Travel has an economic impact beyond the places visited. Transportation, guides, hotels, restaurants, activities, communities and specialists all receive part of the money generated by each trip.
To better understand that impact, Hola Colega has developed a simple monitoring system that tracks where trip-related spending stays and who ultimately receives it.
The objective is not to assign a sustainability score to individual trips, but to provide a clearer picture of how our operations distribute spending across Mexico and across different types of suppliers.
The information is based on payments made directly to suppliers involved in operating our trips. It does not include Hola Colega donations, sponsorships or contributions made separately to specific projects.
We track the information through two main indicators:
Ownership
Where is the money staying?
This indicator looks at the ownership of the suppliers used during our trips and identifies whether the money paid for services remains with Mexico-based businesses and organizations or is transferred to companies based outside the country.
The objective is to understand how much of the operational spend generated by a trip remains within Mexico.
Colleagues
Who is receiving the money?
Not every locally owned supplier has the same economic structure. A payment made directly to a guide has a different distribution pattern from a payment made to a hotel chain, transportation company or government-operated attraction.
For that reason, suppliers are grouped according to the type and scale of organization receiving the payment.
Actual Humans
Independent collaborators directly involved in operating a trip, including guides, hosts, specialists and other supporting professionals.
Small Businesses
Independent businesses or entrepreneurial projects with 10 employees or fewer providing services such as lodging, transportation, food, activities or other travel-related services.
Mid-Size Businesses
Independent companies with more than 10 employees providing travel-related services including hotels, transportation, restaurants and activities.
Large Businesses
Independent companies with more than 30 employees operating travel-related services at a larger scale.
Communities
Activities, attractions or services located primarily in rural or non-urban areas and operated on a small scale, including ejidos, cooperatives and community-run projects.
Non-Profits
Activities or projects operated by NGOs, charities, foundations, conservation organizations or other nonprofit entities.
Government
Services and attractions operated by public institutions, including archaeological sites, national parks, protected areas, museums and other government-managed facilities.
Corporations
Large-scale companies whose operations extend beyond individual destinations, including major hotel groups, airlines and other corporate travel providers.
What are we trying to understand?
The purpose of the program is to build a clearer picture of the economic footprint created by our trips.
Over time, the data allows us to see how much spending remains in Mexico, how much reaches individuals and smaller businesses, how much flows through communities and public institutions, and where larger companies remain necessary within an itinerary.
It also provides another tool for product development. When two services offer a similar operational solution, understanding where the money goes can become one more factor when deciding which supplier or experience to include.
The goal is not to eliminate larger businesses or create artificial targets for every itinerary. Some trips naturally require airlines, larger hotels, established transportation companies or government-managed attractions.
Instead, the system is designed to make the distribution of travel spending visible, measurable and easier to understand.