In 2017, I was in San Luis Obispo for the #CaliforniaWild project and I fell in love with the town almost at first sight. So I’ve tried to keep tabs on it ever since and particularly since I moved to California in 2018. Because of that and my interest in responsible travel, I was happy to learn about SLO’s Keys for Trees program. And now, in 2024, I’m happy to share Kind Traveler has joined SLO in their efforts.
I’m sharing quotes from multiple press releases. That text will be in italics, either black or teal. All other wording is my own. I captured these images during my 2017 visit to SLO. Unless noted otherwise. All graphics are courtesy Kind Traveler.
San Luis Obispo and Arbor Day
For nearly 40 consecutive years, the city of San Luis Obispo along California’s Central Coast, better known as SLO, has been recognized as a Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation. The 150th anniversary of Arbor Day was on April 29th, 2022. No surprise that SLO took its title to heart with its Keys for Trees initiative.
What is San Luis Obispo’s Keys for Trees?
Part of SLO’s strategic sustainability plan includes Keys for Trees, which sets aside a portion of the city’s hotel revenue from overnight stays and earmarks it for the continuous planting of trees. The goal is to have 10,000 trees planted and flourishing throughout the city by 2035 to coincide with the SLO’s goal of being carbon-neutral. When visitors book a hotel room for one or multiple nights, they’re helping to create a destination that offers cleaner air, cleaner water, and a more biodiverse habitat long-term.
More about the Kind Traveler and SLO Partnership
Affectionately referred to as SLO, San Luis Obispo’s Keys for Trees program means every guest staying overnight in any of its 42 hotels will contribute to planting new trees in the city, helping SLO reach its carbon neutrality goal by 2035. SLO’s partnership with Kind Traveler provides live impact reports and communication tools, making it fun and easy for visitors to see how their travel creates a positive impact and other ways to travel sustainably.
For example, artisanal-made wood plaques with a QR code linking to a live impact report are now at the front desk of every hotel in SLO. These plaques provide visitors with details about the Keys for Trees program and invite them to celebrate the fact that their stay has made a positive difference. The enhanced layer of communication, education, and third-party validation creates transparency around the funds raised from every guest stay and invites the visitor on a mutual journey toward SLO’s carbon neutrality.
Data that I have seen suggests that travelers are increasingly interested in trips that improve the communities they visit. I know that describes me as a traveler!
According to Kind Traveler’s 2022 Impact Tourism Report, 97% of travelers want their travel dollars to positively impact the communities they visit, and 75% agree traveling sustainably enhances their vacation experience. Despite this, half of travelers say they don’t know how to start. This new partnership makes it easier for anyone wanting to make a positive impact on the environment, knowing that just staying in SLO will better the community and planet.
More about Kind Traveler
Kind Traveler is an internationally awarded, responsible travel platform empowering travelers to positively impact local communities with a portfolio of 350+ hotel, destination, and charity partners in 25 countries to advance the U.N. Global Goals. As a women-and-veteran-owned pioneer in sustainable & regenerative tourism since 2016, Kind Traveler was the first to empower travelers to positively impact the communities they visit by giving back to local charities through its signature Give + Get hotel booking platform. With the 2023 launch of its Every Stay Gives Back community impact program, Kind Traveler takes its mission further by ensuring every guest stay funds local charities with participating hotel and destination partners – regardless of where the booking originates. 100% of the funds raised are donated to participating charities. As a Blue Startups portfolio company, Kind Traveler has been recognized with global awards from Fast Company, Travel + Leisure, Newsweek, Lufthansa Innovation Hub and UNWTO.
Making Plans to Visit Sustainable SLO
“SLO” or San Luis Obispo wants to help travelers plan a more responsible and sustainable visit. That, in my words, is how I see the mission of Kind Traveler and its founder Jessica Blotter as well.
Now, Visit San Luis Obispo is partnering with Kind Traveler’s new Every Stay Gives Back program to offer new inspiration for eco-friendly travel on California’s Central Coast.
SLO is sharing tips for how to get around without a car and so much more. Their destination portal is the place to start planning. That is after you read about my visit! 😉 It included the downtown Farmer’s Market:
Wine in SLO
On that site, they highlight that,
A majority of SLO Coast wineries are SIP-certified, meaning they use practices that protect the people and planet.
Wine tasting is already fun. If you’re drinking a glass produced by keeping people and the planet in mind that’s even better!
As the press release that I already referenced from SLO mentions,
While many are familiar with Earth Day, which was founded in 1970 to help shed light and correct the imbalance that humankind’s negligence has had on the environment, Arbor Day was established nearly a century before as a tree planting holiday. With the 150th anniversary approaching, SLO, a wine-growing region known for its reds and whites, has earned a reputation for being green as well.
Final Thoughts
Did I interest you in visiting San Luis Obispo? There’s more than just sustainability and wine! I also enjoy visiting the area for its art. Check out my story on Field of Light at Sensorio in San Luis Obispo County.
Are you ready to plan a visit to San Luis Obispo? Does SLO’s Keys for Trees program interest you?
