. . . so far
The nonprofit Destination Stewardship Center is a growing community of people involved in the intersection between tourism and stewardship of places. Our team seeks additional volunteer participants who meet our qualifications, including editorial interns, apprentices, and restless retirees. We also seek potential partners, sponsors, and “Destination Monitors” for specific places, especially World Heritage destinations. Please contact us.
Jonathan Tourtellot, Founder, Sponsor, CEO, and Portal Editor in Chief. I specialize in sustainable tourism and destination stewardship, as a journalist, editor, and consultant. With the support of my patient wife, Sally Bensusen, I originated the concept of the geotourism approach as defined by National Geographic: “Tourism that sustains or enhances the geographical character of a place—its environment, geology, culture, aesthetics, heritage, and the well-being of its residents.” I founded and ran National Geographic’s Center for Sustainable Destinations for nine years. There we instituted the National Geographic Geotourism MapGuide program and the landmark Destination Stewardship surveys published in National Geographic Traveler, 2004-2010. I occasionally blogged for National Geographic News until the platform closed in 2018. I speak and hold workshops on destination stewardship and the geotourism approach around the world.
Samantha Hogenson Bray, Senior Advisor and Assistant emeritus to the Founder. I’m a current PhD student at University of Waterloo studying destination stewardship, building on my knowledge and experience as the prior Managing Director at the Center for Responsible Travel (CREST), geotourism degree holder from Missouri State University, & MTA from George Washington University.
Clara Copiglia, Architecture and Placemaking Topic Editor – architectural and urban designer whose work intersects communities, rural tourism, and architecture. Currently based in Zurich, she’s deepening her expertise in regional development within Switzerland.
Aileen Fei, Research and Editorial Assistance – PhD Candidate at Purdue University studying Hospitality and Tourism Management. She graduated with her BS and MS from the University of Houston. She researches the way people behave and act when they travel. She has a particular interest in value-based marketing and concepts around willingness to pay.
Erika Gilsdorf, Video Producer for the World’s Inspiring Places and other multimedia projects. I am the Executive Producer of Minnesota-based South Shore Productions, specializing in international videos on sustainability and tourism. We have produced professional videos for such entities as Nat Geo Wild Chronicles, World Bank Group, The Nature Conservancy, United Airlines, and Royal Caribbean Cruises. I also provide training on video skills, funding, and distribution strategies.
Timothy Greenleaf, Webmaster and technical adviser. I specialize in applying user-centered design, content strategy, and technology to produce high-impact issue advocacy campaigns, editorial features, and e-commerce web applications designed to inform, engage, and persuade users to act.
Sarah-Jane Johnson, Contributing editor, stewardship councils and Rocky Mountain region liaison. I am a tourism development and PR/communications consultant based near Aspen, Colorado. Having spent 16 years working on the front-end of tourism promotion for organizations including the Colorado Tourism Office, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Tourism Malaysia, and STA Travel, I am now studying sustainable tourism management at the George Washington University. I have a particular interest in culinary and agritourism and have recently overseen several rural tourism development projects in Colorado.
Cynthia Linnel – Business, managerial, and television adviser; ecotourism liaison. Working in the travel industry since 2013. Cindy previously led programming & operations for an educational travel program at the American Institute of Architects that ran 25 tours in 21 countries over three years. Formerly, she managed television production at the National Geographic Channels. Her career in documentary production cemented her passion for lifelong learning and travel.
Shelby Luzzi, Agritourism and Gastronomy Topic Editor. I am a professional with a love of all-things travel. My background includes a BA in Italian, an extended stay in Italy, and over a decade of experience in restaurants and bars, which eventually developed into a passion for food tourism and community development. I received a Master in Tourism Administration from the George Washington University in 2019 as a way to nurture this interest and strengthen my skills in sustainable destination management. By day, I am a Convention Sales Assistant at Destination DC.
Lucy Matthews Cultural Heritage Tourism Topic Editor. I am passionate about how travel can enhance lives and have worked and studied in the areas of global tourism and cultural heritage throughout my career. I have dual Master’s degrees from King’s College London, with a 2019 thesis on the concept of tourism for peace in the case of FARC tourism in Colombia, and a 2013 thesis on heritage tourism in Malta. I was the Tourism for Tomorrow (T4T) manager for the World Travel & Tourism Council from 2018-19, during the 15th anniversary of the T4T awards.
