Travel industry nonprofit Tourism Cares will introduce the Meaningful Travel Roadshow in 2025, expanding its North American programming to three U.S. cities. The event series aims to educate travel professionals about sustainable tourism practices and their impact on local communities.
The roadshow will visit Miami (May 15-16), Pittsburgh, Penn. (Oct. 7), and Galveston, Texas, (Nov. 14). Each event will feature educational workshops followed by immersive tours highlighting local sustainable initiatives featured on the organization's Meaningful Travel Map.
"We are excited to expand our traditional North American Meaningful Travel Summit to a roadshow format and provide more ways for travel professionals to learn about and act on important issues around sustainability, such as cultural preservation, climate change, social equity, and destination stewardship," said Greg Takehara, CEO of Tourism Cares.
Each destination will focus on different aspects of sustainable tourism. For example, Miami's program will examine the balance between environmental responsibility and urban growth, including marine ecosystem restoration and food waste initiatives. Pittsburgh's event will showcase urban revitalization efforts and the transformation of industrial spaces. Galveston's program will concentrate on cultural heritage preservation and environmental stewardship.
"Our Meaningful Travel programs are different in that we first inspire attendees by engaging them in our education sessions with local changemakers and organizations, and then follow up by activating them through meaningful experiences in the community," Takehara said.
Local tourism officials also emphasized the importance of the program. David Whitaker, Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau President & CEO, noted that the roadshow will demonstrate local partners' commitment to sustainable tourism goals.
Visit Pittsburgh President & CEO Jerad Bachar highlighted the city's "vibrant community, rich history, and commitment to sustainable tourism," while Visit Galveston’s executive director, Tony Lyle, emphasized sustainability's role in maintaining the island's diverse ecosystem and historic attractions.
The event series is sponsored by Visit Galveston, Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau, Visit Pittsburgh, Accor, Brand USA and Expedia Group. Registration is open to travel professionals now.
Editor’s Note: This article was generated by AI, based on a press release distributed by Tourism Cares. It has been fact-checked and reviewed by a TravelAge West editor.
