Posts Tagged ‘Destinations’
Group Names Planet?s Top 13 Ethical Travel Destinations — New List Features Worthiest Vacation Spots in the Developing World
San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) November 10, 2005
The United Nations Recognizes 191 countries around the world. Which should you choose for your next vacation?
For the conscientious traveler, certain countries are better choices than others, according to Ethical Traveler, a non-profit advocacy group which is a project of the Earth Island Institute.
Earlier this year, student researcher Kiran Auerbach of Stanford University scoured publicly available statistics, looking for ways to rate a given country’s desirability as a tourist destination. Today, Ethical Traveler published the results of this study in a report titled “The World’s Most Ethical Travel Destinations.”
Ethical Traveler’s Executive Director Jeff Greenwald explains, “This report serves as a practical guide for tourists who seek vacations that are both rewarding for the traveler, and supportive of the people and environments being visited.” The URL for the study is www.ethicaltraveler.org/destinations .
Countries were graded across three main categories: support for ecotourism, environmental protection, and social development. Of course, as Ethical Traveler staffers point out, none of the countries named in the report are ethically “perfect.” The thirteen top countries score well across these three critical categories, says Greenwald, who helped write the final report. Greenwald adds that ethical tourism can be used as an “economic carrot,” to support and reward countries pursuing high standards in these areas.
In alphabetical order, the list of most ethical travel destinations is: Argentina, Barbados, Belize, Brazil, Costa Rica, Croatia, Ecuador, Kenya, Peru, Slovenia, Sri Lanka, South Africa and Uruguay.
According to Greenwald, “The destinations highlighted by Ethical Traveler simply haven’t received the kind of attention they warrant. Visiting these countries raises the standard of living for the population, and supports programs that protect the environment and human rights.” Travelers who visit these ethical destinations may also find that the good feeling they bring home with them is a perfect souvenir of their trip.
Ethical Traveler is an international alliance of travelers who believe that travel can be a powerful tool for international goodwill and cultural understanding. The group seeks to harness the political and economic clout of tourism to support human rights and the environment. For more information, please visit www.ethicaltraveler.org .
Note to Editors: Photos and follow-up interviews available upon request.
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Smart Destinations Announces Hurricane Katrina Donation Program
Boston, MA (PRWEB) September 21, 2005
Smart Destinations, the premier provider of smart card technology-enabled attraction pass cards in major U.S. travel destinations, today announced the company will be donating one dollar for every Go Card sold on its website (www.gocardusa.com) during the month of September to the American Red Cross Hurricane Katrina relief effort. The company will also be providing information on its sites for customers who are interested in donating additional funds directly to the Red Cross relief effort.
Smart Destinations currently offers Go Cards for the Boston, Chicago, Miami, Orlando, San Diego, San Francisco and Seattle markets, as well as a Wine Country Explorer Pass for the Napa and Sonoma Valleys.
For more information, visit www.gocardusa.com.
About Smart Destinations
Smart Destinations is the premier provider of unlimited admission attraction passes in major U.S. travel destinations. Smart Destinations’ Go Cards offer simplified access to dozens of attractions to individuals, couples and families, for one fixed Â?per dayÂ? price. The Go Guidebook is ready-to-travel and includes fun facts about a destination, access details, and important local numbers. Distributed through major travel services in 25 countries as well as on the Web, Smart Destinations’ Go Cards are the industry’s Â?trusted companionÂ? for the best a city has to offer at an unbeatable price point. For more information on program participation, the company and its cards, visit www.GoCardUSA.com or call 617-671-1001.
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Smart Destinations Smart Card Technology Draws Senior Tour and Travel Industry Veterans to Destination Management Team
(PRWEB) August 9, 2005
Smart Destinations, the premier provider of technology-based destination travel products, today announced the addition of three senior travel industry veterans to its management team. Joining Smart Destinations are Bill Todd, Vice President, Sales; Kevin Brett as Vice President, International Sales; and Theresa McLarney in the role of Director, National Accounts. The three hires deepen Smart Destinations’ executive tourism travel product team and continue to position the company as one of the most experienced and visionary in the travel industry.
About Bill Todd
Todd’s travel industry experience features particular emphasis on leveraging the Internet to further an organization’s business and marketing strategy. Most recently, Todd served as vice president of sales, marketing, advertising and e-commerce for Marriott International’s Corporate Lodging Division. Todd has played an active leadership role in a variety of travel industry associations, including The Travel Industry Association of America, the American Society of Travel Agents, The National Tour Association, Hospitality Sales and Marketing International and the National Business Travelers Association. Todd was named Â?Lodging Person of the YearÂ? by Travel Agent Magazine in 2000.
About Kevin Brett
Brett brings more than 20 years of sales and commercial experience in the international travel arena to Smart Destinations. He previously served in a number of senior roles at Walt Disney Parks & Resorts & Best Western Hotels, and most recently as managing director for HAT Marketing in the UK, which delivers outsourced sales and marketing solutions in Europe to overseas travel companies and destinations worldwide. BrettÂ?s other travel industry experience includes positions with British Airways Holidays and Sol Holidays.
About Theresa McLarney
McLarney is an accomplished sales and marketing professional with a consistent record of exceeding company goals. She joins Smart Destinations and their technology travel products from Cendant Travel Distribution Services, where she served as a regional director within their online travel division. Her previous travel industry experience includes senior management positions at World Choice Travel, a division of Travelocity.com, Cruise.com, and Certified Vacations, where she managed the AAA and American Express Vacation brands among other various start-up brands for the company.
Distributed through major travel and tour industry services in 25 countries as well as on the Web, Smart Destinations’ Go Cards are the industry’s Â?trusted companionÂ? for the best a city has to offer at an unbeatable price point. For more information on Smart Destinations or their smart card technology Go Card products, visit www.GoCardUSA.com or call 617-671-1001.
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