Young Social Entrepreneur winner - voluntourism travel
Christopher Hill of Hands Up Holidays named one of the
17.11.2008 15:35:00 Christopher Hill founder and Managing Director of Hands Up Holidays (www.handsupholidays.com) is announced as one of the Future 100 Young Entrepreneurs of the Year during Global Entrepreneurship Week 2008.
(live-PR.com) - Global Entrepreneurship Week is looking to unleash people's enterprising ideas to address some of the society's biggest issues - Climate Change - Poverty - Gender Equality - Health
The Future 100 Awards, profiles young entrepreneurs aged 18-35 who are demonstrating entrepreneurial flair and innovation in progressing a responsible business venture; one which demonstrates a balance between economic, environmental and social
goals to achieve ultimate business success.
Hands Up Holidays aims to provide inspiring volunteer travel experiences that benefit both its guests and the communities they engage in. Its commercial strategy is to provide world-class tours with a volunteering component. No other company is as well positioned to meet the increasing demand for this style of travel, with 120 trips in 32 countries. Most of its trips are 4* or higher, to appeal to:
- Young Professionals
- Corporates
- Families
- Retirees
Hands Up Holidays proposed Social/Environmental impact is:
Economic: it provides funding to charities and NGO’s in the Developing world, as well as skills and training. The company uses only local guides, local suppliers, and frequently uses locally owned accommodation. It gives at least 10% of its profits into further development work.
Social: Hands Up Holidays supports women’s empowerment initiatives, it consults with the communities for identifying suitable volunteer projects; its’ vision is to train and mentor local guides. The company supports community based tourism initiatives in India, Australia, Thailand and Morocco.
Environmental: The company supports several environmental conservation projects such as sea turtle conservation, and penguin habitat maintenance; all its flights are carbon offset.
- Christopher Hill said, “I am thrilled to be recognised in this award, as I am passionate about responsible, ethical volunteer travel, and am convinced that voluntourism can be a force for good in the world. We have made volunteering more accessible to segments of society that were somewhat excluded previously, especially families and older travellers.
“We have done this by introducing our guests to the joys of volunteering by providing a taste of volunteering, and by providing upmarket accommodation, so that there is comfort for the participants, and an increased level of safety, which is clearly important for all our guests, but particularly so for families.”
Founder of Striding Out and organiser of the Future100 awards, Heather Wilkinson said: "The future of our world is in the hands of individuals who are committed to generating commercial and ethical returns.
Challenging economic times can offer opportunities to question the way we operate as both a business community and a society. We are profiling the 'Future 100' young entrepreneurs who are changing the face of everyday business and improve commerce's impact on the wider world."
The Future 100 awards, encourages and rewards extraordinary vision, ethical business practice and social responsibility. They aim to showcase businesses that offer innovative and sustainable solutions to social problems. The Future 100 Awards is organized by Striding Out www.stridingout.co.uk, a social enterprise which is committed to supporting the development and growth of young and ethical entrepreneurs.
ENDS
For Further Information
For further media information, images, to discuss media visits, fact box and round up feature input, please contact:
Chris Hill, Managing Director, Hands Up Holidays (www.handsupholidays.com) – 0208 871 0341, 0776 501 3631, chris@handsupholidays.com
HANDS UP HOLIDAYS, the award winning volunteer travel operator who believes that travel can make a positive difference, offers a selection of 150 trips to 30 destinations blending travel with meaningful volunteering experiences.
ALL CARBON EMISSIONS FROM FLIGHTS ARE OFFSET - Hands Up Holidays, partnered with Climate Stewards, pays to have trees planted or for other energy efficient solutions to be provided to guests.
PUTTING PROFITS BACK – Hands Up Holidays gives at least 10% of its profits back to its project partners for further community development.
PARTNERS include Rotary International and the Tear Fund. Hands Up Holidays is also a founding member of the Ethical Tour Operators Group (part of Tourism Concern) and an affiliate member of Green Globe (an environmental standards organisation).
An Awards Celebration is taking place during Global Entrepreneurship Week in London and Liverpool. Press are invited to attend to interview winners.
Tuesday 18th November at 6pm in London - Hosted by the British Library
Thursday 20th November at 6pm in Liverpool - Hosted by Blackburne House .
To register to attend one of the events please email Matt Black, Marketing and PR Manager matt@stridingout.co.uk
Future 100 – www.future100.co.uk – A full list of award winners can be found on the website..
