RISE Travel Institute

When I joined RISE’s flagship program as a curious traveler, I had no idea how much it would impact me. It completely shifted the way I see travel and my role in it as a global citizen. The lessons were thoughtful and engaging, with incredible speakers, real-world insight, and diverse voices. The biggest takeaway for me was the community element, as the program created a space where I could ask questions, hear new perspectives, and be part of such important conversations that I might not have had access to otherwise. RISE gave me the knowledge, clarity, and confidence to pursue my own purpose-driven project in travel, and I will forever be grateful for my experience in the program. I truly believe the flagship program, educational materials, and events created by RISE are making a meaningful impact in shifting how people think about travel and helping build a more equitable world, just as they did for me.

After Pathways to Equity was published last summer, I was eager to incorporate it into an undergraduate course with an international study tour component. Pathways to Equity unpacks decolonization, equity, and sustainability—concepts many of my students have encountered in the classroom—and demonstrates how to actively put them into practice before, during, and after cross-cultural travel. Students in the class read excerpts from the book, wrote reflection responses, and then considered how to apply what they learned in a lively sharing session with Vincie. The experience prompted students to reflect on their varied positionalities and privileges, to relate the examples in the book to their own communities and lived experiences, and to develop strategies for more mindful immersion in local culture during our trip. A few quotes from students illustrate the impacts of the reading and discussion with Vincie: “This reading has made me more aware of the need to engage thoughtfully with the spaces we visit, to listen to local voices, and to appreciate the history and complexities that exist beyond the surface.” “Understanding issues of access, representation, and inclusion will allow me to approach our interactions with sensitivity and a more informed perspective. This awareness will guide us in building relationships based on mutual respect and equity, both in our professional and personal exchanges.” “This reading challenged me to rethink my relationship with travel, especially as someone who has lived between cultures, navigated different social identities and often wrestled with the legacy of colonialism in my own history.” Thank you to Vincie and RISE Travel Institute for developing resources and opportunities that enable us all to engage in more equitable travel and cross-cultural storytelling.

Volunteering with RISE Travel Institute is one of the most rewarding experiences I've had with an nonprofit organization. From the moment the Executive Director, Vincie Ho, greeted me in our interview, I have felt not only a sense of purpose with moving the mission forward in my role as Manager of People & Culture, but warmth and belonging. The role itself provides me with much autonomy to try different approaches to leadership and management. It's giving me the opportunity to apply what I know and to grow into what I'm learning. I'd recommend (and invite!) anyone whose core values are aligned with RISE to apply for a volunteer role. There's a place here for a variety of career paths and interests.

I'm a relatively new volunteer to RISE in 2025 (only 3 months in) but so far I've felt so welcome and warm, and I truly believe they walk the walk when it comes to ethical, sustainable travel. The team has been really friendly and I feel like they actually want me to use my skills and are giving me a lot of agency to help contribute to their goals!

I took their Flagship Program to continue learning where my degree left off. With an MSc in Sustainable Tourism, I thought I had the basics down but realized how much further my concept of sustainability in the realm of tourism and the systems in place could expand. The educational opportunities and resources from RISE are incredible. I also volunteer with RISE on the social media team which has opened my eyes to all of the people and work who share their skills to create a nonprofit that is dedicated to decolonization, anti-oppression, and education.

For the past couple of years I have been involved with RISE Travel Institute as a board member, and am currently Vice President of the board. It is an incredible privilege and pleasure to hold this position; for two decades I've been working in the travel media and wanting to influence people to travel in more thoughtful and impactful ways, but being able to contribute to the development of RISE is something I'd never imagined I'd be able to do. As tourism becomes increasingly problematic, I am so pleased to be helping the work of RISE to educate travellers about so many aspects of the tourism industry and the parts we play in it. Above all, the chance to work with so many interesting and like-minded professionals with the same goal has been both fun and so rewarding.

