TRAVEL NOW, FOR THE FUTURE:  Lindblad Expeditions Gives Guests a Gift For the Future - A Fund for Wild Places Offers Conscientious Travel to Galápagos Islands, Baja California and Central America
 
Lindblad Expeditions (LEX), the expedition travel pioneer, has announced an unprecedented drive to raise funds and awareness around conservation efforts in the Galápagos Islands, Baja California and Central America. This campaign – TRAVEL NOW, FOR THE  FUTURE – highlights Lindblad Expeditions’ organizational commitment to preserving the planet’s wild  and wonderful places through responsible tourism and long-term stewardship.
 
Launching today , Lindblad Expeditions is extending its commitment to long term support of conservation in the Galápagos Islands, Baja California and Central America by donating $250 per guest to local conservation initiatives. To qualify for the donation program, guests must book their travel between November 20, 2007 and January 31, 2008 and travel must be completed before June 30, 2008.  All donations resulting from this offer will be made in the name of the guest who books travel.  And, in certain destinations, local NGOs will match that contribution – increasing the impact of the funds donated in the name of Lindblad guests.  
 
The TRAVEL NOW, FOR THE FUTURE campaign is an extension of Lindblad Expeditions’ ongoing  efforts to inform and educate travelers about global conservation efforts.  Through establishing local  relationships and collaborating with respected conservation partners, Lindblad Expeditions has built a robust travel philanthropy program which supports environmental education, conservation and  community projects.  Lindblad Expeditions’ conservation efforts have resulted in tangible results – in the past 10 years alone, the company, with its guests, has raised more than $5 million for global
environmental issues.  Local organizations with whom the company has in-depth working relationships include the Galápagos National Park , the Charles Darwin Research Station, the Mexican Fund for the
 
Conservation of Nature and MarViva.  For information on Lindblad’s grant-making history with these organizations,  visit www.expeditions.com/conservation.  
 
Lindblad Expeditions’ spirit of philanthropy reflects the core values of Sven-Olof Lindblad, the  company’s founder and president. Earlier this year, Lindblad accepted the 2007 Tourism for Tomorrow Global Tourism Business Award, presented annually by the World Travel & Tourism Council, on his company’s behalf. The coveted award recognizes Lindblad Expeditions for “outstanding leadership as a global model for environmental stewardship.”  
 
Said Lindblad, “I’ve spent a lifetime in search of places that provide exciting, inspiring and meaningful travel and I know first-hand how important it is to safeguard their future. I can’t think of a better gift to our guests than the gift of joining us in the long term preservation of these wild and wonderful places that need support, more now than ever.”  
 
TRAVEL NOW, FOR THE FUTURE is just one arm of Lindblad Expeditions’ new initiatives to raise awareness and money for conservation and sustainable tourism projects around the world.  Earlier this year, Lindblad Expeditions launched a new joint Fund for Exploration and Conservation in conjunction with its partner, the National Geographic Society.   
For 50 years, Lindblad Expeditions has explored the world’s wildest places, discovering, with curious travelers, the wonder and joy of inspiring, meaningful travel aboard our expedition ships.  The company believes conservation and environmental efforts, such as this campaign will enable travelers to continue to explore these beautiful places of wonder for many more years.  Additional information about TRAVEL NOW, FOR THE FUTURE can be found on Lindblad’s website (www.expeditions.com/future).    

About Lindblad Expeditions
Lindblad Expeditions is an expedition travel company providing voyages in the Galaápagos, Antarctica, Baja California, Alaska, the Arctic, and beyond. Sven Lindblad has received international recognition, including the 2007 Global Tourism Business Award, 2007 Seafood Champion Award, U.N. Programme Global 500 Award, and recognition from HRH, Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg for his dedication to the conservation and environmental stewardship of the Galaápagos archipelago. The company has also been named #1 Small-Ship Cruise Line (Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Value Awards 2006); “The Best Ships in the World” and “The Best Itineraries” (Condé Nast Traveler: Truth in Travel Awards 2006).
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SOURCE: Lindblad Expeditions
 
 
 

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Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".