Another Form of Travel CSR: Off-the-Beaten Path Experiences
Experiencing a Timeless Southern California Treasure Most Never See
Exploring the Murano Glass Making Center of the West With Mt. Rainier and Puget Sound as Backdrops
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During the 2020s, many organizations began to incorporate volunteer charity activities to give back to the destinations as part of their corporate social responsibility programs. Attendees enjoy the camaraderie and the satisfaction of helping a local organization pack up food or participate in other activities to help support the needs of local charities. To Marc Matthews, organizations also can help give back in another meaningful way—make it possible for attendees to visit local authentic experiences that help tell the story of the destination and help ensure its preservation.
To help promote more of these getaway destinations, Pulse Experiential Travel has created a new Short Escapes category, many featuring getaways from major destinations.
Matthews is Founder of 46-year-old Pulse Experiential Travel, located in Charlottesville, VA. Today, it likely is the world’s largest provider of individual and small group travel for entertainment and sporting events, bucket list experiences, and now hotels, villas, and tours, to the MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, Exhibitions) market. “When people are rewarded or gifted with one of our Short Escapes or other travel collection experiences, they are almost always going to a hotel of historic interest in a town or village outside of the major tourism destination. As part of their visit, they will likely visit a museum, state park, and dine in local restaurants. This not only helps the local economy, it helps preserve the attractions that make them appealing.”
Many of these same destinations make for great retreat settings for meetings groups to reset their purpose, goals, objectives and values or address some other critical collaborative effort, Matthews adds. “Either way, Pulse provides every experience recipient a personal concierge to speak with to craft the package to schedule and related needs, and will facilitate all aspects of scheduling and booking the experience along with 24/7 support for travelers who encounter any issues en route.” Pulse Experiential Travel certificates have specified inclusions that allow the recipient to travel whenever they want within two years from the date of certificate issuance.
Experiencing a Timeless Southern California Treasure Most Never See
Most visitors to Los Angeles never experience the magic of Catalina Island, observes Matthews.
The company’s Catalina Island Experience takes people just 20 miles across the water to a mountainous island inhabited for thousands of years by Native
Americans until becoming the getaway for the rich and famous in the 20th century. The cozy Catalina Island Inn is in the heart of the town of Avalon and a walk to all. A paradise for nature lovers, the island has multiple trails on Alltrails.com heading out of town in almost all directions. This particular Pulse experience package includes a choice of a four-hour kayaking or paddleboard rental, he adds. Visits to the Catalina Island Museum, Matthews points out, help maintain the historic casino building, where visitors can explore the island’s rich history and rotating exhibitions. People who snorkel at the stunning Lover’s Cove Marine Reserve help contribute to its maintenance and encourage respect for its preservation. “Almost all our experiences include a donation to an environmental cause to help maintain the experiences upon which our business depends." That said, the biggest givebacks are the memorable experiences for our travelers who experience an authentic slice of life a short escape away from the hustle and bustle of their meeting or business trips and the satisfaction that their visit helps preserve a special place.”
Exploring the Murano Glass Making Center of the West With Mt. Rainier and Puget Sound as Backdrops
To underline the rewards of travel experiences, Matthews points out his company’s Tacoma, WA, Puget Sound experience, under an hour south of Seattle. “Businesspeople spending several days on business or at busy events might appreciate discovering a slower-paced world that on clear days combines the splendor of Mount Ranier and Puget Sound. It is the location of a home-grown glass making movement inspired by the centuries-old glassworks on the island of Murano in the Venise archipelago.” The Hotel Murano included in this escape is a mini-gallery of glassworks, he continues, with a nearby museum and even a bridge made of glass. “It’s a rich cultural center many people don’t know about and of course is great for shoppers looking for unique gifts.” Walking and cycling trails abound on Alltrails.com, he adds, and the experience includes a Puget Sound boat tour to help people get oriented. “By bringing visitors to Tacoma, organizations not only introduce valued employees or channel partners to enriching experiences they’d otherwise miss but help keep important cultural or resources vibrant for others to enjoy in the future.”The importance of travel is also illustrated in the company’s Two Night Taste of the Cotswolds at the historic Lords of the Manor Hotel, under two hours by car from London, he notes. Travelers not only enjoy a historic inn that might otherwise have fallen in ruin, but experience the life of leisure of another time, including a traditional afternoon tea and multi-course dining experience.
For More Information
Marc Matthews, Founder
Pulse Experiential Travel
800-700-1357
Mmatthews@Pulseexperientialtravel.com
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