TRAVEL and tourism businesses around the world have come together to support Ukraine with millions of hotel rooms for refugees escaping the conflict.
World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) members have opened their doors to refugees in neighbouring countries donating rooms, transport, clothing, food, shelter, urgent supplies and financial contributions.
They include hotel companies Accor, Hilton, Intercontinental, Marriott and Radisson.
Rental giant Airbnb, cruise firm Carnival Corporation, the European Travel Commission, online booking giant Expedia, Internova Travel Group and Uber are also among hundreds who rushed to help.
In Ukraine, hotels have continued to stay open offering a base to charities, journalists, and those stranded by the conflict.
Businesses across the travel and tourism sector including airports, airlines, cruise lines, and tour operators, are also helping alleviate the suffering after the invasion caused the biggest displacement of people in Europe since the Second World War.
In addition to providing urgently needed accommodation, businesses have made multi-million-pound donations to disaster relief funds which have been supplemented by individual fund-raising initiatives.
Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO said: “There has been an outpouring of support from Travel & Tourism companies across the globe.
“Across the board the response has been incredible, and I salute the courage of teams on the ground.
“Hotels have opened their doors receiving refugees all around Europe.
And in Ukraine, teams on the ground are keeping hotels open for aid agencies, journalists, and those stranded and desperate. Cruise lines and airlines have transported supplies.
“Our hearts go out to all those who are suffering from this brutal invasion.”
Many companies have matched their employees’ contributions to support charities providing help through emergency aid and essential supplies.
Temporary accommodation has been arranged thanks to Travel & Tourism employees opening their homes to provide emergency shelter and Airbnb also devised creative solutions to get money into the hands of local people.
