Eight Expedia employees from across the globe have gathered in Quinault as part of the company’s fifth employee volunteer consultancy to promote responsible tourism at World Heritage sites, places universally recognized for their outstanding value to humanity.
Expedia’s project leverages the tourism expertise of Expedia employees to support and enhance the experience travelers will have at World Heritage locations by providing these communities with a comprehensive plan for sustainable tourism. This plan will include creating branding techniques for the region, as well as the development of a complete package of tourism product offerings, marketing strategies and sales tools and an improved web presence.
“As a leader in the travel industry, Expedia believes we have a responsibility to foster sustainable tourism around the globe,” said Megan Prine, community relations manager for Expedia, Inc. “As a company based here in the Pacific Northwest, and in this economic climate, we’re pleased to be working in the backyard of our corporate headquarters to enhance the experience of travelers visiting Olympic National Park, and help educate them on World Heritage and what it means to travel responsibly.”
During the project, which continues through this weekend, Expedia employees stay at the Lake Quinault Lodge and work together with representatives from the Quinault Indian Nation, residents of the Lake Quinault and Amanda Park communities, the National Forest Service, and Olympic National Park to improve the quality and marketability of community tourism as well as increase the success and sustainability of the local tourism businesses.
Since partnering with the United Nations Foundation to create the World Heritage Alliance in the fall of 2005, Expedia has completed consultancies at World Heritage sites in Sian Ka’an, the Yucatan, Dominica, and Baja California, Mexico. This year’s volunteer endeavor is the first project to support a U.S.-based World Heritage site.
Expedia, Inc. is the world’s leading online travel company.
