To Our OneSeed Community,
This is going to be hard. As the effects of the COVID-19 virus are felt around the world, it is a reminder of how deeply and profoundly connected we all are. Travel also teaches us this lesson. It teaches us that we all share more in common than we think and that the desire to explore the world brings opportunity to others.
While most of our travelers are making the understandable decision to postpone travel plans in the near future, we are asking for your help. Because travel links together individuals, small businesses, and entrepreneurs around the world, this sudden disruption to the travel industry is being felt at every level of our supply chain.
As a certified B Corp, we view our supply chain as a mechanism for economically engaging communities often excluded from the travel industry such as women entrepreneurs, ethnic minorities, and the economically disadvantaged. Over many years we have developed a network of incredible small businesses and individuals that make our trips possible. We cannot break our promises to these partners and they need our support more than ever.
We don't know what the coming weeks hold and that's why, after consulting with each of our partners around the world, we've announced updated terms and conditions with greater flexibility for both our existing and new bookings. We're doing everything within our power to evacuate travelers currently in the field and to reschedule hundreds of upcoming trips. While we know that rescheduling travel plans is disappointing and frustrating, we ask for your help in the following ways:
Please understand that we are working in an incredibly fluid environment where every day brings new travel restrictions and public health guidance. We are working with the best information we have available and we will continue to update our travelers as this information develops.
Please consider postponing your travel rather than canceling your plans. We are witnessing a year's worth of work and planning evaporate as trips are made impossible by travel restrictions in many of the countries where we operate. We are working closely with all of our suppliers to protect their livelihoods while giving our travelers the most flexibility we can offer.
Please understand that we will be as flexible as possible in all circumstances, but we must also keep our commitments to our partners. Our goal in every situation is to maximize flexibility for our travelers while protecting the many small businesses that make OneSeed expeditions run.
We have been overwhelmed by the kindness, understanding, and support of our community during this time. We thank you so much for making OneSeed what it is today and what it will continue to be long into the future. Our fundamental mission of exploring the world and investing in people will not change and we are only more committed to using travel as a means of uplifting communities around the world.
Thank you,
Chris Baker
Founder, OneSeed Expeditions