Kind Traveler Using Hotels and Technology to Bring Sustainable Travel Mainstream

Grant: What’s up, everybody? This is Grant with Causeartist, and welcome to the 20th episode! Today, I’m thrilled to talk to someone I’ve been wanting to chat with for a long time—Jessica Blotter, CEO of Kind Traveler. If you don’t know what Kind Traveler is, it’s a unique hotel booking platform that partners with hotels around the world to offer exclusive rates and perks.

To unlock these, you simply add a $10 donation to your nightly stay, and that donation goes to a local nonprofit in the community where you’re staying. The idea for Kind Traveler came to Jessica after a trip to Belize in 2012, where she witnessed poverty at a level she hadn’t seen before. That experience ignited her passion for creating a more sustainable travel experience—one that benefits both the community and the traveler.

Jessica doesn’t have a traditional business background; she started as a science and math teacher and then worked in various startups, consulted, and even wrote for Fast Company and CBS. She also gave a TEDx talk about sustainable travel.

I’m excited to dive into all these topics with her, and we’re also doing a giveaway with Kind Traveler for a beachfront escape in South Beach, Miami, at the Betsy South Beach Hotel.

It’s a $3,500 value, and I’ll link to all the details in the show notes. Thanks again to everyone for listening, and feel free to reach out to me anytime at Grant@Causeartist.com if you have suggestions or questions. Let’s get into it!

03:50

Grant: I always like to start with how things get started, those lightbulb moments. For Kind Traveler, it seems to have begun with a trip to Belize in 2012. Can you talk about that trip and how it sparked the creation of Kind Traveler?

Jessica: Absolutely. In 2012, my co-founder and I went to Belize, and it was a life-changing experience. Before that, I had spent 10 years working in advertising and publishing and had launched two brand development companies.

My partner, Shawn, had already founded three companies by the age of 25, and we both shared a passion for travel and volunteering as animal rescue volunteers. On our trip to Belize, we saw a lot of poverty—families living in shacks next to polluted swamps and malnourished dogs roaming the streets. As animal rescue volunteers, this hit us hard.

There was a pivotal moment when our bus stopped at a convenience store before a Mayan ruins excursion. Stray dogs approached us with desperate eyes, and naturally, I ran into the store to buy any dog food they had. When I came out and scattered the food, other travelers joined in, feeding the dogs.

The mood on the bus shifted from sadness to a sense of accomplishment. We hadn’t saved the world, but we did something small that made a difference. That feeling stayed with us, and we started thinking about how we could use our entrepreneurial skills to create something meaningful.

This led to the idea of a “give and get” hotel booking platform that rewards travelers for giving back to the local community or environment with exclusive rates and perks. Over four years, we did extensive research and development, eventually launching Kind Traveler in August 2016 as the first socially conscious hotel booking platform.

08:45

Grant: What were those four years like as you developed Kind Traveler? What were some of the challenges you faced?

Jessica: The journey was both exciting and challenging. One of the biggest challenges was the extensive research required to build the platform. I was working as a journalist at the time, which gave me the opportunity to interview CEOs of leading hotels around the world.

Through those interviews, I discovered that while sustainability and philanthropy were important to these hotels, there was a gap in creating traveler-facing initiatives. This insight was crucial in shaping Kind Traveler.

Another challenge was building the platform itself. Shawn is a graphic and product designer, which helped immensely, but we still needed a development team. We found a startup web company in LA that was willing to work with us on a budget, and over two years, we invested small increments to build the website.

Even after the platform was built, we had to spend a year securing hotel partners before we could launch. We wanted to come out strong with hotels in major cities like New York, LA, Chicago, and Miami. When we finally launched, we were featured in major publications like Travel + Leisure and Conde Nast Traveler, which was a huge win for us.

12:22

Grant: When travelers book through Kind Traveler, how does the process work? How do they give back, and where does the money go?

Jessica: The process is straightforward. Travelers start by choosing their destination and dates, just like on other booking platforms. They’ll see exclusive rates, typically 10-20% off best available rates.

These rates are negotiated directly with the hotels, which offer the discounts as a reward for the traveler’s kindness. To unlock these rates, travelers make a $10 nightly donation to a local charity highlighted by the hotel.

Each hotel has a local beneficiary partner that creates a positive community or environmental impact in that specific area. For example, in Sonoma, the beneficiary might be the Redwood Empire Food Bank, where a $10 donation provides 20 nutritious meals to individuals in need.

Travelers can also choose to donate to one of our 60 other charities if they have a specific cause they’re passionate about. After making the donation, the exclusive rates and perks are unlocked, and travelers can book directly with the hotel.

What’s great is that 100% of the donations go back to the charity, and the perks can include things like complimentary wine tours or room upgrades. But beyond the tangible perks, there’s also the intangible reward of knowing you’re making a positive impact in the community you’re visiting. That’s the essence of traveling kindly.

19:42

Grant: What were some of the unexpected challenges you faced while building Kind Traveler?

Jessica: One challenge was the gap between our vision and our resources. Shawn and I weren’t web developers, so we had to find the right team to bring our vision to life. We were fortunate to find a small startup web company that was willing to work within our budget, but it meant the development process was slow. We invested little by little over two years to build the site.

Another challenge was getting our first hotel partners on board. We wanted to launch with a strong presence, but convincing hotels to take a chance on a new platform wasn’t easy.

