FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 26, 2009
Contact :
Margot Kong
Imperial Tours
(888)888-1970
margot@imperialtours.net
Imperial Tours Gives Back
How Ultra-Luxury Travel Helps Children in China
SAN FRANCISCO, Ca – (May 26, 2009) – Imperial Tours continues a tradition of social contribution by dedicating a playground in rural China to the Virtuoso agents attending
their On-site Table at the Travel Mart in Las Vegas. A memorial stone commemorating the
expansion of a school playground was recently presented by the headmaster of the rural
school in China to thank the luxury agents seated at Imperial Tours' On-site table at the
2008 Virtuoso Travel Mart. This builds on the first phase of the project in which former
guests, travel agents and Imperial Tours contributed to the design, drainage and
construction of a large, new playground area.
"It is great to remember the good that our industry does, not just in providing manifold
employment opportunities to local economies and investing in out-of-the-way areas that
might not otherwise have a hopeful economic future, but also in charitable acts like this, "
says Guy Rubin, Managing Partner of Imperial Tours.
The company has offered responsible travel since 2002, when Nancy Kim, co-founder of Imperial Tours, spearheaded a fundraising ball for the daunting challenge of enrolling 700,000 children into the China Special Olympics program. The fund-raising ball has since turned into an annual event, raising more than $330,000 for Special Olympics China. Imperial Tours also supports the affiliated Best Buddies program, a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities by providing opportunities for one-to-one friendships and integrated employment.
Imperial Tours' social contributions span the Yunnan and Guangxi provinces, supporting schools in Guilin and Lijiang. Activities have included funding the tuition and educational expenses for underprivileged children and providing desks to a rural school. Itineraries with visits to Shangri-La or Lhasa provide immediate and direct assistance to local communities by utilizing ground-handling services run entirely by Tibetans.
With so many companies using a "sustainable" marketing spin, it can be difficult to find those pro-actively helping local communities while enriching the traveler. Long before it was chic for companies to give back, Imperial Tours has always offered its guests a chance to participate in its investment in rural communities and the educational development of China's most disadvantaged children.
ABOUT IMPERIAL TOURS
Imperial Tours is the leading luxury tour operator based in China offering luxury set-departure and private tours, combining local expertise with the high levels of service and quality expected by sophisticated Western travelers. Imperial Tours has first-hand knowledge of world-class hotels and restaurants as well as the history, culture, arts, and little-known exclusive destinations within China. Founded by Westerners in 1999, Imperial Tours has offices in Beijing, San Francisco, Frankfurt and the UK. For more information, visit www.imperialtours.net or call (888)888-1970.
