The good news for travelers these days is that you can find tons of hotel deals. Many travel industry experts expect these deals to continue in 2010 and some even think they will persist until 2011. All agree that prices will not go up until there is a solid pick up in demand. Promotions such as buy a night or two and get one free offers are becoming plentiful around the country, with discounts for dining, the spa and even the gift shop. Many hotels are offering incentives that provide …

Voluntourism may sound unappealing to some simply because it conjures up stereotypes of trips to undeveloped, amenities-deprived, third world country. For some it’s too much creature comforts to give up on a vacation even if they have altruistic intentions. For others, it’s too hardcore, especially for first timers who are looking to combine service and vacation.

The answer — hotel voluntourism — a soft introduction to voluntourism without having to sacrifice vacation amenities. The Ritz Carlton, an early entrant through its “Give Back Getaway” program, offers volunteer vacation packages at …

This year all RockResorts in the U.S. and Caribbean along with the Breckenridge, Keystone, and Vail Resorts are offering you the opportunity to give back to the environment, and in return for your volunteer efforts, you will receive:
1) A reduced rate on a stay at a luxurious RockResort
2) Complimentary gifts like a reusable, durable hydration pack, soothing hand lotion and more!
The Give & Getaway package is centered around guests volunteering in the community they’re visiting. The resort will arrange an environmental conservation project for you such as recreational trail …

On the heels of the D.C. hotel promotion we mentioned a few weeks back, another hotel group is supporting volunteerism. Sage Hospitality, with a portfolio of 53 hotels including Marriott, Starwood and Hilton, is offering half-price rooms and even a complimentary night (limited availability).
With occupancy rates down dramatically at hotels, this promotion is an alternative to slashing room rates and one that builds goodwill in tough times.
At check-in, guests show a letter from a registered non-profit organization that proves they’ve done 8 hours of voluntary service. This …

Answering President Obama’s national call to community service, two leading hotels in Washington, D.C., are running a fabulous promotion that combines service with saving money.
Beginning July 1 and running through Sept. 7, The Savoy Suites Hotel and its sister property, The Carlyle Suites Hotel, are offering their “Serve America & Stay in D.C.” package, which gives you a 50% discount of your room bill per night (excluding taxes) for every 5 hours of community volunteer service completed with any legitimate community organization of your choosing OR the hotel can …

Hotel voluntourism programs are perfect for those travelers looking for volunteer service trips that are less intense and take the least amount of planning. More and more hotels are joining the growing list of hotels offering service opportunities for their guests. It’s also the perfect alternative for travelers who don’t want to stay in a hostel or don’t like the idea of staying in a stranger’s home for accommodations. As an extra incentive, many hotels around the world offer voluntourism packages that provide discounts to guests who either …