Travel with Purpose 2010

Our goal is to empower local people and communities to strengthen their well being while promoting long-term, environmentally responsible growth.

Responsible Travel

STA’s Partnership with Planeterra

Includes:• Development of Volunteering and Voluntour product

• Fundraising Worldwide for a new project in Thailand

• A commitment to invest $1million towards the development of the product and brochures, matching donations, and pre-bought 52 weeks so you can experience the product for themselves.

Volunteering Brochure USPs

•Many projects exclusive to STA

•Min 20% commission

•All projects ‘vetted’ and are ethical

•STA Travel cross selling opportunity – ie RTW tickets, Stay product

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STA Travel Volunteer Brochure

Where are they?...

17 in Asia, 16 in Africa, 13 in South America, 13 in Central America, 2 in Australia, 1 in New Zealand and 1 in Vanuatu+ approx 15 additional cross selling products!

Volunteer Voluntour

• Groups oriented• You are on the move• Adventure itinerary• 2-5 days volunteering incorporated into trip• Same style as our Gap Voluntours

- Independent- You stay in the same place - Longer-term (2 week+ additional weeks) - Live onsite or close to project – homestay /volunteer dorm / house - Requires Volunteer Application and Criminal background check for projects working directly with children

Types of projects

WORK IN CONSERVATIONProtect some of the world’s most fragile environments. By preserving these ecosystems, you’ll contribute to the project’s long term sustainability, and help re-educate the community

WORK WITH ANIMALSContribute to the protection of endangered species. In their desperate fight for survival, you’ll develop an understanding of their conditions and work to protect them.

WORK WITH CHILDRENInspire the newest generation to break the cycle of poverty. Your work will provide them with basic skills, and create an environment in which to reach their full potential.

WORK WITH COMMUNITIESSpend time with a broad cross-section of the local community. Your work will improve quality of life and ensure community sustainability in some of the world’s remotest areas.

Types of accommodation • VOLUNTEER HOUSE - May provide some of the comforts of home. Rooms may be twin or multi-share, with shared bathrooms, common living and dining areas, and most have kitchen facilities that you have access to. They are located close to the project, often with project co-ordinators staying on site or nearby.

• ON-SITE ACCOMODATION - On site accommodation can vary from fixed platform tents in the Kathmandu Valley of Nepal to simple cabins on an organic farm in Argentina. Staying on site allows for even more interaction with fellow travellers and an easy commute to the project each morning!

• HOME STAY - In more remote areas, home stays will give volunteers a chance to truly experience what life is like in the community with whom you are volunteering. While the accommodation and toilet facilities may be basic, home stays are one of the best ways to immerse yourself in the local culture.

• GUESTHOUSES, HOTELS AND LODGES - A variety of styles of hotels/guest houses are used as start and end accommodation for our volunteer programs, and more widely used on our voluntours. In some areas we stay in simple local guest houses in stunning locations - rooms are small and simple and there may only be shared toilet facilities and showers.

• CAMPING - Some of the projects require elements of camping. This is usually because the project is in a remote location or simply because a night under the stars is a must! The campsites are well equipped and secure. Depending on the project, there may only be shared toilet facilities and showers available

Support on the ground

While the nature of our projects range in focus and destination, nomatter where you volunteer you’ll be provided with guidance andsupport from an in-country project co-ordinator.

• Most are from the local area, or have lived in the communities in which they work for some time, often as volunteers themselves. They will help you get settled and will act as a support system to ensure you get the most out of your volunteer experience.

•Upon arrival in each start city, you will be welcomed by either alocal guide or the project co-ordinator who will transfer you to thesite of your volunteer project. Once you are settled at the projectaccommodation, you’ll be given a briefing of what to expect in thedays and weeks ahead, as well as valuable resources to help youbetter understand the communities and environments in which youwill be working.

Other Project Operators

• GVI

• Magic Bus

• Kingdom of the White Lion

• Camps International

• The Great Orang-utan Project

• ETC

• Acacia

• Marine Dynamics

• Dyer Island Cruises

• Nomads

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Why and how did we choose these operators ?

•We needed to expand the product to give us global coverage

•All operators chosen give back min of 30% to the projects, there not for profit operators or NGO and recognised as excellent operators in this industry sector

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Hints & Tips to book in GAP

•Book like a normal Gap tour in Sherpa

•24% commission on all Planeterra

•Look for the Sherpa tour code in the brochure*

•Load into DTM using the normal Gap Adventures entry

•Dossiers will be sent out pre departure

•Medical form and Criminal checks for working with children

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Booking in GAP

Hints & Tips to book in STAy

• Check the departure days on the product information pages

• Select product type “packages” from the drop down

• Always enter the number of nights as per the title description

• Double click on the accommodation name box and enter the package name if you know it OR select the city the package starts in

(Enter percentage signs either side of package name if you do not know the exact name i.e. %Borneo Volunteer%)

• Alternatively book from the product information pages!

Booking in STAy from Product pages

Ensure to enter the correct departure date (as shown in the product information pages) & number of nights e.g 9n in this example

Booking in STAy from @comres

Questions? Queries?  Who to contact…

For all projects booked through STAy:

Please email or call your STAy advisors as normal - contact details can be found under “Who to Contact” on the STAy staff intranet

For all projects booked through GAP

Please email or call the GAP Sherpa support team:

08444 10 5555

FAQ

How do I get a weeks free volunteering?The Planeterra team is now accepting applications for the remaining ‘free trip’ slots! Over a third of the 52 weeks purchased for 2010 have been filled and we expect the internal demand to be high. If you’re interested in participating visit ______________ today. There you can download and submit your application. Submissions will be reviewed on a case by case basis. 

If I cant get a FREE week do I get a discount if I go on my own holiday?Yes – All STA Travel staff qualify for 50% STA Travel Companions can take advantage of 25% off! The best part about these discounts? GAP will cover the discount so even though you pay less, the projects still receive the money that it so critically needs!

Why pay to volunteer? Keeping customers safe in some pretty challenging environments doesn’t come cheap. You need to be supported wherever you are in the world. Each of the volunteer projects also needs materials, equipment, personnel and training. On some projects food may also be included in the cost. Some projects can take years to carefully set up, especially those in very remote and poor communities. A significant donation to the project is included in the price for most of our projects which provides vital income to the local community.

How do I start fundraising?Your CSR champions are there to help you with this.  If you have an idea let us know and we can make it happen. You can also run your own fundraising campaigns, there are lots of ways to get started - for some inspiration try this site http://www.100fundraisingideas.co.uk/sponsored-event/).

HAPPY SELLING!