Travel Kind: Lee County, Florida Leading the Way in Promoting Sustainable Tourism

Fort Myers is taking a leadership role in sustainable tourism through a new partnership with Kind Traveler’s Every Stay Gives Back program.

As the first destination in Florida to join the initiative, the VCB is introducing an innovative model that transforms visits into direct support for local environmental and community organizations.

With beaches open, wildlife thriving, and the destination growing, the initiative comes at a pivotal time for Lee County’s tourism industry.

Global demand for purpose-driven travel continues to grow. According to Booking.com’s 2025 Travel & Sustainability Report, travelers increasingly prioritize destinations that reinvest tourism dollars locally.

“Our tourism industry is built on natural beauty and resilience,” said Tamara Pigott, executive director of the Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau. “The Every Stay Gives Back program allows our lodging partners to showcase sustainability outcomes and offers visitors a way to support the continued improvement of our environment.”

Participating hotels and vacation rentals contribute a portion of each stay to local nonprofits through Kind Traveler’s platform. Guests can see Positive Impact Dashboards and check out on-site QR codes showing how funds raised impacted the destination as well as search for volunteer opportunities.

Current tourism industry partners include:

• Tween Waters Island Resort & Spa and Sanibel Siesta on the Beach – supporting the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW).

• Sea Gypsy Vacation Rentals – supporting Keep Lee County Beautiful Inc., focused on coastal cleanups and habitat restoration.

Small contributions can create meaningful results: As little as $10 can feed a recovering wildlife patient for nearly a month, or it can support cleanup of 10 miles of local roadways.

The VCB’s adoption of Every Stay Gives Back supports a statewide model for regenerative tourism. Since 2023, the program has generated more than $1.6 million in donations globally for wildlife conservation, education and recovery.

Explore participating organizations and nonprofit beneficiaries at: www.visitfortmyers.com/kind-traveler