Expedia Group and its family of brands – including Expedia, Hotels.com, Vrbo, Orbitz, Travelocity, Hotwire, ebookers and CheapTickets – announced a joint programme calling on travellers to join to help safely re-open the world, one trip and one shot at a time. Starting today, each purchase made via Expedia Group’s mobile apps will result in a donation to help UNICEF’s global COVID-19 response, including distributing safe, effective COVID-19 vaccines, diagnostics, and treatments in over 180 countries, bringing us all one step closer to experiencing the world again.

Participation is simple. Customers can download any app from one of the Expedia Group brands, plan and purchase a trip through the app and in turn, they can help get a vaccine to someone, somewhere in the world who needs it. Travellers can visit here for the full program details and learn more.

Globally, the Expedia Group family of brands represents a community of passionate travellers dedicated to seeing the world but, more importantly, believe in the importance of having an equitable world. They share our vision that travel is a force for good because travel brings people together and broadens horizons. We know travelling won’t be the same until the whole world is open to travel, and so, to get there as quickly as possible, we must all help accelerate rapid and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines.

It is essential that everyone, everywhere has access to vaccines, but currently, less than 1 per cent of the global supply is reaching those living in low-income countries.1 As the world’s single biggest buyer of vaccines, UNICEF’s expertise uniquely positions it to help address the logistical challenge currently facing many low-income countries around the world.

Peter Kern, vice chairman and chief executive officer in Expedia Group said: “We support a global and equitable approach to vaccine distribution and embrace efforts to help protect everyone, everywhere. We are proud to contribute to UNICEF and what will be the single largest and most rapid global vaccine deployment ever. I hope other companies, and anyone else who can, will join us in accelerating vaccine rollout, fighting global inequity, and igniting a movement that will help bring the world together. We all must do our part for the world to be truly open again.”

A portion of every eligible booking will support UNICEF’s global COVID-19 response. With the help of travellers around the world, the Expedia Group family of brands will donate a minimum of $10M to UNICEF’s work.