“Responsible, Local Travel in the USA” online conversations every

Friday in May 2015

Eat Local, Stay Local, Buy Local

Travel and tourism is one of America’s largest industries

• Generated $2.1 trillion in economic output in 2014, with $927.9 billion spent directly by domestic and international travelers.

• Directly generated $141.5 billion in tax revenue for local, state and federal governments.

• Direct spending by resident and international travelers in the U.S. averaged $2.5 billion a day, $105.8 million an hour, $1.8 million a minute and $29,398 a second.

U.S. Travel Association ustravel.org

May 2-9, 2015 is a celebration of travel in the US. But we think they might be missing the point.

Most benefits go to corporations and their shareholders that don’t live in our communities.

US Travel Association’sPower of Travel Coalit ion Help us defend and strengthen the American travel community The Power of Travel Coalition is the grassroots army of the American travel

community. The Coalition seeks to amplify the voices of millions of travel employees with a vested interest in combating future assaults on travel, rewarding leaders who champion our industry, and advocating for policies that promote travel to and within the United States.

Who is the Coalition? The Coalition is the 14.4 million individuals whose jobs depend on a strong travel

industry. Who are the members of the Power of Travel Coalition? All travel employees, from hotel and rental car employees to theme park and cruise line

workers, tour operators, meeting planners, and restaurant staff. What are the major issues the Coalition advocates for? 1. Welcoming International Visitors 2. Reducing Travel Hassles 3. Keep America Meeting 4. Enhancing Our Nation’s Infrastructure

US Travel Association’s “Power of Travel Coalition” is calling for expanding international trade agreements – that certainly doesn’t benefit small businesses in the USA:

Alert!Tell Congress: Pass Trade Promotion Authority (TPA)

Passing TPA Would Boost Inbound Travel & the Economy

WHAT YOU CAN DO: Email your Senators and Representative asking them to co-sponsor and support legislation (S. 995 or H.R. 1890) to enact Trade Promotion Authority.

What’s missing?

Local economies Small businesses Healthy food Lowering the industry’s carbon footprint Innovative ideas Incentives and programs that benefit our communities Recognition that travel industry benefits often don't reach the

grassroots - the local communities and small businesses that make up 90 percent of all businesses. It is an industry where 50-90% of dollars spent locally are "leaked" back to shareholders in far away places and do not stay in the local economy. And even more unfortunate, the US Travel Association is more about marketing and promoting, and directing tourism dollars to multinational corporations than to our mom and pop businesses. 

Let’s get real. Join in on discussions about Responsible, Local Travel in the USA

Every Friday in May 2015 @ noon central timeHear from grassroots localist sector leaders: local food, slow

food, local travel, the sharing economy, heritage/cultural tourism, buy-local campaigns and more.

Free Google HangoutsPlaneta.wikispaces.com/localtravelusa

These lively discussions explore examples of corporate, social and environmental responsibility within the US travel sector. To us, this means bringing together innovative people with localist values who are naturally creating a better world.

Examples of good practice please!

Take the SurveyAdd your voice – help shape discussions and the future of

responsible, local travel in the US:

http://goo.gl/forms/j4jagVSosj

Some things we’re hearing about:

“Our organization is helping rehab and start a local food hub including retail, brewery, commercial kitchen, and food processing (added value).”

“I curate content about climate change, the effects of tar sands (Keystone XL pipeline) on the environment, and have written a blogpost asking what is the tourism industry doing to preserve the environment.”

Let’s Learn From Innovative, Responsible Initiatives

There is growing interest and markets in responsible, local travel.

Reasons to Support Responsible, Local Travel in the USA

• Build a sharing/peer network in the USA.• Leverage the strengths of all sectors together (for example the arts are a driver in the tourism economy).• Educate the public about many local issues (for example educate the public about the risks of fast food).• Encourage ethical buying• Collectively inform the public about responsible tourism.• Collaboratively message and advertise to diverse markets.• Have Fun! Celebrate our passions and values with like-minded people.• Be part of the change.• Highlight the best of America in all of our work.• Build important connections and collaborations.•Support independent businesses like farmers, chefs, musicians, artisans, brewers, shopkeepers and inn keepers.• Be part of an innovative community.* Connect with diverse people and sectors that may be outside of your normal scope.

Responsible travel and local economies

•Encourage local prosperity: A growing body of economic research shows that in an increasingly homogenized world, entrepreneurs and skilled workers are more likely to invest and settle in communities that preserve their one-of-a-kind businesses and distinctive character.

•Encourage support directly to small businesses.

• Help diminish tourism "leakages," so that tourist dollars spent in a community stay in the community, rather than "leaking" back to the corporate shareholders of chains not based in the area.

• Strengthen local economies so they can have a direct positive impact on the lives of all citizens and visitors within the community.

•Provide more information about local products and services (how food is grown for example).

•Support community groups: non-profit organizations receive an average 250% more support from smaller business owners than they do from large businesses..

Responsible Travel and Social Issues

•Build community vibrancy and retain local traditions while establishing a local identity through a unique sense of community.

•Encourage people to learn more about their local area/region and the importance of supporting local businesses and organizations.

•Support public/community objectives.

•Promote community interaction by fostering relationships between local businesses & organizations and visitors.

•Promote community engagement.

•Celebrate and preserve local culinary traditions and foods, cultural heritage, history - communities that preserve their one-of-a-kind businesses and distinctive character have an economic advantage.

Together We Can Build A Strong Network

Co-Hosts/Sponsors:

Ron Mader of Planeta.com (celebrating an incredible 20 years on the world wide web) and tourism activist.

Deborah McLaren of GetLocalFlavor.com, author of “Rethinking Tourism and Ecotravel,” founder of three responsible tourism organizations and passionate localist.

Planeta.wikispaces.com/localtravelusa