Wyndham Hotels & Resorts Reinforces Efforts to Combat Human Trafficking
Commits to reach 10 million Wyndham Rewards points donated to Polaris by end of 2020
PARSIPPANY, N.J. - Wyndham Hotels & Resorts (NYSE: WH), the world's largest hotel franchising company with approximately 9,200 hotels across 80 countries, today reinforced its commitment to help combat human trafficking.
At its first global Town Hall event of the year, Wyndham today affirmed its ongoing commitment to support human trafficking awareness and prevention efforts and announced its donation of 1 million Wyndham Rewards points to Polaris, a leader in the global fight to eradicate human trafficking.
Wyndham also announced its commitment to achieve - by year end - 10 million points donated by Wyndham and Wyndham Rewards members to Polaris since 2008. For Wyndham Rewards members interested in donating points to Polaris, visit the Wyndham Rewards website or click here.
"We condemn human trafficking in any form," said Wyndham Hotels & Resorts President and Chief Executive Officer Geoff Ballotti. "In recognition of National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, we want to reinforce our partnerships with Polaris and other important anti-trafficking organizations, while continuing to educate the hospitality community on how to help identify and report trafficking activities." Wyndham mandates human trafficking training for all company employees globally.
Polaris acts as a catalyst to systemically disrupt human trafficking by helping survivors restore their freedom, preventing more victims, and leveraging data and technology to pursue traffickers wherever they operate. Polaris uses Wyndham Rewards points in part for short-term stays for victims so they have a safe place to sleep while waiting for a spot in a shelter to open.
"Having a safe place to stay, even just overnight, is a vital first step in helping sex and labor trafficking survivors break free from their situations," said Emily Tracy, chief development officer for Polaris, who received the points donation at today's event. "Wyndham's donation - one of many over the course of our 10-year partnership - will help survivors to move forward with their lives. We look forward to working together in the future to continue to address all of the ways that hospitality companies can and must play a role in the prevention and detection of sex and labor trafficking."
In addition to Polaris, Wyndham supports the work of other organizations to promote awareness on how to identify and report suspected instances of human trafficking, including the American Hotel & Lodging Association, the Asian American Hotel Owners Association, End Child Prostitution and Trafficking, and International Tourism Partnership. Wyndham works with these organizations and others to educate employees across its business on the important issue of human trafficking.
Hotel guests also can spot the signs of trafficking. Guests who suspect trafficking or abuse can alert hotel management or security, or dial 911 or their local emergency number. They also can contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or text "BeFree" (233733) in the U.S., or visit GlobalModernSlavery.org for global information.
About Wyndham Hotels & Resorts
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts (NYSE: WH) is the world's largest hotel franchising company by the number of properties, with approximately 9,200 hotels across over 95 countries on six continents. Through its network of nearly 885,000 rooms appealing to the everyday traveler, Wyndham commands a leading presence in the economy and midscale segments of the lodging industry. The Company operates a portfolio of 25 hotel brands, including Super 8®, Days Inn®, Ramada®, Microtel®, La Quinta®, Baymont®, Wingate®, AmericInn®, Hawthorn Suites®, Trademark Collection® and Wyndham®. The Company's award-winning Wyndham Rewards loyalty program offers approximately 110 million enrolled members the opportunity to redeem points at thousands of hotels, vacation club resorts and vacation rentals globally. For more information, visit wyndhamhotels.com.
The Company may use its website as a means of disclosing material non-public information and for complying with its disclosure obligations under Regulation FD. Disclosures of this nature will be included on the Company's website in the Investors section, which can currently be accessed at www.investor.wyndhamhotels.com. Accordingly, investors should monitor this section of the Company's website in addition to following the Company's press releases, filings submitted with the Securities and Exchange Commission and any public conference calls or webcasts.
About Wyndham Rewards
Named the number one hotel rewards program by readers of USA TODAY, Wyndham Rewards® is the world's most generous rewards program with more than 50,000 hotels, vacation club resorts and vacation rentals worldwide.
Designed for the everyday traveller, members earn a guaranteed 1,000 points with every qualified stay and may redeem points for a wide range of rewards, including free nights at any of the approximately 9,100 hotels or tens of thousands of vacation club resorts and vacation rentals globally through affiliation with Wyndham Destinations and others. Wyndham Rewards has over 103 million enrolled members globally. Join for free today at www.wyndhamrewards.com. You've earned this. ®