Photo: Brown Pelicans on Bunche Beach © Jason Boeckman
Florida’s Fort Myers is well known for its sunny beaches and shores full of seashells, but there’s more to this vacation hotspot than you might think! Through a partnership with Kind Traveler’s Every Stay Gives Back™ program, Fort Myers is turning ordinary vacations into meaningful opportunities to protect wildlife, preserve coastal ecosystems, and strengthen local communities.
In a first for the Sunshine State, Visit Fort Myers has become Florida’s first destination to join Kind Traveler’s regenerative travel movement, which has been picking up steam as travelers seek out adventures that minimize environmental harm while also helping communities thrive.
Modern travelers want more than relaxation; they want impact. According to Booking.com’s 2025 Travel & Sustainability Report, nearly three-quarters of travelers want their spending to benefit local communities, and more than 80 percent say sustainability influences their travel choices.
Fort Myers’ partnership with Kind Traveler is designed for those eco-savvy adventure-seekers. This kind of purpose-driven travel is all about regenerative tourism—travel that restores ecosystems, supports resilience, and leaves destinations stronger than before.
“Fort Myers is a destination defined by natural beauty and resilience,” explained Tamara Pigott, Executive Director of the Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau. “Through Kind Traveler’s Every Stay Gives Back program, visitors can help our wildlife recover, keep our beaches beautiful, and support a sustainable future while seeing the real impact of their stay.”
Every Stay Gives Back
When travelers book participating hotels or vacation rentals in Fort Myers, a portion of each stay directly supports local nonprofit organizations focused on wildlife rescue, environmental conservation, and community wellbeing.
Guests receive access to Kind Traveler’s Positive Impact Dashboards and QR codes that track how their stay contributes to the community and the surrounding environment—it’s like getting a visible, measurable receipt for how their generosity is making a difference.
Even modest contributions make a meaningful difference. Just $10 can help feed and care for a recovering wildlife patient for nearly a month, or clean up 10 miles of local roadway, keeping Fort Myers beautiful and thriving.
Local partners include:
Tween Waters Island Resort & Spa (Captiva)
Supporting the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW), which treats over 6,000 injured, orphaned, and sick animals annually, including pelicans, turtles, raptors, and dolphins.
Sanibel Siesta on the Beach
Also supporting CROW, helping fund emergency wildlife care, research, and education.
Sea Gypsy Vacation Rentals
Supporting Keep Lee County Beautiful, an organization dedicated to beach cleanups, mangrove restoration, and marine debris prevention.
A Model for Coastal Regeneration
Since launching in 2023, Kind Traveler’s Every Stay Gives Back™ program has raised over $1.9 million for environmental and community initiatives worldwide, including coral reef restoration, disaster recovery, and youth education.
“Fort Myers and Sanibel are shining examples of nature’s resilience and community unity,” said Jessica Blotter, CEO and Co-Founder of Kind Traveler. “Through this program, travelers become part of that healing, helping protect wildlife, beaches, and the very spirit of the destination.”
From kayaking through mangrove tunnels to spotting manatees and dining on sustainable seafood, Fort Myers is still the sunny destination it’s known for, now with immersive coastal experiences that celebrate nature while protecting it.
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