The Travel Industry Is Making a Pawsitive Impact With These Sanctuary Partnerships

The travel industry and animal conservation — two specialties that rarely ever collide. But, in more recent efforts to give back to the communities that make travel special, companies all over the world are doing their part to protect a variety of living creatures, no matter the ecosystems they come from. Having teamed up with local animal sanctuaries to make an ecological difference, these four travel companies are changing the game when it comes to community outreach.

Impression Isla Mujeres by Secrets

Located in the glistening blue waters off the coast of Cancún, the stunning Impression Isla Mujeres by Secrets all-inclusive resort provides guests with luxurious accommodations and a relaxing vacation to remember. And while the resort is known for top-notch hospitality, a partnership with the nonprofit organization, Saving Our Sharks, has put the resort on the map for another reason.

With the island’s prime geographical location in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, fishing for sharks has been a popular tradition for more than 60 years, often serving as the local fishermen’s livelihood. But with the surrounding ecosystem hanging in a delicate balance, this partnership serves to raise awareness and combat the killing of this misunderstood aquatic species.

In honor of this collaborative effort, the resort has placed shark-themed elements all throughout the property, including shark murals and mosaics. Guests are also encouraged to participate in a self-guided tour around the resort by scanning QR codes to access information about shark conservation. In addition to educating the resort guests, a percentage of a visitor’s stay will go directly to the Saving Our Sharks program to continue the conservation and educational efforts, which includes teaching the generational fishermen how to properly dive with the sharks, in hopes that they can use the knowledge to invest in a future business endeavor. Saving an estimated 3,000 sharks last year, this partnership continues to expand its initiative and impact to protect the quiet beauty of the island’s sharks.

137 Pillars Hotels & Resorts

While some resorts are protecting the majestic life that exists in the water, others are thinking big on land. 137 Pillars Hotels & Resorts in Chiang Mai, Thailand has a partnership with the Elephant Nature Park (ENP) with the goal of raising funds and awareness for elephant conservation and reforestation. ENP’s main purpose is to serve as a sanctuary and rehabilitation center for distressed elephants across Thailand in addition to restoring the ecological balance in the Mae Taeng Forest by replacing the trees lost to years of logging.

The population of Asian elephants in the entirety of Thailand is down to an estimated 3,000 when at the start of the 20^th century, nearly 100,000 roamed free according to a Save Elephant Foundation study. With evidence that a critical symbol of Thai culture was rapidly declining, demonstrating a need to protect the remaining elephants, 137 Pillars Hotels & Resorts encourages guests who stay at either their Bangkok or Chiang Mai properties to donate to the ENP. The majority of the funds are reserved for elephant conservation with about 10% allotted for reforestation projects. Through this partnership, the ENP has been able to plant nearly 100,000 trees in the Mae Taeng Forest and protect the remaining Thai elephants.

Southwest Airlines

We’ve likely all seen a furry friend or two tucked away under a passenger’s seat while on a flight, but the next time you fly Southwest, remember that it could be a rescue mission in action. Partnered with the Best Friends Animal Society, the largest sanctuary for homeless animals in the U.S., the Southwest Animal Transport Team (SWATT) works to relocate dogs and cats from kill shelters or those at capacity.

It's 100% volunteer based, and the SWATT team members, dubbed Flight Angels, consist of Southwest flight attendants, pilots, ticket counter agents and loading crews. The Flight Angels typically fly on their days off, helping to move the furry friends to other shelters and rescue groups with the hope that they’ll find their forever home. So far, the SWATT team has completed around 2,000 rescue missions and continues to work closely with the Best Friends Animal Society to grow the partnership. SWATT also works in line with Delta’s version of the program, Delta Animal Rescue Transport, to maximize the potential for the rescue missions.

Giraffe Manor

At the beautiful 1930s boutique hotel set on acres of land and surrounded by indigenous forest in Nairobi, Kenya, the Giraffe Manor is an unforgettable experience both in its conservation efforts and incredible views.

Back in 1979 when the program first started, the native giraffe species, Rothschild, was an extremely endangered population with only 80 left in all of Kenya. Seeking to protect the species, Giraffe Manor partnered with the Africa Fund for Endangered Wildlife to use the land surrounding the hotel as a sanctuary for the giraffes. In addition to the sanctuary being located on the Giraffe Manor’s property, a portion of every room fee goes directly to the Giraffe Conservation Foundation to help aid in the education and conservation initiatives. Thanks to the efforts from the hotel, the Africa Fund for Endangered Wildlife and the Giraffe Conservation Foundation, there are now an estimated 765 Rothschild giraffes in Kenya.

All this work to protect the species doesn’t come without a unique reward, however. The giant creatures here are especially curious and are known for popping their heads into the windows of the dining area while guests enjoy their meals. It’s only right that saving a once-in-a-lifetime species calls for a once-in-a-lifetime photo opportunity.