Press Releases
View All Press Releases| WTM | 10 Nov 2009 |
Travel Companies Need To Be Aware Of the Pitfalls Of Travel Philanthropy Before Setting Up Initiatives
Travel companies need to approach travel philanthropy with the same seriousness they would a new supplier, reveals research today by World Travel Market.
The WTM Advances in Travel Philanthropy report highlights some of the pitfalls companies face when considering travel philanthropy initiatives.
Among the top issues highlighted are transparency in collecting and reporting funds as well as the staff and resources allocated to manage initiatives.
The research advises travel companies to be transparent in terms of ensuring they differentiate between individual and corporate donations, communicate with donors on what proportion of their donation is helping the destination and allocate the correct level of resources to managing projects.
Businesses also need to consider their own image and how their customers view their participation or lack of, in local schemes and programmes. Customers feeling pressurised to give to beggars, could for example, damage a company’s reputation because it has failed to educate guests on what to expect.
Additional areas to be aware of are cash or other gifts sent in to the post to staff for distribution locally or given in destination to tour leaders or resort staff, risking the potential for the money to go astray.
The research advises companies to establish a company policy with guidelines for customers on the best way to donate.
World Travel Market Chairman Fiona Jeffery said: “Travel companies are doing a fantastic job in raising awareness of in-resort issues and promoting travel philanthropy.
“While not participating in schemes is potentially more damaging, the industry does need to consider the best way forward to maximise the generosity of customers and the effectiveness of initiatives.”-ends-
For further information please contact the WTM Press Office on +44 (0) 207 069 6119/ 6120 or visit the WTM International Press Centre onsite at ExCeL London, Level 3.About World Travel Market
World Travel Market, the premier global event for the travel industry, is the must-attend four-day business-to-business exhibition for the worldwide travel and tourism industry.
Almost 50,000 senior travel industry professionals, government ministers and international press, embark on London’s ExCeL Centre every November to network, negotiate and discover the latest industry opinion and trends at WTM.
WTM, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2009, is the event where the travel industry conducts and concludes its deals.
WTM is owned by the world’s leading events organiser Reed Exhibitions (RE), which organises a portfolio of other travel industry events including Arabian Travel Market and International Luxury Travel Market.
RE holds more than 500 events in 38 countries throughout Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Asia Pacific covering 47 industry sectors including aerospace & aviation, healthcare, manufacturing and sport & recreation.
In 2008 RE, part of the Reed Elsevier group, brought together more than six million industry professionals from around the world generating billions of dollars in business.
