|
The Collaboration
If entities want to explore the potential of VolunTourism, then it is important to have a "network" upon which you can rely to assist you in the process. Each member of the VolunTourism.org Network is well-suited to share its respective expertise with you in an effort to enhance your product and service offerings, but, primarily, to educate you throughout the development process. Decades of wisdom and insight into a variety of aspects that directly impact the final "VolunTourist Experience" are represented within this group. Should you have questions, read through the descriptions below and feel free to contact them on your own. If you prefer a facilitated connection, please let us know.
The George Washington University's International Institute of Tourism Studies
The International Institute of Tourism Studies (IITS) is housed within the George Washington University’s School of Business. GW’s School of Business is internationally recognized and nationally ranked as one of the best business schools in the country. Our tourism program was recently recognized by the World Tourism Organization as one of the world’s leading tourism educational programs.
Within the School of Business, GW offers several traditional degree programs including a Bachelor of Business Administration, Master of Tourism Administration, Master of Business Administration and a Ph.D. in Business Administration. In addition to degree education, IITS has been involved in conducting research and development activities over the last 30 years.
Our overall objective is to help achieve tourism that improves quality of life of local residents, including educational development, health improvement and cultural understanding; contributes to the protection and preservation of fragile cultural, historical and natural resources; and provides economic, social and environmental benefits to nations and local communities through sustainable development.
[Return To Top]
Global Sojourns
Global Sojourns is a tour operator with a special interest in sustainability and community development. With expertise in Africa and Southeast Asia, Global Sojourns develops customized itineraries for group and individual travel.
The philosophy held by Global Sojourns is quite simple: "...to let others glimpse the lands and peoples as only a “local” can. To connect them with lands and peoples in ways that traditional tourism doesn’t allow. To help them experience travel in foreign lands in an authentic, responsible and intimate way."
It is this approach that makes Global Sojourns such an important part of the VolunTourism Network. Global Sojourns is committed to using travel and lodging methods that do the least possible harm to the local environment and the people who live there. With an emphasis on giving back to local communities through service-based and development projects, Global Sojourns brings an operators perspective to our consulting services.
[Return To Top]
Pacific Integral
Pacific Integral works with both individuals and organizations that are committed to the emergence of a sustainable, equitable and beautiful future for humanity. Our services include individual and organizational capacity development, consulting, organizational mentoring, transformational program design and web-based education and resource delivery.
The purpose of our company is to build the capacity in
individuals, groups, organizations and institutions around the world to generate integral, Transformative development in human systems.
Pacific Integral is both a company and a community of learning and practice. As a company, our partners bring decades of experience in business, education, consulting, and individual and organizational development. We also endeavor to create a web of connections through which integral leadership in the world will evolve and develop, and to participate in the larger web of change unfolding in the world.
[Return To Top]
Travel Learning Connections (Educational Travel Conference)
Now in the 22nd year, the Educational Travel Conference is the only forum of its kind dedicated to the education, training and networking priorities of professionals in the business of experiential learning through travel. Nowhere has such a highly qualified group of nonprofit travel planners, suppliers, specialty tour operators and destinations been assembled to focus on the development, operation and marketing of group educational and special interest travel worldwide.
Since 2004, ETC has hosted sessions on VolunTourism to help educate its delegates on this burgeoning industry. ETC has collaborated with The George Washington University's IITS and Los Niños, Inc. to develop programming content and to market & promote these sessions to its members.
[Return To Top]
Xola Consulting
Xola Consulting is a niche tourism consulting practice focusing on companies providing travel experiences that blend adventure and volunteer experiences. Xola has worked with entrepreneurial owner-operators developing innovative tourism projects serving both travelers and communities in China, India, Cambodia, and Morocco. With its distinct emphasis on sustainable development, individual experiential growth, and adventurous travel, Xola has supported both supplier and consumer sides of the voluntourism equation and is well positioned to assist in the development of corporate in-house voluntourism programs.
In addition to its partnership with VolunTourism International, Xola works closely with the Adventure Travel Trade Association at industry trade show events and in regular publications to promote adventure travel’s role in biodiversity conservation; cultural and heritage conservation; natural resources management; rural economic development and poverty alleviation; and international cooperation and understanding.
[Return To Top]
|