The sustainable travel community is a small place and thanks to the internet, it keeps getting smaller.  One of the things I love about being a travel writer is all the extraordinary people I’ve met along the way. People who continue to inspire me to adventure more, move beyond my comfort zone and also give back to the magical places we visit. One such person is Jennifer Spatz, Founder and CEO of Global Family Travels.

Jennifer Spatz is a cultural anthropologist at heart with a background in international development.  Since she launched Global Family Travels in 2010, Jennifer’s vision has been to unite humanity and inspire travelers to take responsibility for the challenges and opportunities facing our increasingly inter-connected planet.  Using regenerative tourism principles, Jennifer is passionate about developing impactful sustainable travel experiences in partnership with local and global non-profit organizations which feature a unique mix of cultural and educational activities, as well as community engagement to help make a positive impact on the lives of people and natural habitats where we visit.

Immersing in Bali. Photo credit: Global Family Travels

I had the opportunity to meet Jennifer through my work with Impact Travel Alliance a few years back and I love the work she does to create amazing, impactful travel journeys that go above and beyond the typical mainstream travel experience. Recently, I met up with Jennifer at a travel conference we both attended in New Orleans and over a hot plate of creole Jambalaya, she shared more about her work on regenerative travel and as well as the launch of her four new impactful, regenerative trips for women. Here is what she had to say: