Victory! Expedia Group & All Of Its Travel Brands Ban Activities That Exploit Captive Dolphins, Whales & Other Species Of Wildlife For Entertainment

Following years of pressure from animal advocates, Expedia Group, which is one of the world’s most recognized online travel brands, has announced that it will no longer promote so-called “entertainment” that exploits captive dolphins and whales for profit.

The positive news, which comes at a time when the travel industry is beginning to recover from the effects of the pandemic, is part of the organization’s recently changed animal welfare policy.

“As a result, attractions and activities that involve performances by or interactions with dolphins and other cetaceans will no longer be available on our sites,” the company shared in a message on its Twitter page on Friday. Those sites include Expedia, Travelocity, Hotels.com, Vrbo, Hotwire, Orbitz, Expedia Cruises, Trivago, and several other online brands that operate under Expedia Group.

As noted on the Expedia Group Animal Welfare Guidelines page, the company believes that, “Expedia Group powers global travel for everyone, everywhere, and helps them do so with respect for the people, animals, and natural environments of our planet. When done responsibly and thoughtfully, activities featuring animals can instill a deeper connection with the natural world, promote conservation, enhance the human experience, and drive interest in the treatment and survival of all animals.”

In alignment with Expedia Group’s updated animal welfare philosophy, “seaside sanctuaries that provide captive animals with a permanent seaside living environment are allowed if they are accredited and do not feature interactions or performances.”

According to Expedia Group, the organization follows the guidance of experts who have spent their lives researching, observing, and helping animals. These individuals are most qualified to evaluate the welfare of animals and understand the quality of the facilities that house them.

Expedia Group’s animal welfare principles now include:

Nutrition – Animals will enjoy a suitable, species-appropriate diet that promotes their physical and behavioral health and strength.

Environment – Animals will have appropriate environments that promote their ongoing comfort and safety.

Health – Animals will be maintained in good physical health and have access to a wellness program. They will be rapidly diagnosed and treated for injuries or disease to make sure they stay robust and healthy throughout their entire lives.

Behavior – Animals will live in quality spaces and in suitable social groups that allow them to exhibit in their own natural ways a variety of species-appropriate behaviors.

Choice and control – Animals will be able to choose positive situations and choose not to suffer or become distressed.

Affective or mental states – Animals will live in conditions that maximize positive experiences and minimize negative survival-related experiences.

“This is a step in the right direction for Expedia Group and all of its brands that have decided to finally choose the welfare of animals over profit and entertainment. May every travel company, hotel, airline, and any facility holding animals captive for money follow suit. It’s about time,” stated Katie Cleary, President and Founder of Peace 4 Animals and WAN.

More updates on Expedia Group’s animal welfare guidelines can be found HERE!

You can help all animals and our planet by choosing compassion on your plate and in your glass. #GoVeg