Meaningful travel means understanding the importance of integrating respect for nature and the local people and culture.
Both respect for the environment and for the local people and culture of destinations are increasingly becoming a part of the travel purchase decision-making process, according to travel advisors and hotel brands. A recent Virtuoso survey of responses from more than 250 Virtuoso travel advisors in the U.S. “reveals travelers are prioritizing decisions that reduce pressure on destinations, support local communities and enhance the overall travel experience.”
The United Nations has even established 17 Sustainable Development goals as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development “to secure the rights and well-being of everyone on a healthy, thriving planet.” The UN Initiative looks at environmental, social, and economic sustainability. The goals “recognize that ending poverty and other deprivations must go hand-in-hand with strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth – all while tackling climate change and working to preserve our oceans and forests.”
Respect for the Local People
The Virtuoso survey found that 25 percent of polled advisors “identified supporting local communities and economies as a key factor shaping client preferences, reflecting the rising demand for more intentional and immersive travel experiences.”
Sofiya Erman, owner of Book with Sofi in Commerce City, Colo. says that “respect for local people and culture has become a much larger part of how my clients evaluate destinations and resorts in 2026.” She adds: “Clients are also becoming more aware of the impact tourism can have on a local community. I have seen my clients want to feel welcomed into a destination, not isolated from it.”
Erman stresses that her clients “appreciate more resorts that hire locally, support local businesses, and incorporate culture thoughtfully.” She continues: “For example, a few of the properties in Mexico have started doing a ‘Mexican Cultural Night’ and then they bring in local vendors to not only be a part of the show but also show a portion of their culture and support their small businesses.”
The Explorean Kohunlich
The future of hospitality is experiential, where each stay becomes a collection of meaningful experiences rooted in destination, culture, and connection, according to George Hunter, Vice President, Leisure Sales, Fiesta Americana Travelty Collection: “Guests are looking for more than a room, a beach or a resort stay,” says Hunter. “They want to feel connected to the destination, to the people they are traveling with, and to the story of the place.” At Posadas properties, “we are developing experiences that honor local, Indigenous, regional and national culture,” continues Hunter. “These may include culinary experiences inspired by Mexican ingredients and traditions, curated celebrations, art- and music-led programming, wellness rituals, local excursions and destination storytelling.”
This is true for properties in Mexico and the Dominican Republic, says Hunter. “Mexico is not one single story; each destination has its own rhythm, cuisine, celebrations, landscapes, and sense of identity,” he adds. “Our role is to translate that into hospitality through design, food and beverage, wellness, music, local partnerships, and curated experiences that feel genuine and personal.” This is also the case for the properties in the Dominican Republic. “At the same time, as Posadas expands its footprint in the Caribbean, we are equally committed to honoring the culture, warmth, and spirit of the Dominican Republic,” says Hunter. “Experiences at our Dominican resorts are designed to celebrate the destination’s vibrant hospitality, music, culinary traditions, and sense of joy and connection.”
For Rosemary Freeman, a travel agent for Dreamcatcher Travel in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., meaningful travel is “learning more about a destination to where I can add value while I am there or contribute to the people.” She adds that respect for local people and culture is an important part of her clients’ decision-making when it comes to destinations and resorts. “We have an in-depth conversation about it,” she says. “I encourage my clients with my own experiences of food, religion and history.”
Angie Brandt, owner of Both Worlds Travel in Raleigh, N.C. likes to “jokingly” say: “If you aren't connecting with the locals, enjoying regional specialties, and stepping out of your comfort zone, are you even traveling?” She adds: “This is the core of what I do in curating trips for my clients.”
Live Aqua Urban Resort San Miguel de Allende Temazcal
Respect for Environment
Virtuoso notes that “as interest in sustainable travel continues to grow, advisors say a lack of clarity outweighs concerns over cost.” The survey showed that 23 percent of advisors “cited insufficient information as the primary reason clients hesitate to choose sustainable options." Some 49 percent of advisors state “that firsthand sustainability experiences, like educational trips or study tours, are the most effective way for travel partners to showcase their efforts.”
Mexico has become an increasing strong option for travelers who are seeing more sustainability, says Erman. “Many of the places throughout Mexico have already made significant conservation efforts to protect the beaches, reefs, and marine ecosystems.”
Freeman feels the Dominican Republic is a destination that is “up and coming with hoteliers using sustainable materials for construction.”
For Fiesta Americana Travelty Collection, “sustainability is not treated as a separate initiative,” according to Hunter. “It is part of how we operate,” he says. “Our ESG strategy is built around environmental, social and governance pillars, with the guest experience at the center.” Efforts across the portfolio include water and energy management, waste reduction, monitoring of environmental performance, staff training and compliance with environmental standards. Green Key is an important part of this commitment, adding strict criteria and global best practices to conservation efforts, adds Hunter.
Respect for the environment matters, stresses Hunter. “Our destinations are our greatest asset,” he says. “Beaches, oceans, local communities, historic centers, culinary traditions and natural landscapes are all part of the guest experience. Protecting them is both a responsibility and a long-term commitment to the future of travel.”
Erman says her clients seek resorts that follow basic sustainability. “Increasingly, they are looking more for sustainability and responsible tourism practices,” she says. “They want to see more of a larger shift to meaningful, tangible efforts in conservation, waste reduction and local community support.” She adds that she has especially seen these efforts “with many of the all-inclusive properties who have made significant strides or change over the last few years. Many of my clients appreciate going to properties where the integration of sustainability is authentic and ingrained into the property rather than something that seems to be a second thought or using it as a marketing measure.”