MERIT'S NEW MISSION: VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCES

Monday, 30 July 2012

MERIT'S NEW MISSION: VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCES

Michael Merrithew, CEO and chairman, Merit, talks to TRAVELHotNews.com about partnership with Me to We and business plans for the future

Jovana Arnaut

Michael Merrithew, CEO, chairman, Merit Travel Group

Merit Travel Group has never been an ordinary tour operator, which is what makes the company so different, according to CEO and chairman, Michael Merrithew.

The tour operator's decision to partner with Me to We further confirms the CEO's statement.

Me to We is a social enterprise that stems from Free the Children. Merit’s deal with the organization started with a conversation between Merrithew and Marc Kielburger, co-founder, Free the Children.

“[My colleague] said that we should talk to [Me to We] because they were looking for a partner to work with that really believes in what they’re doing,” Merrithew told TRAVELHotNews.com. “At the same time, [we were] looking for a way to give back and celebrate our 20 years in the business.”

Marc Kielburger, co-founder, Free the Children

Merrithew said that there was consistency with what both companies wanted to do: Me to We was interested in bringing specialty, adult volunteer programs to segments across Canada, and Merit had the expertise and clientele.

“Merit has a corporate presence in the travel space. We have [different types of] clients; from corporate, to retired seniors, to students. [These] clients are getting involved in trips of this type which are a combination of volunteer work and unique experiences,” Merrithew said. “[That’s what] Me to We was looking for.”

Kielburger said that Me to We’s decision to partner with Merit was also influenced by the company’s cultural values, goals and business plans.

“[Merit’s] market segments speak to the group of people that we really want to attract [for] volunteer travel,” Kielburger said. “We really believe that this type of volunteer programming is so innovative and unique that we need to share it with various segments and not just leave it with young people. Typically we see this type of programming for youth and we haven’t had that opportunity for adults.”

The volunteer experiences are already underway in Kenya – India will be joining the roster in 2013.

Merrithew said that the decision to begin the joint volunteer venture in Kenya was a logical one.

“Free the Children has been in Kenya the longest and [it has] the best, most established infrastructure on the ground to support these groups and these trips,” Merrithew said. “It’s also a destination that Merit people are very familiar with because of the number of group departures that we already do to [that region].”

!!!MERIT'S NEW MISSION: VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCES

Highlights of the Kenya volunteer program include: community development, such as building a school, teaching children or planting trees; environmental and cultural education, such as walking through local villages and studying Swahili; and safari adventures which include the Maasai Mara and Kenya's coastal beaches.

The India itinerary will launch in early 2013. The seven-day program will focus on Rajasthan, India, located in the Aravalli Mountains. Volunteers will experience village life, learn about the challenges and opportunities of rural development, and build schools and plant trees. They will also experience the culture by visiting local markets, attending community celebrations and workshops, and participating in guided tours to places such as the fort at Kumbhalgarh.

Merrithew said that these types of itineraries appeal to travellers that want to enhance their vacations.

“[Travellers] will connect with the local community and local people, and understand how they live, what they do, and what their challenges are,” he said. “This is a way for them to go on a holiday and be a little bit selfless by giving back to the community.”

Although the main focus for Merit has been on the new partnership with Me to We, Merrithew reveals that the company has several other plans in the works including building up its independent agents program and specialty cruise business.

Add comment