I am a professional with over 25 years of experience in the tourism industry and a graduate degree in sustainable destination management. My background in sociology and passion for social justice has consistently focused me on ways to create equity in travel. When I learned of RISE Travel Institute, I was so grateful to have found an organization working to educate travelers and professionals like myself. The education they provide is like nothing else I've experienced. The RISE Flagship program is a powerful journey that is relevant to travel and valuable for anyone working to understand the concepts covered in the course. You walk away with clarity and the ability to speak more confidently about topics that are relevant to our world today. I was particularly blown away by the presenters' expertise and passion for sharing their knowledge. Completing the program, I felt I was in a safe and inclusive environment that allowed me to learn, make mistakes, and grow. Joining the board is one of the most honorable positions of my career. I am proud to be a part of an organization working to create meaningful change in tourism.

I first met Vincie about a year ago and recognized immediately that in her, I had found a unique individual who could speak with confident clarity about the highly complex and nuanced field of equity in international and cross-cultural travel. When Pathways to Equity came out recently, I jumped at the opportunity to use it in my classroom. As Director for Intercultural Learning at Wesleyan University, I coordinate the Global Engagement Minor, a program that requires students to engage in an off campus cultural immersion experience of their choice. The majority of students study abroad for a semester, and many of the concepts raised by RISE apply directly to various forms of international education in higher education. Students were asked to read the document, submit a reflection, and then engage with Vincie over zoom for a presentation and discussion. Although they felt challenged by the magnitude of the issues raised, we ended the session on a positive note, highlighting what practical ways students could be deliberate about decolonizing practices while immersing themselves in different cultures: buy local, minimize their carbon footprints, learn local (even indigenous) languages, and rely on local guides and informants. We’re so grateful for this first step in incorporating RISE’s concepts into our international education program!

RISE is truly on the cutting edge of sustainable and ethical travel education and thought. In just a few years it has moved from an energetic startup to a thought leader in tourism and travel, offering others in the same field and beyond an example of what's possible, and what's needed.
In addition, the RISE team is amazing to work with, young, dynamic, diverse and driven to explore and shape the consciousness of travelers worldwide. RISE is the future!

I can’t say enough good things about RISE Travel Institute. I graduated from RISE’s flagship program and was so impressed at how thoughtful and comprehensive the material was as well as the opportunities to engage and exchange with other classmates. As an impact consultant, I’m excited to leverage the course learnings in my professional life, as well as use adopt them in my personal life as an avid traveler.

I also participated in one of RISE’s experiential journey programs, which really helped change my mind about what group travel could and should be. The time I spent with the RISE team continues to stick with me, and I encourage anyone, from any professional or educational background, to see how RISE can help amplify your travel education and experiences.

RISE Travel Institute is one of the most unique nonprofits I’ve come in contact with. No only is their educational modules important for all travelers, but they also coordinate travel experiences to put the education into practice. Thank you, RISE, for expanding my min and heart.

Volunteering with RISE over the past 2 years has brought so much meaning to my life. I am consistently impressed not only with the quality of RISE's educational programs (which volunteers get access to in exchange for their volunteer commitment!), but also with its incredible community of students and volunteers that are passionate about doing good in the world of travel. Although the organization is all volunteer run, my experience has been comparable to (or even better than!) other nonprofits I have worked with that have larger budgets and dedicated staff. Vincie Ho, the founder and ED, is an inspiring leader and I walk away from every interaction with her with new insights on tourism, social justice, and international affairs. I highly recommend volunteering or studying with RISE if you care about any of the above topics; the experience has led to much personal growth on my part, and RISE's programs and community give me hope for the future.

I have been volunteering at RISE Travel Institute since December 2021, and my experience has been nothing short of amazing. Having acquired writing skills over the years, I joined the Content Committee to use them to make a positive impact. Nonetheless, the experience exceeded my expectations. Not only did I develop my skills and knowledge in the travel industry, but I also met amazing and inspirational people. Therefore, it has been a transformational journey for me as a professional and as a person. I encourage everyone to check out RISE's mission and offer whatever help you can.

I recently started volunteering for RISE Travel Institute recently as the Community Events Manager. It is a wonderful organization to volunteer for, with clear goals aimed at decolonizing travel and encouraging sustainable modes of travel.

I've had the opportunity to be a volunteer with Rise Travel Institute for over a year now, and I must say it has been an incredible experience. Rise is an organization with a significant social impact, and one of its standout qualities is the amazing team that collaboratively works towards the organization's growth, with each member contributing their expertise.

