Meaningful Travel with the Willamette Valley

Tourism Cares’ 2024 North American Meaningful Travel Summit

Tourism Cares’ 2024 North American Meaningful Travel Summit took place in Eugene, Oregon from September 30 to October 2, 2024, and focused on the four pillars of uniting, inspiring, educating, and activating the travel and tourism industry around the topics on sustainable tourism and meaningful travel. As part of the program, attendees explored the Willamette Valley region and engaged with local changemakers through facilitated networking opportunities, educational sessions, meaningful experiences, tours, and more. The 2024 Summit focused on: inclusion and accessibility in travel, agritourism, and community-based tourism, showcasing local organizations, non-profits, and businesses who are making a positive difference in their communities through travel and tourism.

Meaningful Travel Map of the Willamette Valley

Meaningful Travel Summit Program Goals

  • Provide connections to vetted non-profits and social enterprises for new product development

  • Engage in education sessions around universal topics in sustainability and meaningful travel

  • Create cross-sector networking opportunities with other travel and tourism professionals

  • Offer actionable best practices in destination stewardship and community tourism

  • Inspire collective action through the commitments made by Summit attendees. Learn more here.

This program is helping to further the following Sustainable Development Goals:

Header image photo credit: Melanie Ryan Griffin / EugeneCascadesCoast.org

Thank You to Our Hosts & Sponsors:

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SPOTLIGHT: THE PEOPLE + PLACES OF TOURISM CARES

Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre | Tourism Cares Grantee

Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre was provided support on behalf of Globus Family of Brands to support ongoing mentorship, build capacity and foster resiliency for Indigenous community members through meaningful employment. The grant funds will also be used to develop a new guided tour called ANCIENT MEDICINES, enriching and connecting the cultural identity of the Indigenous Youth Ambassadors and Cultural Ambassadors the Centre works with.