Vacation.com feels that it is important that travel professionals take the time to “give back” to sites and destinations in need of care and rejuvenation. One such site of cultural, historic and tourism-related importance was the site of the Vacation.com 2007 Annual Conference - the city of New Orleans.

With the city’s population greatly reduced, the infrastructure is dependent upon tourism dollars generated by visitors. That is why Vacation.com teamed up with Tourism Cares to provide their members with the opportunity to give physical, moral and monetary support to their travel industry colleagues who are still recovering from the effects of Hurricane Katrina.

Together with Tourism Cares, Vacation.com offered a Pre-Conference Restoration Event at the historic St. Louis Cemetery #1, located on the edge of the French Quarter. This cemetery is one of the most visited sites in New Orleans and needs restoration and preservation work on its famous above-ground tombs. Members and suppliers worked side-by-side on Wednesday, June 27th to “make a difference” that was visible when the workday is complete!

Many volunteers also supported the rebuilding of tourism-related sites along the Gulf Coast by making donations to the Tourism Cares Gulf Coast Restoration Fund. In 2006, more than $100,000 in grants were made to 5 sites along the coast. These funds were raised through the generous support of travel industry professionals. To make your tax-deductible donation, click here.