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Expedia Group launches new global social impact & sustainability strategy

Company commits to advancing a more responsible, open and accessible travel industry

Expedia Group has announced its new global social impact and sustainability strategy to advance a travel ecosystem that is responsible, open, and accessible to all.

Combining the company’s mission, purpose, and values with its traveller-centric mindset, the Open World™ social impact and sustainability strategy is focused on three priorities – increasing access for underserved travellers, democratising the travel economy, and innovating sustainable solutions for the future of travel.

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Earlier this year, the company announced its Open World technology platform – created for partners of all sizes to leverage and configure products and services needed to succeed in the travel ecosystem.

Aligned with this innovation, and the belief that travel is a force for good, the next iteration of Open World extends to the traveller experience, community engagement, and environmental impact.

Expedia Group Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Peter kern said travel is transformative. It broadens horizons, strengthens connections and changes perspectives.

“With our new Open World™ social impact and sustainability forward-looking plans, we will further our mission to power travel for everyone, everywhere,” he said.

“Travel needs to lighten its footprint on the planet, and everyone should be able to experience it and receive the associated benefits. Now is the time to innovate the existing model. We have a responsibility to enable a stronger, more sustainable industry.”

The Open World social impact and sustainability strategy will tackle inequities in travel, accelerate meaningful change for the mosaic of travellers and communities that power the global industry, and ensure a healthy planet.

Expedia Group’s social impact and sustainability strategic framework includes:

Inclusive pathways for underserved travellers

Unfortunately, historic and social barriers still too often limit equitable and accessible travel. Per Expedia Group Media Solutions’ recent Inclusive Travel Insights Report 1, demand is increasing as consumers are seeking more inclusive travel offerings when searching and booking.

Expedia Group is increasing its own capabilities to improve the experience of underserved travellers by identifying and helping to lessen gaps.

As an example, Expedia.com has made improvements to accessibility filters to include options like elevators, service animal accommodations, roll-in showers, sign-language staff availability, and also expanded search features for travellers such as LGBTQIA+ welcoming properties.

What’s Next? To ensure more people are able to experience all that travel has to offer, Expedia Group will focus a portion of its giving to provide grants to impact-driven organisations working to remove barriers to travel for underserved communities around the world.

Photo by Yomex Owo on Unsplash

Economic advancement for communities underrepresented in travel

Expedia Group is strengthening economic opportunities across the travel ecosystem to ensure more people and communities can benefit from the industry’s growth and associated benefits. Using the power of its technology platform to help diversify the business of travel, Expedia Group will support small and local businesses, particularly those focused on improving the representation and experience of underrepresented travellers.

What’s Next? To help diversify the business of travel and meet traveller demand for more responsible options, Expedia Group will soon launch a program aimed at start-ups and small and medium-sized businesses in travel.

Sustainable development concept

Prosperous planet for generations to come

Expedia Group recognises the environmental toll that today’s travel industry often has on the planet and is committed to mobilising its vast network of travellers, partners, and peers to innovate more sustainable business models and empower travellers to make more responsible choices. Fostering a healthy planet and a travel industry that mitigates and adapts to climate change is central to the Open World social impact and sustainability strategy.

Expedia Group recently joined the Travalyst Coalition and signed the Glasgow Declaration for Climate Action in Tourism.

Under the Glasgow Declaration, Expedia Group has committed to deliver plans that will support the global goals of cutting emissions in half over the next decade and allowing the travel industry to reach Net Zero emissions as soon as possible before 2050.

The Travalyst Coalition enables these goals by allowing travel companies like Expedia Group to deliver unified sustainability frameworks and methodologies to travellers across the globe.

What’s Next? Expedia Group is currently developing a long-term climate action plan and associated roadmap for greening its own operations while driving industry-wide change.

A new program being developed in partnership with The Travel Foundation will offer training and practical guidance to destination marketing organizations (DMOs), enabling them to lead the way on climate action in tourism and catalyze meaningful change at a local level.

These three priorities build upon Expedia Group’s foundation and ongoing commitment to philanthropy.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Expedia Group-led programs including the Give the World a Shot initiative, a joint endeavour with UNICEF to enhance COVID-19 vaccination rates in communities around the world as global, equitable access to the vaccine is in line with traveller values and essential to reopening the world to travel.

Expedia Group donated approximately $10.5 million, vaccinating three million people, and moving the travel industry one step closer to recovery.

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