Vacation rentals providing end-of-life ‘Dreams’ for guests
US: Non-profit organisation Dream Foundation is serving terminally-ill adults and their families by providing end-of-life ‘Dreams’ that offer inspiration, comfort and closure, and vacation rentals, thanks to their privacy, spaciousness and kitchen spaces, are proving to be the optimal lodging accommodations.
Founded in 1994, Dream Foundation, which claims to be “the only national dream-granting organisation for terminally-ill adults”, is supported by a nationwide network of volunteers, hospices, health care organisations and committed donors. The foundation has also given life to more than 32,000 final Dreams since its establishment 27 years ago.
That is where vacation rental hospitality comes in – it is all about creating memories for guests, but not all memories are created equally. According to Dream Foundation, travel-related Dreams account for 65 per cent of all Dreams fulfilled.
Here are four Dreamer stories along with vacation rental heroes who stepped up to meet the need: representing our industry’s impact in ways not previously imaginable.
Belmi
At 22 years old, Belmi has been diagnosed with a terminal illness and with that, a six-month life expectancy. She is lovely, bright, and very positive. Belmi lives in Santa Barbara, California, with her husband Gustavo, and two young children, Genesis and Isaiah. Belmi’s Dream is to go on a family vacation to Maui, Hawaii, to make memories her daughter can remember and cherish.
She tells Dream Foundation: “Genesis loves the ocean so much that she comes home every day and puts on her bathing suit asking: “When are we going to the beach?” She loves all the creatures. Hawaii will give me that one chance to give her that and create that one lasting memory.”
With generous donations, Belmi had a trip of a lifetime to Maui. Dream Foundation partners at Alaska Airlines provided round-trip airfare and foundation friends at Coconut Condos provided Belmi and her family with a seven-night stay in a two-bedroom condo. Among the activities coordinated by Coconut Condos, the family enjoyed whale watching, compliments of Trilogy Excursions, and a lu’au donated by Drums of the Pacific.
