BELLEVUE, Wash., July 20, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Expedia, Inc.
today announced that activities involving certain wildlife animal
interactions will no longer be bookable on its online travel sites.
Relying on guidance from industry-leading wildlife and animal
protection groups, Expedia will undertake a thorough review over
the next few months and will remove activities from its websites
and other distribution channels.
Today's announcement also comes with the launch of a new
initiative committing the company to improving education for
travelers about animal welfare. Launching later this year,
travelers searching for animal-related activities will be presented
with detailed information about specific activities offered through
Expedia on a new Wildlife Tourism Education Portal.
Working in concert with globally renowned and respected zoo,
anti-animal trafficking and animal protection groups such as The
Association of Zoos and Aquariums, U.S. Wildlife Trafficking
Alliance, Born Free Foundation, The Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society
International, Expedia is determined to put animal welfare and
standards of care for animals involved in these wildlife activities
at the forefront of the travel planning discussion.
"Expedia can play an integral part in educating travelers about
the diverse views related to wildlife tourism, so they can make
informed decisions that align with how they travel and how they
interact with the animals that share our planet," said Jen
O'Twomney, vice president, Expedia Local Expert®. "As travelers, it
is important that we know more about the places we go, the
activities we engage in, and the ways in which we leave lasting
impacts on our destinations. As we help people go places, we want
to help them do it thoughtfully, and responsibly."
Some of the features of the Wildlife Tourism Education Portal
include:
- Clear communication as to whether an activity involves animal
interactions, with a direct link to learn more about wildlife
tourism and animal welfare; and
- Broader education around animal welfare and links to
participate in the conversation and take action if a traveler is
interested.
"Expedia's decision shows real leadership by one of the travel
industry's most influential players," said Daniel Turner, associate director of tourism,
Born Free Foundation. "Tackling the risks to animals, people and
the natural environment while, at the same time, improving the
tourism experience, are not mutually exclusive. Born Free welcomes
Expedia's commitment to ensure that, in the future their customers
can make informed decisions about the suitability of animal
interactions before they finalize their travel plans. We are
committed to helping Expedia and the wider travel industry
eliminate activities that compromise the welfare of animals and
threaten public safety."
"Our planet's wildlife is disappearing at a devastating rate as
poachers meet consumer demand for exotic wildlife products," said
Sara Walker, executive director,
U.S. Wildlife Trafficking Alliance. "With its significant global
reach and influence, the travel and tourism industry can make an
enormous impact in helping to end the scourge of wildlife
trafficking. We applaud Expedia for joining a global collaboration
to educate travelers through its new educational portal. Educating
travelers, so they don't unwittingly contribute to the poaching of
wildlife, is a critical component to solving this international
crisis. By buying informed, we can all work together to protect
these treasured species for generations to come."
Michael Markarian, chief
operating officer, The Humane Society of the United States, said, "Travelers have many
great options for celebrating their love of animals and supporting
a humane economy. But they are often unaware that animal suffering
may lurk behind many animal attractions and tourist traps that
don't have the animals' best interest at heart. We thank Expedia
for helping people and animals avoid a bad trip."
About Expedia, Inc.
Expedia, Inc. (NASDAQ: EXPE) is the world's largest online
travel company, with an extensive brand portfolio that includes
leading online travel brands, such as:
- Expedia.com®, a leading full-service online travel brand with
localized sites in 33 countries
- Hotels.com®, a leading global lodging expert operating 89
localized websites in 39 languages with its award winning
Hotels.com® Rewards loyalty program
- Expedia® Affiliate Network (EAN), a global B2B brand that
powers the hotel business of hundreds of leading airlines, travel
agencies, loyalty and corporate travel companies plus several top
consumer brands through its API and template solutions
- trivago®, a leading online hotel search platform with sites in
55 countries worldwide
- HomeAway®, a global online marketplace for the vacation rental
industry, which also includes the VRBO®, VacationRentals.com® and
BedandBreakfast.com® brands, among others
- Egencia®, a leading corporate travel management company
- Orbitz.com® and CheapTickets.com®, leading U.S. travel
websites, as well as ebookers®, a full service travel brand with
websites in seven European countries
- Travelocity®, a leading online travel brand in the U.S. and
Canada delivering customer service
when and where our customers need it with the Customer First
Guarantee
- Hotwire®, inspiring spontaneous travel through Hot Rate®
deals
- Wotif Group, a leading portfolio of travel brands including
Wotif.com®, Wotif.co.nz, lastminute.com.au®, lastminute.co.nz and
travel.com.au®
- Expedia® Media Solutions, the advertising sales division of
Expedia, Inc. that builds creative media partnerships and enables
brand advertisers to target a highly-qualified audience of travel
consumers
- CarRentals.com™, a premier online car rental booking company
with localized sites in 13 countries
- Classic Vacations®, a top luxury travel specialist
- Expedia Local Expert®, a provider of online and in-market
concierge services, activities, experiences and ground
transportation in over a thousand destinations worldwide
- Expedia® CruiseShipCenters®, a provider of exceptional value
and expert advice for travelers booking cruises and vacations
through its network of over 235 retail travel agency franchises
across North America
For corporate and industry news and views, visit us at
www.expediainc.com or follow us on Twitter @expediainc.
Trademarks and logos are the property of their respective
owners. © 2017 Expedia, Inc. All rights reserved.
CST: 2029030-50
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