Many hotels were hesitant because we were a startup with no track record. However, we focused on securing a few key partnerships with hotels that were leaders in sustainability and impact, like Virgin Hotels. Having Virgin Hotels as our first partner gave us credibility and helped us attract other hotels.

30:05

Grant: After three years in the industry, what are some of the successes and challenges you’ve observed? How are travelers responding to the platform?

Jessica: One of our successes is seeing how passionate travelers are about giving back locally. About 80% of travelers choose to donate to the local charity associated with the hotel, which shows that people want to make a positive impact in the communities they visit.

However, a challenge we face is growing our portfolio of hotels. While we’re in 15 countries, there are still many destinations where we don’t have a presence, and that can be a limitation for travelers.

Another success has been our partnership with tourism boards, like Sonoma County Tourism. Working with tourism boards allows us to amplify our message and reach more travelers. It also gives us the leverage to promote sustainable travel on a larger scale, engaging entire destinations rather than just individual hotels.

36:50

Grant: When you speak at panels and conferences about sustainable travel, what are some of the key points or questions that people are most interested in?

Jessica: People are increasingly interested in the concept of responsible travel and how they can make a positive impact when they travel. I often get questions about what sustainable travel really means and why it’s so important. I try to bring in research and studies to show the economic potential of the travel industry to address global challenges like poverty, climate change, and loss of biodiversity.

There’s also a growing interest in how brands can adopt sustainable practices. The travel industry is starting to follow in the footsteps of the fashion and food industries, which have made significant strides in sustainability. More hotels are becoming B Corps, and tourism boards are starting to promote responsible travel as a mainstream concept.

41:04

Grant: You mentioned that travel is going mainstream. How do you see the future of sustainable travel evolving?

Jessica: Sustainable travel is definitely becoming mainstream, and I think we’ll see more and more destinations and tourism boards prioritizing sustainability. With the rising number of travelers—1.4 billion trips were taken last year alone—the potential for both positive and negative impact is huge.

It’s up to the industry and travelers to make choices that support the health and sustainability of the destinations they visit.

I also think that technology will continue to play a role in making sustainable travel more accessible. As more people become aware of the impact their travel choices can have, platforms like Kind Traveler will help them make more informed decisions and contribute to the well-being of the communities they visit.

44:04

Grant: What are some of your favorite travel destinations, and where would you recommend others to visit?

Jessica: One of my favorite destinations is Costa Rica, specifically the town of Las Catalinas on the Guanacaste coast. It’s a car-free beach town with a strong focus on sustainability. The town has limited development to preserve the natural environment, and it’s designed to be walkable with a focus on protecting local wildlife.

We have two hotels in Las Catalinas that are Kind Hotels—San Serena Hotel and Casa Chameleon. Both are deeply committed to sustainability, offering eco-luxury experiences in a beautiful natural setting. If you’re a nature lover or outdoor enthusiast, Las Catalinas is definitely a destination I’d recommend.

48:02

Grant: How often do you get to travel, and how does it influence your work?

Jessica: I don’t get to travel as often as I’d like because we’re still a small team, and there’s a lot of heavy lifting involved in running the company. But when I do travel, I make it a priority to visit our Kind Hotels and the local charities we partner with. Meeting face-to-face with our partners strengthens our relationships and helps me understand the impact we’re making on the ground.

It also gives me content for our blog and other communications, allowing me to share the stories of the people and organizations we’re supporting.

51:43

Grant: You’ve had a diverse career, starting as an earth science teacher and now running a travel startup. What advice do you have for people who want to take a different route in their lives?

Jessica: My advice is to never stop learning and to follow your passions. Education is an incredible resource, and there are so many opportunities to gain new skills, whether it’s through volunteering, taking classes, or simply exploring your interests. It doesn’t matter what you studied in college or where you started your career. What matters is finding what truly makes your heart tick and pursuing that with everything you have.

For me, it was about staying curious and open to new experiences. Whether it was taking a $30 online class on how to pitch editors, which led to my first story in Fast Company, or volunteering in animal rescue, every experience added up to where I am today. The key is to stay aligned with your purpose and keep moving forward, even if the path isn’t always clear.

55:44

Grant: Wise words, Jessica. Thank you so much for taking the time to share your journey and insights. I’ve been a fan of Kind Traveler since its launch, and I know how much work goes into building a platform like this. The winner here is Las Catalinas, Costa Rica—I think that’s going to be on everyone’s travel list now!

Jessica: Thank you, Grant. It means a lot to hear that, especially from someone who understands the journey we’ve been on. Kind Traveler has been a labor of love, supported by so many people and partners who believe in what we’re doing. I’m grateful for every opportunity to share our story, and I appreciate you shining a light on social entrepreneurs and companies that are making a positive change in the world. Thank you for having me!

In Episode 20 of the Disruptors for Good podcast I speak with Jessica Blotter, the Co-founder and CEO of Kind Traveler on creating a sustainable travel hotel booking platform that allows travelers to give back with every stay.

Enjoying this? Get the next one in your inbox.

Kind Traveler Using Hotels and Technology to Bring Sustainable Travel Mainstream

In Episode 20 of the Disruptors for Good podcast I speak with Jessica Blotter, the Co-founder and CEO of Kind Traveler on creating a sustainable travel hotel booking platform that allows travelers to give back with every stay.

Interview Transcript

Enjoying this? Get the next one in your inbox.