through our Microgrant program, which provides funding to community organizations around the world. In 2025, we expanded the program with a $10,000 Impact Beyond Grant. Selected by votes from our employees, travelers, and partners, Ocean Sole was the recipient.  

With that funding, they were able to hire three new Turtle Rangers, strengthening protection around key nesting sites and expanding economic opportunities for local community members. At least one of these rangers once relied on poaching for income. Today, they’re protecting the same species they once hunted.  
  
That kind of impact isn’t possible in isolation. It’s the result of a partnership combining local knowledge with shared resources and a long-term commitment to doing things the right way. By working together, organizations like Ocean Sole and Collette can go further, supporting both conservation efforts and the communities connected to them. While much of that impact happens beyond what they see on tour, it’s all part of our broader commitment to investing in the communities and ecosystems tied to each destination.  

“We have been helped so much by Collette. More rangers are hired now to protect sea turtles. At our landing site, when turtles come to nest, they are safe and sound.”   

-Salim Karisa Dzengo, Turtle Ranger  

Travelers on our Plains of Africa tour visit Ocean Sole’s headquarters in Nairobi as part of an Impact Moment: an on-tour experience designed to give back to local communities. Here, they learn about Ocean Sole’s work and how it connects to conservation efforts on the coast.  For some, it’s a highlight of the journey.   

“My favorite moment on tour? Visiting Ocean Sole.”  – Traveler Rita T.  

Back on the beach in Kilifi, Salim and Baraka finish securing the eggs, preparing to move them to safety. For them, that blue bucket represents a job, skill, and a way to protect their coastline for generations to come.  

For us, the bucket is a testament to the power of responsible travel, one that will help shape the ecosystem in coastal Kenya for years to come, and a reminder of the role we can all play in setting a higher standard for how travel supports communities and conservation.  

About the Author:  

Melissa Snape is an accomplished senior executive with over 25 years of hospitality, tourism and corporate citizenship leadership.  

She is experienced in strategy and product development, customer experience, marketing, partnerships, pricing & analysis, negotiation and consulting. Her talents include leading through change, strategic planning and facilitation, employee engagement, leadership development, and navigating the complexities of corporate impact, sustainability, and purpose.   

A proven leader adept at engaging stakeholders at all levels, she has served on the boards of businesses from startups to the middle market, as well as various non-profits; and consulted for startups, middle market and publicly traded companies. She is also a certified holistic wellness coach, with a focus on working with female executives and entrepreneurs, and a passion for mentoring those early in their careers. She currently serves as the Head of Corporate Citizenship at Collette and on numerous Board of Advisors in the non-profit and social enterprise community.  

Ms. Snape holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and Sociology from the University of Colorado Boulder, and a JD from the Boston University School of Law.  

About Collette  

Collette has been a leader in guided travel for more than 100 years, offering tours across all seven continents. As a family-owned and run company, it’s focused on delivering exceptional travel experiences while making a positive impact worldwide. Through its Corporate Citizenship efforts, Collette supports community engagement, environmental stewardship, economic development and responsible tourism–partnering with local organizations and incorporating Responsible Travel highlights into its tours to benefit both travelers and the destinations they visit. To learn more, visit GoCollette.com.

The post Turtles, Trash, and the Power of Responsible Travel    appeared first on USTOA Blog.