Lee County’s Visitor & Convention Bureau (VCB) has announced its participation in Kind Traveler’s Every Stay Gives Back program, becoming the first Florida destination to join the initiative. The program is designed to turn tourism into direct support for local environmental and community organizations.
With this move, Lee County aims to strengthen its position in sustainable tourism. According to Booking.com’s 2025 Travel & Sustainability Report, more travelers are seeking destinations that reinvest tourism dollars locally.
“Our tourism industry is built on natural beauty and resilience,” said Tamara Pigott, executive director of the Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau. “The Every Stay Gives Back program allows our lodging partners to showcase sustainability outcomes and offers visitors a way to support the continued improvement of our environment.”
Hotels and vacation rentals participating in the program contribute part of each stay to local nonprofits via Kind Traveler’s platform. Guests can view Positive Impact Dashboards and use on-site QR codes to see how their contributions have benefited the area or find volunteer opportunities.
Among current partners are Tween Waters Island Resort & Spa and Sanibel Siesta on the Beach, which support the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW). Sea Gypsy Vacation Rentals supports Keep Lee County Beautiful Inc., an organization focused on coastal cleanups and habitat restoration.
Even small donations can have significant effects; for example, $10 can feed a recovering wildlife patient for nearly a month or help clean up 10 miles of local roadways.
Since 2023, Every Stay Gives Back has generated over $1.6 million globally for wildlife conservation, education, and recovery efforts. The VCB sees its adoption of this program as supporting a broader model for regenerative tourism across Florida.
More information about participating organizations and nonprofit beneficiaries is available at www.visitfortmyers.com/kind-traveler
