travel

for

better

The Travel For Better Foundation is dedicated to creating a brighter and more sustainable future for our global community. Our mission is to empower and uplift individuals by promoting education and fostering economic development within the travel industry community.

Our history

After spending years planning trips for family and friends, Debbie Bush decided to make her passion a career and founded Avenue Two Travel (known then as Park Avenue Travel) in 1985. In the decades that followed, her husband Craig and son Josh joined the family business, and it has since grown to be a top luxury travel firm in the country.

The Bush family knows that travel can be a force for good as well as a fulfilling career with upward mobility. They have heard stories and seen real-life examples of people beginning at the front desk or as a bellhop and then working their way up to be General Manager. Though you don’t necessarily have to have formal education to advance in the industry, it often accelerates growth and increases salary opportunities. From their travels, the family has also seen firsthand how travel can positively affect local economies. Beyond creating jobs directly related to tourism, travel also supports conservation and sustainability efforts in communities and creates lasting change.

When the family was researching nonprofit organizations for their holiday donation, they wanted to find a cause that supports both education in hospitality and local economies. After researching, they decided to launch Travel for Better, a nonprofit with two key pillars: providing scholarships to individuals currently working in the tourism industry and supporting economic development in local communities.

Scholarships for Hospitality Professionals

The hospitality industry is a unique field that offers a significant potential for upward mobility even without traditional secondary education.

It serves as a prime example of how skills, dedication, and hard work can pave the way to a successful career and personal growth.

In the hospitality sector, individuals often have the opportunity to start at entry-level positions, such as bellhops, waitstaff, or housekeepers, and gradually work their way up the ranks through on-the-job training and experience. With dedication, a strong work ethic, and a commitment to exceptional customer service, individuals can rise to supervisory and management roles.

Many industry leaders and executives began their careers as frontline staff, demonstrating that education isn’t the sole determinant of success in this field.

However, it’s important to acknowledge that secondary education can accelerate the opportunity to take on advanced roles and specialized positions.

Travel For Better is dedicated to collaborating with industry partners to identify candidates for scholarships to current frontline professionals seeking to advance their education and propel their hospitality careers to new heights. By investing in the next generation of hospitality leaders, we aim to elevate the standards of service, promote diversity and inclusion, and strengthen the industry as a whole.

Economic Development for Local Communities

Our aim is to ensure that the benefits of tourism remain firmly rooted in and contribute to the sustainability of these communities.

In numerous destinations, foreign investment does create job opportunities, yet a significant portion of the local population lacks the resources to start their own businesses. Consequently, much of the profits generated by the growing tourism sector fail to circulate within the local community.

Travel For Better is dedicated to collaborating with partners to identify deserving recipients for financial support, facilitating the establishment of locally owned businesses.