I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to Vincie for her incredible leadership and to every individual who is part of this and contributes to our common goal.

I have a passion for travel and have traveled to and through over 25+ countries. Over the years though I started thinking deeper about my travels and wanting my travels to be more than just an item on a bucketlist. I wanted slower travel, to travel more responsibly and sustainably. And this is how I found RISE.

After following them for a while, I really resonated with their mission and reached out to volunteer in support of the advancement of this mission. I have been volunteering with RISE for about 5 months now and can say I'm blown away by the dedication and passion that this all volunteer ran organization has. What I love most is the environment of sharing ideas and learning from each other. We often have critical conversations about deeply complex and nuanced topics all while remaining open-minded, curious and contemplative.

This is a great organization to join if you want to learn about not only various aspects of what it means to truly travel responsibly and ethically but also if you want to learn how a non-profit works. There are lots of opportunities for growth and learning in so many ways!

I started volunteering with RISE in September and it has been a fantastic experience. Despite being entirely volunteer-run, the organization functions like a well-oiled machine. Organizational structure and roles and responsibilities is one of RISE's strong suits. Their onboarding process and welcome meetings made me feel like I was joining a fully fledged company.

To top it off, the organization is filled with people that are committed to the mission of decolonizing travel and educating travelers on a more ethical and sustainable way to see the world.

Having traveled extensively, I liked the overall mission of RISE Travel Institute to help build responsible travel. I applied to volunteer with them and was impressed with the organization during the initial interview. They agreed to take me on and I was also impressed with how organized they were in the onboarding process. There is a lot of talent in this nonprofit and the other volunteers are very easy to work with and believe strongly in the mission as well. I am taking the flagship program course which is also a worthwhile endeavor.

RISE Travel Institute is a very unique nonprofit. It is one best organized and functional nonprofit organizations I have ever worked with. They are true to their mission and do excellent work to educate travelers and the travel industry to be responsible, impactful, sustainable and ethical travel.

I have been following RISE Travel Institute since its beginning and recently joined as a volunteer. It is an incredible organization with fantastic coursework that is easy to complete, filled with thought-provoking, insightful information, and is recommended for anyone who wants to become a more responsible, caring traveler and global citizen.

I thoroughly enjoyed every bit of the Experiential Journey organized and led by RISE Travel Institute and their partner Etnica. Vincie and Jodi made sure we had a great trip that enhanced everything we learned in the RISE Flagship course (which is also incredible). Sofia came along as our group trip leader and was absolutely amazing, always on top of things and making sure everyone was taken care of and that we were learning and getting the most from our trip. Every activity, every accommodation, every meal was special and well-planned to support the local economy rather than big foreign corporations. They are actively working to support the indigenous people as they preserve their amazing culture and traditions. I can't say enough good about the phenomenal work they are doing. This is an example of a travel company that is doing GOOD, not causing harm. I wholeheartedly recommend RISE and would definitely travel with them again, and plan to take more of their courses, too.

Such an incredible organization and one that I recommend to everyone when I get the chance. I took the 10-week Flagship Program online course in the summer of 2021 and was blown away by the content, things I learned/unlearned, quality of teachers, and connections made with other students/staff. I walked away with so much knowledge on how to travel and think differently on a vary of topics and am able to put those learnings into action in my daily life. Cannot recommend RISE enough and am really excited to see all the short courses they are launching this year and in years to come. Specifically, the short destination courses will be a huge asset to myself or anyone before traveling to a new place!

There are many things one might find incredibly impressive about RISE Travel Institute, but for me I was immensely impressed by the diversity of the organization - in background, in professional experience, age, race, ethnicity, and an infinite number of other factors. Thanks to this great diversity, the knowledge and thoughtfulness of those in RISE cannot be beat! My experience as a student of the flagship program was a perfect complement to the graduate degree I am pursuing in sustainable tourism. Resources were plentiful, students and staff were responsive, and the knowledge base and drive to educate is enormous.

