… responsible travel for a sustainable future

PROJECT PROFILE

What is Our Planet Travel?

Our Planet is a campaign project aimed at raising awareness amongst consumers Australia-wide to consider the ‘best choice’ for the environment or community when choosing a holiday. The purpose is to encourage consumers to make informed decisions when deciding where to go, or what to do when they travel.

“Our Planet aims to raise awareness amongst Australians to consider and select more sustainable and responsible travel and holiday choices” – Director, Melanie Grevis-James.

Many destinations and communities world-wide depend on tourism for their livelihood, both directly and indirectly. This project is about making people aware of their travel options; and encouraging choices that can, or will have, the most positive benefit for the environment or communities and people involved.

A key component of the project is providing the information to help travellers make informed decisions: 

• Tips and facts about travelling sustainably

• What to look out for – what to be aware of
  

• Real stories of successful responsible and sustainable tourism experiences world-wide

• Definitions of what is considered sustainable and responsible tourism

• Searchable travel product database – to search for suitable travel products Australia-wide (other countries/destinations will be added shortly)

• Links and sources to obtain further detailed information

Our Planet will include the promotion of the following forms of tourism: ecotourism, sustainable tourism, responsible tourism, and voluntourism.

How Our Planet Travel operates

The project is designed to provide nonbiased free information that is not affiliated with any particular organisation or association. The project will however work closely with organisations and associations who have a similar philosophy or promote sustainable and responsible tourism. There will be opportunities for partners to take part in the project through sponsorship agreements, advertising campaigns, travel product listings, social media activities, enewsletter and PR opportunities.

The main elements of the Our Planet project are as follows:

• The website - Our Planet Travel: www.OurPlanetTravel.com
• An Australian-wide awareness campaign (advertising and PR) - online and print
  
• Co-op advertising campaign (together with partners and sponsors) – online and print
• Social media campaign (story and image submissions and competition/s) – online
• Regular enewsletters (sustainable travel stories and tips, giveaways, specials etc…) – online
• Our Planet Travel magazine (to commence at a later date once initial campaign is underway) – online and print
  

PARTICIPATE

How to participate in Our Planet Travel

Partners, sponsors and advertisers can participate in the campaign project – the aim is to promote as many sustainable and responsible travel options and stories as possible, to compete with all the non-sustainable travel products advertised in the marketplace; and to have a unified and co-operative approach to getting the message out to consumers – with the goal to achieve more consumers booking travel products that are sustainable and responsible.

Benefits for partners, sponsors and advertisers

The key benefits include: exposure of your company/product on the searchable product database; print and online advertising; participate in the social media and PR opportunities; feature stories about your products on the website/blog/enewsletter; cost savings for advertising your products by taking part in the co-operative campaign; work with like-minded companies to jointly promote sustainable tourism.  

Costs to participate in Our Planet Travel campaign

Our aim is to have as much information as possible, and suitable product promoted and advertised (in print and online), and listed on the Our Planet Travel website – unfortunately this can’t be done for free; so to achieve this we need your support, but we also want to keep costs to a minimum so it is affordable for all businesses, small and large. A free listing will be available to all suitable businesses – with the option to upgrade to a Budget Listing or Premium Listing for an annual fee.

Cost options:

• Premium company/product Listing: $500 annual cost (receives same as Budget Listing; also includes enewsletter and social media opportunities; and a second image or logo)

• Budget company/product Listing: $250 annual cost (receives same as Free Listing; also includes link to website; brief product description; and 1 free image or logo)

• Free company/product Listing: FREE (includes company name; website address; location; tel number; type of product eg. tour, attraction, accommodation; accreditation (if applicable))

• Partner opportunities: $2000+ (annual; negotiable dependant on inclusions; includes benefits of a Premium Product Listing)

• Key sponsor opportunities: $5000+ (annual; negotiable dependant on inclusions; includes benefits of a Premium Product Listing)

• Co-operative advertising opportunities: additional cost for participants – costs to be confirmed based on level of participation; must have a current Basic Listing or Detailed Listing to participate. Approx starting cost $400 per advertisement/campaign. Key national travel media outlets/publications will be selected. 

Our Planet Travel advertising campaign

There are 3 levels of advertising and promotional campaigns:

• Key awareness campaign and advertising – print and online

• Co-operative advertising campaigns featuring products and special offers – print and online

• Online and social media advertising options – linked to the searchable product database

It is anticipated that approx 70% of the focus will be on Australian travel products, and 30% on international products. International product content will increase over time. Initially, the majority of the promotion / focus will be on Australian travel experiences.

VISION STATEMENT

To help protect and sustain our planet for future generations of travellers

Key Goals:

• Educate consumers about sustainable, responsible and ‘earth-friendly’ travel choices – and what this means

• Promote and spread the word about travel experiences that promote products, places and people with a sustainable and socially responsible philosophy

• Provide sustainable and responsible tourism businesses with a new ‘marketing tool’ to reach consumers and potential visitors

• Increase awareness of the variety of ‘earth-friendly’ tourism-related products available – encourage consumers to make socially responsible travel choices

• Provide tips on what to look out for… and what to avoid…

• Provide professional and credible ‘sustainable’ travel information direct into the hands of consumers

• Work closely with similar-minded individuals and businesses to help promote sustainable and socially responsible travel experiences 

Join Australia’s first nationwide campaign to raise awareness for more sustainable holiday choices - we need your help by participating in the campaign. Promote your products and company - raise awareness for sustainable travel products and increase bookings. Please help ‘our planet’ by participating in this unique marketing opportunity. All assistance is greatly appreciated.

Launch date for Our Planet Travel is planned for early 2012. 

To obtain more specific campaign details, a booking form, or discuss opportunities, please contact:
Freecall: 1800 815 525 (within Australia)
Email: melanie@ourplanettravel.com

Our Planet Travel is the trading name of Meglara Pty Ltd – a wholly Australian-owned and privately operated company based in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.  

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