Wyndham Destinations: First Timeshare Company to Commit to ECPAT

A big day for the timeshare industry, Wyndham Destinations has signed the Tourism Child-Protection Code of Conduct with ECPAT-USA. By signing this formal agreement, Wyndham Destinations is committing to combat human trafficking through its 225 managed vacation club resorts located in North America, the Caribbean, and Asia Pacific.

About ECPAT-USA

Wyndham Destinations joins a wide range of major hotel chains that have signed The Code and are actively working to protect children from exploitation. The ECPAT-USA is a family of advocates that are making headway toward ending child slavery right at the source.

ECPAT-USA is a leading policy organization in the United States that focuses on awareness, advocacy, policy, and legislation. EXPAT-USA is a member of ECPAT International, which is a network of organizations across 95 countries. They all work together to eliminate the sexual exploitation of children.

Adding more hospitality brands to ECPAT-USA is important because traffickers are known to use hotels, airlines, and other travel infrastructure to exploit or transport victims. Training employees to recognize suspected incidents allows for more to be reported and stopped.

Steps for ECPAT to Keep Children Safe

There are six essential steps that work to keep children safe. By signing The Code, Wyndham Destinations and the other members of ECPAT agree to:

1. Establish a Policy and procedures
2. Train employees
3. Include a clause in contracts
4. Provide information to travelers
5. Support, collaborate, and engage stakeholders
6. Annually report progress on The Code to ECPAT

The Efforts of Wyndham Destinations

Wyndham Destinations produces its first Social Responsibility Report this year, which included a Human Rights Policy Statement. This statement reads that Wyndham Destinations promises to operate in a manner consistent with the principles contained in the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights.

James Savina, general counsel and corporate secretary of Wyndham Destinations, commented:

“Wyndham Destinations is committed to protecting human rights within our sphere of influence and doing our part to combat all forms of human trafficking. The travel and tourism industry has an important role in preventing the exploitation of children. By partnering with ECPAT and promoting required training and education to associates globally, we have taken a stand against the commercial sexual exploitation of children.”

Wyndham has been a leader in the vacation ownership industry since 1991. Timeshares are a previously untapped sector of the travel industry. Wyndham being the first timeshare brand to sign The Code opens door to help protect children from trafficking and exploitation.