RISE Travel Institute

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!

Taking part in RISE’s Pilot Program was everything I'd hoped for - so much interesting content, access to fascinating experts, and above all, a program that made me stop and think properly about a lot of issues I'd been meandering around in my thinking without sinking my teeth into them properly. I particularly appreciated the impetus the Capstone Project provided for me to go deeper into an area of interest - I chose ethical animal tourism because the session on this topic was especially interesting, and taught me to look at the issue of elephant tourism in an entirely new way. I've been so impressed from a student perspective that I've gone on to be involved with RISE on an ongoing basis. Highly recommended!

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, Marketing, and Communications team to use them to make a positive impact. Nonetheless, the experience went above and beyond my expectations. My team is committed and friendly, and I have learned a lot about how to work collaboratively in a remote environment. Also, it is RISE's goal to provide volunteers with opportunities to explore their passions, talents, and skills. Even though I do not work in tourism, I took part in the Flagship Program, and the experience has been transformative. My knowledge of how to travel ethically and responsibly has grown tremendously. Being part of this team is a real pleasure, and I encourage everyone to find out more about RISE and contribute to this wonderful organization.

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.