The Dinogo Travel Vanguard 2023

Established in 2016, the Dinogo Travel Vanguard honors organizations that harness travel for positive impact. This year, from nearly 130 nominees, we proudly selected seven distinguished honorees, including a nonprofit reviving an ancient wilderness, a luxury cruise line leading in eco-friendly innovations, and a hotel brand that champions art and artists.

Continue reading to discover more about these seven trailblazers.

Panama Tourism

Empowering local communities through tourism

Panama invites travelers to explore beyond its breathtaking beaches, renowned surf spots, and iconic canal. The country’s Sustainable Tourism Master Plan 2020–2025 includes initiatives aimed at reducing carbon emissions, safeguarding marine ecosystems, and raising awareness among travelers about their ecological footprint. However, Panama's collaboration with Indigenous communities stands out as particularly transformative.

In 2022, a coalition of government bodies and nonprofit organizations initiated SOSTUR (a blend of turismo sostenible, Spanish for “sustainable tourism”), creating a network that links travelers directly with pilot projects in 10 communities nationwide. “Prior to SOSTUR, these communities lacked access to the tourism market, allowing them to craft their own tourism strategies that suit their needs,” explains Fernando Fondevila, CEO of PROMTUR, which promotes tourism in Panama.

Through SOSTUR, travelers can, for instance, arrange a tour to Bonllik, a lush jungle area along the Costa Rica border. Here, the Naso people, recognized as the last Indigenous monarchy in the Americas, offer a tourism experience that showcases their culture on their own terms. Visitors can engage in cacao and banana harvesting while discovering how their hosts have preserved their traditions in the face of centuries of colonial oppression.

SOSTUR experiences start with community involvement. For a trip to be featured on the platform, local hosts must first agree to the terms and participate in crafting the activity. “From transportation to the moment a visitor arrives, the accommodations they stay in, the guides leading them on their journey, and the groups cooking and sharing insights about their community,” explains Annie Young, president of SOSTUR, “everyone plays a role in the process.”

andBEYOND

For bringing its conservation-focused mission to new regions worldwide

Since 1991, the tour and lodging company andBeyond has promoted a tourism model that places travelers at the heart of a connected system, linking the land, local communities, and wildlife. The company has gradually expanded—from a single property in South Africa to 25 lodges across six African nations—while continually enhancing its conservation efforts. Today, its properties protect over a million acres of wilderness.

Recently, andBeyond has begun to explore new territories. After launching Vira Vira, a lodge in Chile’s Lake District, in 2018, the company shifted its focus to Asia. Its Punakha River Lodge, featuring a small collection of suites and luxury tents, opened in September 2023 along the Mo Chhu River. Although Bhutan, known for its high-value, low-volume tourism model and strong conservation leadership, might seem an unusual choice for a company that typically operates in areas with more vulnerable wild spaces, Nicole Robinson, andBeyond’s chief marketing officer, clarifies that the intention was for guests to witness Bhutan’s dedication firsthand.

“What we truly aim for is for [our guests’] travels to inspire them to reconsider their place in the world and their lifestyle upon returning home,” Robinson explains. “There’s a wealth of knowledge to gain from understanding what the Bhutanese prioritize and how that is reflected throughout the country.”

No andBeyond initiative is complete without an aspect of community support. Approximately 80 percent of the staff hail from nearby regions, with most being newcomers to the hospitality sector. Creating new job opportunities—especially in an industry that offers significant growth potential—can have positive ripple effects that extend beyond the lodge. Furthermore, the company minimizes the environmental impact of Punakha and utilizes local architectural styles that harmonize with the landscape.

“Our goal is to leave the world a better place, which certainly includes the land and wildlife,” Robinson states. “But it also encompasses our guests and staff—we must ensure they are in a better situation as well.”

Visit Baltimore

For opening the city’s doors to everyone . . .

Following a pandemic and a period of racial reflection, as travel began to recover, Baltimore recognized an opportunity. Many individuals were not ready to act as if the past few years had simply vanished. “In the context of U.S. travel, the truth is that there are places where many still feel unwelcomed or even unsafe while visiting,” states Al Hutchinson, president and CEO of Visit Baltimore, the city’s official tourism board.

In 2021, Visit Baltimore launched the Warm Welcome program, aimed at ensuring all visitors, no matter who they are, feel that the city is a welcoming space for them. To date, over 80 hotels, restaurants, museums, and other tourism venues have pledged to join the initiative. They commit to adhering to inclusive principles, such as addressing acts of discrimination when they occur. However, making a promise is just the beginning; to participate, businesses must also provide mandatory diversity, equity, and inclusion training developed by local experts.

After receiving approval, businesses can display storefront stickers indicating their program membership, empowering travelers of color, the LGBTQ community, and others to feel more confident while exploring the city.

21c Museum Hotels

For using art to ignite discussions throughout the United States

The inaugural 21c Museum Hotel opened its doors in Louisville, Kentucky, in 2006, when Laura Lee Brown and Steve Wilson sought a venue for their vast art collection and a means to give back to their community. What began as a singular hotel-museum fusion evolved into a mission that transcends typical hospitality endeavors: revitalizing historic structures, highlighting overlooked cities, empowering artists, and fostering social transformation.

Currently, 21c operates eight hotels, each a masterpiece in its own right. The Durham, North Carolina location occupies the Hill Building, an art deco gem from the 1930s. The newest property in St. Louis, Missouri, is situated in a 95-year-old, 10-story Renaissance revival YMCA. All hotels dedicate substantial areas of their public spaces to art exhibits and community activities.