Marta Mills, London, UK. Destination Stewardship Report contributing editor and European liaison. I am a mountain hiker, yoga teacher, and a sustainable tourism consultant, trainer and speaker, specialising in responsible destination management and tourism in Protected Areas. I work across Europe and the Caucasus region. I hold dual M.A. degrees in Sociology and in Political Science and I am about to get my MSc in Responsible Tourism Management (RTM) from Leeds Beckett University in the UK. I am also a student mentor and Associate Staff member for the RTM course, focussing all my academic research on mountain and Protected Areas tourism.
Martha Mulokoshi, Scheduling and Volunteer Coordinator. I started my conservation career in Namibia, where I worked for World Wildlife Fund supporting tourism business development and helping communal conservancies establish viable joint ventures with private partners. I also supported business enterprise efforts aimed at empowering the San people in the Nyae Nyae Conservancy in northeast Namibia. While earning my Masters of Tourism Administration at the George Washington University, I worked at the International Institute of Tourism Studies and the Institute of African Studies. I’m passionate about people, environmental conservation, tourism, and sustainable development.
Tamara Olton, Instagram editor. When not exploring the world myself, I help others travel while working as a travel agent. Over time, I realized how travel, when conducted unsustainably, can harm the destinations in which tourist enjoy and began to focus on sustainable travel and ecotourism. I received an MA from Michigan State University focusing on the use of small scale, low-impact tourism as an incentive in conserving endangered wildlife in developing communities. I have lived in both Cambodia and Costa Rica while learning more about wildlife focused and eco-centered tourism, and look forward to applying these experiences towards the concept of sense of place while working with the Destination Stewardship Center.
Ellen Rugh-Estrada, Contributing Editor; Destination Councils Specialist, emeritus. Ellen has coordinated the Councils Project, researching exemplary case studies of destination stewardship and holistic destination management around the globe. She holds dual M.A. degrees in International Affairs from American University in Washington, DC and in Natural Resources & Sustainable Development from the UN-mandated University for Peace in Costa Rica.
Yvonne Montoya, Community and Civil Society Topic Editor. Yvonne is an independent filmmaker and writer. She’s an ovarian cancer survivor and she’s producing a documentary about the disease for PBS. She holds a B.A. in English from Heidelberg University in Ohio and she received a Certificate in Sustainable Tourism from the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) in 2024. Yvonne is passionate about sustainability and community based tourism.
Program Advisers and Collaborators
Kit Carstens, retired businessman and philanthropic-investment consultant for impact investors and geotouristic enterprises. I’ve spent over 30 years founding and developing EDC’s locally and overseas, I bring to the table a skill set that includes the right mix of passion and practicality with the ultimate goal of having a financially successful development. I provide a communication link between the sustainable industry and the potential developer.
Alix Collins, George Washington University tourism studies liaison; Managing Editor, Destination Stewardship Report, emeritus.
Terrie Clifford, partnerships and marketing advisor. I am a marketing strategist and business development professional focused on innovative environmental, and non-profit organizations. Washington, D.C. area. I’ve held senior marketing and business development positions with the National Wildlife Federation, United Way Worldwide, National Geographic, America Online and U.S. News and World report.
Irene Lane—Finance and eco-certification adviser. Founder of Greenloons and Chair of the Market-Access Group for GSTC, I have used my background in international finance to help create the ROI Model for Sustainability, a tool that enables tourism companies and DMOs to calculate the monetary return on investment for eco-responsible policies and eco-certification.
Chi Lo – Community & Civil Society editor. I am a sustainable tourism consultant, specializing in standards and certifications. Currently also Resources Director at Travel Unity, an organization with a mission to make the world of travel welcoming to people of all backgrounds and identities.
Devika McWalters, IGO and communications advisor. I specialize in strategic marketing, communications, training, business development, and digital media. I started following Jonathan Tourtellot’s geotourism and sustainable tourism philosophy while working at National Geographic, and continue to do so now while working at the World Bank. I am passionate about destination stewardship and helping others protect, preserve, and promote the great places of the world.
Arild Molstad, Advising Journalist, conservationist, and tourism consultant, based in Norway and France. Author of Last-Chance Destinations: A Guide to Sustainable Tourism.
Emeritus (Thank you!)
Eugene Kim—Voluntourism and gastronomy
Kathryn Warnes—Social media, heritage tourism, and gastronomy
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