TripAdvisor is extending free access to its tours and activities inventory to incoming refugees in the United States.
In partnership with the International Rescue Committee (IRC), the “Welcome Home” campaign aims to help resettled refugees and asylum seekers get assimilated to their new hometowns.
Over the next year, TripAdvisor Experiences and IRC chapters in New York and California will provide free experiences to refugees to help them explore and enjoy their new area and learn about its history and culture.
IRC clients will be given promo codes to use for an activity of their choosing. The program kicked off last week with a trip for about 90 refugee youth to Ellis Island, where they learned about the history of U.S. immigration.
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“The process of restarting your life in an unfamiliar city, country and culture is something few of us can imagine, and the work the IRC does to facilitate this process is both critical and commendable,” says TripAdvisor CEO Steve Kaufer.
“We’re in the midst of one of the most complex and protracted humanitarian crises of our time, affecting millions of lives around the world. This program, combined with our ongoing extensive financial support for the IRC, is only a tiny fraction of what’s sorely needed, but we're honored to play even a small role.
“We hope to provide a day of discovery and belonging in what is an otherwise daunting and incredibly difficult process, and we remain committed to our long-term partnership with the IRC.”
The Welcome Home campaign is part of TripAdvisor’s four-tiered approach to assisting the IRC. In addition to strengthening resettlement opportunities in the U.S., it also supports humanitarian needs in Europe and Syria, provides refugees with access to critical information via technology and helps bring education to refugee youth.
In other humanitarian efforts, Airbnb has joined the Open to All campaign, opposing discrimination and pledging a safe environment for people regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion and more.
It joins companies including Lyft, Yelp and Levi Strauss in the initiative, as well as the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and the NAACP-LDF.