Art exhibitions are accessible to the public and explore themes that resonate with both locals and visitors. For example, 21c showcased Indigenous artists in Cincinnati and held an exhibition in Chicago addressing pay disparities. The brand collaborates with Artadia, a nonprofit that provides artists with unrestricted financial support. By awarding grants in cities where they operate, 21c aims to elevate artists outside the conventional art scenes.

“It offers significant exposure and opportunities for these artists and promotes the vibrant visual culture thriving in all these cities,” states Alice Gray Stites, chief curator and museum director of 21c Museum Hotels. “It reinforces our identity as a multi-venue museum, as the award will occur in each city, facilitating more chances for collaboration among these artists.”

Singapore Tourism Board

For inspiring an entire city to embrace greenery

In 2023, Singapore achieved certification as a sustainable destination from the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), which has established rigorous environmental, economic, and cultural standards. (It was also the first country to apply for this certification.) The Southeast Asian island has made significant strides to reshape its urban environment into a "city in nature," integrating verdant parks and gardens among skyscrapers and even along their facades. You'll see hotel roofs adorned with solar panels, restaurants striving to minimize waste, and green pathways linking parks together.

"As a small city-state, our resources are limited," states Rachel Loh, a senior vice president at the Singapore Tourism Board. "Over time, we have discovered innovative methods to thrive as a society, such as vertical farming, which involves cultivating crops in stacked layers to maximize food output without requiring extensive farmland."

The GSTC certification highlights the achievements of Singapore’s Green Plan, initiated in February 2021 with the ambitious aim of reaching net-zero emissions by 2050. The Singapore Tourism Board has been instrumental in translating this mission into the travel industry by launching sustainability-oriented training programs for tourism professionals, aligning hotels, airlines, and conference planners with specific emissions targets, and leading the push for GSTC certification.

In addition to the overarching initiatives from the Singaporean government and the Singapore Tourism Board, individual hospitality establishments are contributing as well. For instance, the ParkRoyal Collection Pickering embraces a “hotel-in-a-garden” concept, featuring lush greenery along its balconies and 262 solar panels. The newly opened Pan Pacific Orchard, which debuted in June 2023, is the city’s first zero-waste hotel.

While tourists will enjoy cleaner air and increased green spaces, Loh emphasizes the importance of considering the advantages for local Singaporeans. "Sustainable tourism also prioritizes the welfare of local communities and their cultural heritage," she observes. "It fosters respectful interactions with local traditions, supports local economies, and creates opportunities for community growth."

Trees for Life

For restoring the world's wild landscapes

Millennia ago, the Scottish Highlands were covered by Caledonian forest, home to endemic species like wolves, red squirrels, and beavers. Today, only 2 percent of that forest survives, ravaged by climate change, habitat loss, and invasive plant species. Trees for Life is a rewilding charity founded in 1993 with a mission to revive these ancient forests, part of a global effort to restore nearly lost ecosystems. The organization has successfully planted nearly 2 million native trees and reintroduced red squirrels, among other achievements.

In April 2023, the organization launched the Dundreggan Rewilding Centre, located just south of Inverness on 10,000 acres of historic woodland once used for royal hunting. Visitors can explore a network of trails through vast areas of replanted pines and willows; join guided walks to learn how native plant species can aid in the resurgence of golden eagles, beavers, and lynxes; or participate in lectures focused on local insects.

Steve Micklewright, the CEO of the organization, shares that the Dundreggan Rewilding Centre fosters a direct connection between tourism and nature. "We’ve constructed a facility primarily designed to encourage outdoor engagement," he explains, noting that they also provide accommodation for those interested in multi-day volunteer activities such as tree planting or wildlife monitoring. "People seek experiences that broaden their horizons. You can enjoy a vacation that contributes positively to nature," he adds.

Since trees can take centuries to mature, rewilding demands patience. However, the center exemplifies what can be accomplished in the short term as well. "We should view this endeavor as a partnership with nature instead of assuming the roles of stewards or guardians of the environment," Micklewright emphasizes. "If we were to vanish tomorrow, nature would carry on just fine. Our need to restore the environment is fundamentally for our own benefit and survival as humans," he states.

Ponant Cruises

For combining extensive exploration with eco-consciousness

In 2022, Le Commandant Charcot, the newest vessel from French company Ponant, established its adventurous credentials by becoming the first luxury cruise ship to transport guests to the North Pole. Accomplishing this while protecting the delicate ecosystem marked a pivotal moment for expedition cruising.

Boasting 123 luxurious cabins, gourmet dining, and a spa, the Charcot embodies the essence of a high-end cruise liner. What sets it apart is its innovative technology: it is the world’s first luxury icebreaker of its kind to operate using a blend of electric battery power, liquefied natural gas, and low-sulfur gas oil. This combination leads to a 25 percent reduction in carbon emissions and a staggering 95 percent decrease in fine-particle emissions compared to traditional fuel sources.

The ship's creation was part of Ponant's commitment to invest over $1 billion in sustainable technologies, including hybrid batteries and low-emission fuels. Navin Sawhney, the company's CEO for the Americas, emphasizes that Ponant's dedication to a greener future in expedition cruising includes direct support for scientific research. The Charcot can access remote areas that are financially challenging for many scientific teams that lack appropriate transport for extreme environments. By utilizing tourism ships, researchers can significantly cut the high costs associated with polar expeditions, while passengers gain insights into the latest ecological, geological, and climate research directly from the scientists.

In 2022, the Charcot facilitated 29 scientific expeditions, featuring two onboard laboratories for researchers. "This ship showcases our commitment to exploring and understanding the oceans, while also actively contributing to environmental preservation through that knowledge," states Sawhney.