IMPACT
Here's what we're doing,
and why.
Painted Circle was built to create positive impact. Here's how...
Our mission is to be a global, sustainable, and ethical travel marketplace. This means we are here to support travelers, travel businesses, and the places where our adventures take us. Most importantly, we think our impact is in our actions, and in the very way we built Painted Circle. Let's put the buzzwords aside and talk about how we are creating positive impact, and how you are part of the story.
​
Let's start with how we are focusing our impact goals:
TRAVELERS & EXPLORERS
We help travelers find awesome travel providers who will welcome them to have truly memorable and transformative experiences. We also want to help travelers' spending to go further by offering travel discounts through our RADIUS Program.
​
Win
TRAVEL PROVIDERS
We don't take any fees or commissions from travel providers on our site. This means we help them to keep the money they earn while also offering travelers discounts through our RADIUS Program.
Win / Win
THE GREATER GOOD
When travelers support Painted Circle by joining our RADIUS Program, we share the funds with travel providers and nonprofit organizations, helping to keep our whole community ecosystem healthy.
​
Win / Win / Win
We're solving real problems along the way...
We think it's really cool that our platform helps travelers have amazing adventures and that we can save them money in the process. But we feel our impact is deeper than that. We see systemic problems in the travel industry, and together with travelers we are part of fixing them. Here are some of the problems, and what we are doing about them:
PROBLEM:
Economic extraction & leakage
Traditional travel sites take huge commissions from the bookings we all make. Resellers, also known as "Online Travel Agencies" or OTAs, typically take 25% and more!
​
This means a big portion of the money we spend on experiences never reaches the tour operator or the local community.
.jpg)
OUR APPROACH:
We don't use commissions.
None. Zilch. Nada.
None of the businesses on Painted Circle pay to be here. They are here because they want to connect with you through our community of purpose-driven travelers.
​
Painted Circle's business model is not based on taking a cut of others' business. Instead, our RADIUS program gives travelers the choice to access special offers and discounts and supports our mission. It's all about the win/win!
PROBLEM:
Not everyone is included
We're glad there is more talk about "inclusion" - but we need substantial, real action to make travel more inclusive and equitable. This applies to both the traveler AND stakeholder side of the industry.
​
With all the noise, it's difficult find places that are truly embracing inclusion and creating a sense of belonging for their guests. And with others' business models focused on growth, including more people in economic uplift often takes a backseat to profits and receives superficial effort at best.
OUR APPROACH:
We make inclusion foundational
All businesses and partners of Painted Circle sign on to our Inclusivity Commitment. What does that actually mean? It means the business you find here want your business and they want YOU, just as you are.
​
Our circle embraces civility and the essence of travel - that we are here to share and learn with each other. Furthermore, many businesses listed here share the extra steps they take to create welcoming environments for all of their guests.
PROBLEM:
Traveling responsibly is difficult, and expensive
Everyone talks about traveling responsibly, but its tough to actually make wise, informed choices. Not knowing where our money goes leaves us wondering what we are supporting with our purchases.
​
Mass-market tourism is something we know has problems, but how do we break free from its dominance? And how can we possibly be more responsible while paying less?
​
​
OUR APPROACH:
Build with purpose, and build collaboratively
It's tempting to see a profitable business model and want to copy it. But we are travelers, and we are driven by purpose.
​
By collaborating with industry partners, we can focus on sharing value. We make it possible for you to pay less, all while better supporting the businesses you visit. You can feel good about spending your money at the right places, and that your adventures create positive impact.
You're invited to be a change maker,
and join the movement for better travel
Our community is circling up around a vision of more ethical travel. And we want you to join us. You can use Painted Circle as your free travel guide, or get discounts when you join RADIUS - our innovative travel program that we created through collaboration with the businesses you find on Painted Circle.
Our impact in action...
Here's how it all works, and how Painted Circle functions as a zero-extraction marketplace that can save travelers money while also supporting travel providers and local communities.