Tourism Cares reports 274% membership growth

Tourism Cares, the philanthropic community of the travel & tourism industry, has grown threefold in the last two years and is diversifying its membership and ways it fulfills its mission, according to its annual community report.

The report highlights major programs like the organization’s investment in National Parks and the Centennial Tour Operators partnership, where eight tour operators have signed on to donate a portion of passenger fees back to the parks. Tourism Cares also united the travel industry by raising $90,000 for recovery and renewal projects in Nepal post earthquakes.


“We’re proud of what our community has accomplished together,” said Mike Rea, CEO of Tourism Cares, “and we’re excited about what the future holds.”

In 2015, the organization also held a pilot CSR Peer Learning group with 162 travel leaders joining webinar discussions focused on the ways the community engages clients and employees in giving. Last year, Tourism Cares surveyed travelers for the “Good Travels” study that showed 55% of U.S. travelers contributed dollars, time, or supplies while traveling in the past two years.

The membership of Tourism Cares includes significant representation from all sectors of the industry, including tour operators, travel agencies, lodging/hospitality, cruise, attractions, information technology, online travel agents, media/public relations, airlines/transportation, financial/professional, and destinations.