I discovered RISE in late 2020 when the pandemic had temporarily halted the construction of the hotel I was assisting in opening. I had a strong desire to remain active in the sustainable tourism industry, and RISE was the perfect fit! Since then I have not only expanded my industry knowledge to the wide array of topics that RISE teaches, but I have made some of the most meaningful friendships with its talented group of volunteers. RISE has done an impeccable job at putting together a diverse, skilled and passionate team. Since joining RISE I have been so impressed with the organization’s rapid growth through in-depth attention to detail and well thought out operations. To me, being a part of this team means to learn and grow; to better the travel industry standards towards positive transformation, making tourism a force for good.

-- Thomas Kalchik

As an international educator and environmental journalist, I have spent decades joyfully sharing unfamiliar destinations, cultures and ecosystems with students. At the same time, the inevitable disconnect between travel’s negative social and environmental impacts and the essential role travel plays in opening hearts and minds has frustrated me for years. Finding the RISE Travel Institute is a relief and a revelation, as it is committed to bridging this gap with programs that heighten awareness, sensitivity, and humility, and offer specific learning goals.

The RISE mission is “to inspire responsible, impactful, sustainable, and ethical travel through education” and it does this with great passion. In less than two years, Dr. Vincie Ho has brought together a dedicated and diverse team that is developing an exciting portfolio of programs, detail-rich and focused on the specifics of how our travel impacts community, environment, the economy, working animals, and wildlife. Whether you love exploring new neighborhoods across town or you’re into bucket-list locations across the globe, RISE is committed to nurturing travel that transforms both travelers and destinations.

We can’t stop people from traveling, nor should we, as travel can be an essential force for positive change. But the RISE Travel Institute programs offer truly life-changing opportunities for students, teachers, travelers and non-travelers (isn’t that all of us?) to reconsider and reset how we engage with our planet, its people, and its invaluable biodiversity.

As a founding team member and now a member of the board of directors, I am proud to say that RISE is built on a foundation of inclusivity and transparency. Every single thing that RISE produces and is involved with has been thoroughly vetted and thoughtfully evaluated to make sure that RISE's values of sustainability and equity are always upheld. The educational programming and content is taught with an anti-oppression lens and the tiered pricing system and tuition grants make the program accessible to all. Through its educational programming, its incredible network of volunteers, and alumni who now experience the world through the lens of sustainability and anti-oppression, RISE is truly making the world a better place.

As a proud, founding volunteer member of the RISE Travel Institute, I have had the great pleasure of seeing this organization grow since its inception in 2020 to where we are today, with multiple partners and compelling course offerings. We're a devoted team of global professionals who work on these important topics to inspire responsible, impactful, sustainable and ethical travel through education.

I also completed our Pilot Program (now our Flagship Program): Sustainability and Anti-Oppression in Travel and can highly recommend the engaging and though-provoking content for anyone who's looking to broaden and deepen their knowledge.

My volunteer work with RISE Travel Institute has been absolutely inspiring!

Working in a fully remote role has allowed me to gain skills, network, and learn more about regenerative travel in a way that truly works with my schedule.

Vincie and the managers she has gathered are all passionate about the work we do at RISE Travel Institute--and they are equally passionate about supporting their volunteers as we gain valuable experience.

I’m incredibly proud of all that RISE is doing to advance responsible, impactful, sustainable and ethical travel. I feel privileged to serve as one of their senior advisers alongside such inspiring people committed to transforming why and how we travel.

Upon finding RISE Travel Institute, taking their pilot program in summer 2021, and volunteering for the start-up organization I've not only learned so much about the interconnections and ethics of travel, but I've also learned how to insert myself into the solutions. I now have an entire new lens for moving about the world, think critically about the unforeseen impacts of my actions and am mindful in assessing situations in the space of travel which has overlapped with every aspect of my life. As a volunteer, RISE has not only fostered space for me to grow my professional skills but created a safe space to branch out and try out new roles, network with each other and learn what a collaborative and supportive work environment looks like. When you can laugh with the founder and work side by side with everyone on the team as opportunities to do so arise, it's a great recipe for a supportive community. A little virtual family i can depend on, ask questions and be a part of something much bigger than myself and ourselves.