March 8^th is a day dedicated to uplifting women all over the world. 

The Travel Corporation (TTC), is a family of travel companies including Uniworld Boutique River Cruises, Insight Vacations, Luxury Gold, Trafalgar, Contiki and others.

TTC took the opportunity of International Women’s Day to highlight its commitment to a world enriched by travel empowering women, and women empowering travel.

At a Trailblazing Women in Travel event, the companies recognized achievements of their own female team members, their foundation, TreadRight’s, Ambassadors, women partners in the travel industry, as well as spotlighting the local women’s initiatives TTC supports in the communities their tours visit across the globe.

 

The company’s TreadRight Foundation has supported more than 50 sustainable tourism projects in nearly 300 communities worldwide. Some of these projects provide economic empowerment such as the women’s weaving collectives that TTC guests visit in Peru and Italy where guests have the opportunity to purchase these handmade artisan products.

TreadRight also supports the acclaimed social enterprise ME to WE by offering ME to WE’s culturally immersive trip extensions with several TTC companies to Kenya, India, and Ecuador – tours which support women’s economic empowerment. For example, guests can learn the art of beading from local ‘mamas’ in Kenya and purchase their jewelry so that the women can earn a sustainable income.

The CEO and co-founder of ME to WE, Roxanne Joyal, works with TTC and its TreadRight foundation to unleash the positive effects of travel and personal engagement with the world around us. The social enterprise empowers people to change the world with their everyday consumer choices, including purchasing items made by indigenous women artisans, and taking ‘purposeful’ trips including those offered in conjunction by TTC’s TreadRight Foundation. 

 

TTC also highlighted the work and philosophy of its TreadRight Foundation’s “People” ambassador, Canadian indigenous dancer, activist and storyteller Sarain Fox.

Fox approaches travel and travel storytelling through the lens of the experiences of indigenous people. Initially, she struggled to reconcile her love for travel with an awareness, “that many people have shown up in other countries without permission”, with disastrous results for the lands and culture of original inhabitants.

“I like to say indigenous people are the world’s first tour guides,” Fox quipped, “We’re always saying, ‘Here, let me show you the good stuff’.”

Instead of taking her welcome for granted when she travels the world now, Fox asks for permission from local communities to be present as a way of being mindful and conscious of other peoples.

For International Women’s Day, TreadRight has released a new video with Fox encouraging us all to pledge to travel responsibly.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE with Fox describing the simple actions we can all take to contribute to responsible travel. 

 

With International Women’s Day sharing the same week as World Wildlife Day, it was the perfect time for TreadRight to introduce a new ambassador for “Wildlife” – another talented, change-maker woman in travel, Ami Vitale.

You may not recognize Vitale’s name, but you likely know her work. Ami Vitale is an award-winning National Geographic photographer and filmmaker. Her images of human conflict, Nature and the power of humanity around the world have become era-defining. Vitale’s path to wildlife advocacy can be traced in her photography, and one story in particular stands out. She was the photographer who captured the story of the world’s last white rhinos in Africa, eventually sharing in images the heartbreaking story of the death of the very last one, surrounded by mourning gamekeepers.

The Travel Corporation works with other trailblazing women in travel including Patricia Schultz, the author of New York Times best sellers beginning with “1,000 Places To See Before You Die”, who is also Trafalgar’s Global Brand Ambassador, successful travel vlogger and honorary Contiki Ambassador Nadine Sykora, as well as female leadership in the company’s founding family, in all its companies and partner organizations in local destinations where TTC operates.

 

The company recognized and celebrated all these women in travel’s shared belief in the power of people coming together to improve the world, in supporting women through travel and women in travel, “When you prop up women in places you visit, it sustains the community and provides a future for them… and for the guests to return to have that community experience,” says one TTC woman executive.

 

And they don’t just talk the talk. They walk the walk through their work that approaches the same goal from different angles.

TTC’s International Womens’ Day celebrations included the announcement that Insight Vacations is launching its first women-only journeys to India designed and run by women. The new itineraries include immersive learning opportunities, wellness experiences and authentic dining while featuring the power of tourism on women’s economic empowerment in local communities. 

 

International Women’s Day comes once a year, but our travel choices can support women and their communities all year round.