Striding Out - www.stridingout.co.uk - For further information, please contact Heather Wilkinson, Director of Striding Out on 07795 646 646 or email heather@stridingout.co.uk
Global Entrepreneurship Week – www.unleashingideas.org – For information concerning global entrepreneurship week.
The Future 100 Awards, profiles young entrepreneurs aged 18-35 who are demonstrating entrepreneurial flair and innovation in progressing a responsible business venture; one which demonstrates a balance between economic, environmental and social
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Hands Up Holidays aims to provide inspiring volunteer travel experiences that benefit both its guests and the communities they engage in. Its commercial strategy is to provide world-class tours with a volunteering component. No other company is as well positioned to meet the increasing demand for this style of travel, with 120 trips in 32 countries. Most of its trips are 4* or higher, to appeal to:
- Young Professionals
- Corporates
- Families
- Retirees
Hands Up Holidays proposed Social/Environmental impact is:
Economic: it provides funding to charities and NGO’s in the Developing world, as well as skills and training. The company uses only local guides, local suppliers, and frequently uses locally owned accommodation. It gives at least 10% of its profits into further development work.
Social: Hands Up Holidays supports women’s empowerment initiatives, it consults with the communities for identifying suitable volunteer projects; its’ vision is to train and mentor local guides. The company supports community based tourism initiatives in India, Australia, Thailand and Morocco.
Environmental: The company supports several environmental conservation projects such as sea turtle conservation, and penguin habitat maintenance; all its flights are carbon offset.
- Christopher Hill said, “I am thrilled to be recognised in this award, as I am passionate about responsible, ethical volunteer travel, and am convinced that voluntourism can be a force for good in the world. We have made volunteering more accessible to segments of society that were somewhat excluded previously, especially families and older travellers.
“We have done this by introducing our guests to the joys of volunteering by providing a taste of volunteering, and by providing upmarket accommodation, so that there is comfort for the participants, and an increased level of safety, which is clearly important for all our guests, but particularly so for families.”
Founder of Striding Out and organiser of the Future100 awards, Heather Wilkinson said: "The future of our world is in the hands of individuals who are committed to generating commercial and ethical returns.
Challenging economic times can offer opportunities to question the way we operate as both a business community and a society. We are profiling the 'Future 100' young entrepreneurs who are changing the face of everyday business and improve commerce's impact on the wider world."
The Future 100 awards, encourages and rewards extraordinary vision, ethical business practice and social responsibility. They aim to showcase businesses that offer innovative and sustainable solutions to social problems. The Future 100 Awards is organized by Striding Out www.stridingout.co.uk, a social enterprise which is committed to supporting the development and growth of young and ethical entrepreneurs.
ENDS
For Further Information
For further media information, images, to discuss media visits, fact box and round up feature input, please contact:
Chris Hill, Managing Director, Hands Up Holidays (www.handsupholidays.com) – 0208 871 0341, 0776 501 3631, chris@handsupholidays.com
HANDS UP HOLIDAYS, the award winning volunteer travel operator who believes that travel can make a positive difference, offers a selection of 150 trips to 30 destinations blending travel with meaningful volunteering experiences.
ALL CARBON EMISSIONS FROM FLIGHTS ARE OFFSET - Hands Up Holidays, partnered with Climate Stewards, pays to have trees planted or for other energy efficient solutions to be provided to guests.
PUTTING PROFITS BACK – Hands Up Holidays gives at least 10% of its profits back to its project partners for further community development.
PARTNERS include Rotary International and the Tear Fund. Hands Up Holidays is also a founding member of the Ethical Tour Operators Group (part of Tourism Concern) and an affiliate member of Green Globe (an environmental standards organisation).
An Awards Celebration is taking place during Global Entrepreneurship Week in London and Liverpool. Press are invited to attend to interview winners.
Tuesday 18th November at 6pm in London - Hosted by the British Library
Thursday 20th November at 6pm in Liverpool - Hosted by Blackburne House .
To register to attend one of the events please email Matt Black, Marketing and PR Manager matt@stridingout.co.uk
Future 100 – www.future100.co.uk – A full list of award winners can be found on the website..
Striding Out - www.stridingout.co.uk - For further information, please contact Heather Wilkinson, Director of Striding Out on 07795 646 646 or email heather@stridingout.co.uk
Global Entrepreneurship Week – www.unleashingideas.org – For information concerning global entrepreneurship week.
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