Wheelchair building and creating eco-bricks will be among community and philanthropic activities available to delegates attending next month’s Advantage Travel Partnership conference in Mexico.
Attendees will also be able to create traditional Mexican pinatas filled with sweets, toys and school supplies for donation to local children’s charities.
Completed wheelchairs will be donated to local community projects for those in need.
Eco-bricks using PET bottles and non-recyclable waste will be used in sustainable construction projects within the local community such as park benches.
A co-ordinated beach clean sponsored by Intrepid is also planned at the event in Cancun on May 15-18, which brings together the consortium’s flagship events – the annual Advantage conference and the Independent Travel Management Company (ITMC) summit run in partnership with US associate, Hickory Global Partners.
A spokesperson said: “The Advantage Travel Partnership is committed to showcasing the overall social and economic purpose of the travel industry and on Saturday, May 18 conference delegates will be able to participate in a range of experiences to engage with and support ‘giving back’ to local communities.”
The theme of the conference is ‘Buen Futuro – Pace. Passion. Purpose.’
“Meaning ‘Good Future’ in Spanish, the term reflects the consortium’s vision of a positive future for the travel industry and beyond, whilst also emphasising the importance of looking forward with optimism and embracing the transformative nature of travel,” the spokesperson added.
Advantage chief executive Julia Lo Bue-Said said: “We are committed to making a positive difference to both the local communities and environment during our time in Cancun.
“Travel is all about being part of a global community and organising these purposeful activities will allow our conference delegates to give back and engage with the local community whilst creating a lasting impact on the destination.
“We believe that travel is an incredible force for good across the world, allowing us the opportunity to exchange new ideas and embrace different and unique experiences.
“This aligns with the notion that travel is not just about leisure or business but also about fostering understanding, empathy and sustainable practices that benefit both travellers and the places they visit.”
Intrepid UK and EU head of partnerships Jo Reeve added: “We are delighted to be sponsoring this beach clean and support Advantage incorporating this and other purpose-led activities into their conference agenda whilst in Cancun.
“We are running the beach clean with our partner Blue Religion, a marine conservation organisation that focuses on addressing the various issues affecting our oceans through marine conservation projects, pollution control projects, environmental education and expeditions.”