Honoring the airlines, cruise lines, city hotels, resorts, hotel chains, and tour operators that are dedicated to saving their communities and our world (Hooray!)

Call it a tipping point. despite the economic crisis, one after another CEO declared at the World Travel and Tourism Summit in Brazil in May that social responsibility—from environmental stewardship to community projects—is more important than ever. Travel will generate $7.3 trillion in revenue this year, and our World Savers Awards are one indication of how the industry is measuring up to the philanthropic opportunities that number presents. The 26 companies listed here are turning travel's enormous potential to improve the planet into reality.

Our 21 judges—academics, CEOs, and philanthropists—looked at five types of initiatives: education, poverty alleviation, wildlife conservation, cultural and environmental preservation, and health. They chose winners and runners-up in each category, and we also recognized companies that had achievements in all five areas. One clear trend: Sustainable travel has gone mainstream. Read on to learn about the winners' inspiring programs—and how you can experience them firsthand.

Methodology
How, exactly, are these awards judged? Eight industry sectors can enter: small hotel chains (fewer than 20 properties), large hotel chains, city hotels, small lodges and resorts (fewer than 20 rooms), large lodges and resorts, tour operators, cruise lines, and airlines. All are assessed on how they exhibit social responsibility in five areas: Education Programs, Wildlife Conservation, Poverty Alleviation, Preservation (Environmental/Cultural), and Health Initiatives. Thirty-six finalists were chosen by the editors from almost 100 applicants. The judges then scored the applicants, although no judge scored applicants in his or her own industry, and no applicant was penalized for specializing in only one area—after all, managers can be most effective by focusing efforts where they can be most productive. This year, we also looked at overall scores, to give credit to companies with many world-saving programs. The winners had the highest scores, while the runners-up for each area—Poverty Alleviation, Wildlife Conservation, etc.—had the highest scores in their travel category. Which means, of course, that all of the companies on the preceding pages are winners.

The Judges
Ralph Buckley, director, International Centre for Ecotourism Research, Griffith University, Australia
Bill Chameides, dean, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University
Laurie David, NRDC trustee; environmental activist; co-producer, An Inconvenient Truth
Dorinda Elliott, deputy editor, Condé Nast Traveler
Marcia Gay Harden, environmentalist; Oscar-winning actress
Karl Holz, president, Disney Cruise Line
Martha Honey, co-director, Center for Responsible Travel
Kara Hurst, managing director, East Coast, Business for Social Responsibility
Neel Inamdar, senior adviser, ecotourism, Conservation International
Rob Katz, CEO, RockResorts/Vail Resorts
Ron Mader, director, Planeta.com
Bill Marriott, chairman and CEO, Marriott International
Hitesh Mehta, landscape architect and sustainable tourism planner, HM Design
Brian Mullis, president, Sustainable Travel International
Bruce Poon Tip, CEO, Gap Adventures
Kate Roberts, vice president, Population Services International
Andrea Ross, director of tours/marketing, Journeys Within
Shannon Stowell, president, Adventure Travel Trade Association
Tensie Whelan, president, Rainforest Alliance
Brook Wilkinson, consumer news correspondent, Condé Nast Traveler
Timothy Wirth, president, United Nations Foundation