Give-backs and philanthropic efforts have long been part of the DNA for the majority of our travel advisor brands. United under the ALG Vacations® umbrella, we have since deeply committed to making kindness the driving motivation behind everything we do; this movement has gained significant momentum in the past several years, leading to incredible events like our now annual Kindness Conference and a ramp-up of in-destination volunteer work.

On a more everyday level, we’ve integrated kindness into our internal and external programs, the way we think about developing technology, and how we communicate. In this way, our emphasis on service has never been stronger. And now, that train of thought has carried us over into community service – specifically, our destination and travel communities. The culmination of this broader mindset? Our first-ever voluntourism FAM. 

This was a project long in the making; ALGV wanted to make sure we launched this concept right. We kicked off this spring with a group of like-minded travel advisors, many of whom had indicated their interest at last year’s Ascend conference, after attending our voluntourism workshop. Led by ALGV BDM Jen Palka and TE AMO (Travel Experts in Appreciation for Mexican Origins) co-founder Lori Swinderman; facilitated by Rossy Rodriguez of Amstar DMC; assisted by Raul Gonzales also of Amstar; and further supported by frequent Ascend voluntourism workshop presenter 417 Travel’s McKenzie Paquin, ALGV and 17 generous travel advisors – many of whom have long histories of activation within their communities as well as in our popular destinations – the group was able to significantly exceed ALGV’s donation goals.

Initially, the goal was to raise enough funds to provide one hearing aid and uniforms for the students at Asociacion Microtia Quintana Roo (AMQR) in Playa del Carmen in Mexico’s Riviera Maya, a center and educational facility for primarily hearing impaired children, but also welcoming those with special needs. 

Together, the group raised $7,700 … enough to:

• Purchase the custom pediatric hearing aids necessary for for all six of the children in need
• Provide all enrolled students with the casual uniforms that help keep them safe with easy identification
• Purchase a water tank for the school, providing them with access to water to power the sinks and toilets for more regular use, beyond the existing tap

Plus, thanks to the additional contributions from TE AMO, fund scholarships for the remainder of the year for several students, for whom the $150/monthly tuition was a hardship.

Additionally, all of the attendees arrived on location with donations and supplies for a women’s shelter, also located in Quintana Roo, where the group stayed at Dreams® Vista Cancun Golf & Spa Resort and Grand Palladium Kantenah Resort & Spa.

As Palka, Swinderman, and Rodriguez shared, it’s incredibly important to give back to the people of the destinations that give us, as an industry, so much. “Without them, we are nothing,” they expressed throughout the trip, a sentiment shared by all attendees, from experienced travel advisors who have spent decades selling travel to the next generation of ALGVPros who are actively choosing to build their careers on kindness. Without their warm welcomes, interest in hospitality service and leadership, and generous sharing of their culture and special places, the travel industry and every traveler we impact would not have the privilege of falling in love with the cities, landscapes, and heritage of where we visit.

And ultimately … isn’t that the goal of travel?

ALG Vacations® looks forward to hosting more similar FAMs, where the focus is giving back to populations in need in the places we love. Ask us how you can help, donate, or get involved or invited to the next trip for hands-on opportunities to spend a week volunteering or for a list of philanthropies pre-vetted by our partners at Amstar in our most popular regions.