Expedia and Joe Jonas Team Up to Extend a Helping Hand to Travellers

- Nearly half of Brits feel stressed at the thought of booking their next trip according to Travel Companions Report

- Expedia® gives away limited edition, exact replica of Jonas' right hand as a symbol of reassurance

LONDON, May 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- As restrictions ease and we start to imagine brighter days ahead, today, Expedia® launches its Travel Companions Report in collaboration with singer, songwriter and actor, Joe Jonas. The report uncovers half (49%) of British adults feel stressed at the thought of booking international trips, and a fifth (19%) state they need a helping hand when booking travel compared to pre-COVID. And so, Expedia and Joe Jonas are teaming up to offer travellers an actual Helping Hand to help reduce stress as they make their way back out there.

Available today in limited quantities are 100 exact replicas of Joe Jonas' right hand, created to symbolise the support and reassurance Expedia aims to bring to travellers. Recognising that for many, the idea of booking their first trip since the start of the pandemic may come with feelings of hesitation and uncertainty, Expedia's Helping Hand is a symbol of the travel company's new commitment to being the ultimate travel companion.

A limited-edition piece of art, the Helping Hands were created using a 3D printer and stereolithography technology. Every hand has been individually painted with custom artwork, then numbered (by hand), and signed by Jonas. Helping Hands can be redeemed now while supplies last, at helpinghand.expedia.co.uk.

As a way of offering a helping hand to communities impacted during the pandemic, Expedia is donating USD $100,000 to Mercy Corps, a global humanitarian organisation working on the front lines of crisis, disaster, poverty, and climate change to create a world where everyone can prosper. The donation will provide emergency supplies, food, clean water and support to communities facing the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Joe Jonas comments: "I've spent so much of my life on the road – touring the world and playing in virtually every major city. Travelling has always been a personal passion for me, but after more than a year spent at home, I am eager to get back out there. I know that travel is better when I have a great companion to explore with – Expedia gets that too. I'm excited to team up with them to help people feel confident about traveling the world again, whenever they're ready, by lending a helping hand: one that supports travellers at every step of the way. Because let's face it – it matters who you travel with."

Brits' thoughts on returning to travel 

Despite vaccination rollouts gaining momentum around the world, travellers are still feeling anxious about planning their first trip. According to Expedia's Travel Companions Report, British travellers have been so overwhelmed by planning their next trip, they are estimating needing a huge eight hours to plan.

When it comes to getting back out there, travellers noted that being able to make changes to their booking easily was the most important requirement (42%), this was closely followed by having access to travel procedures, tests and clearances in one place (40%). Showing a helping hand is crucial for traveller reassurance, British travellers noted that having support and being able to ask booking related questions easily was also key (34%).

Nearly a third of Brits (30%) agree that they are more overwhelmed about booking travel than before the pandemic, and, thinking back, were grateful for the helping hands available during their trip - the travel companions that guided them to create the best trip possible. When asked which holiday heroes were missed most, respondents ranked the hotel staff as the highest, followed by the travel agency, then their favourite travel app third. 

"It's going to take time for travellers to adjust to a post-pandemic life and the new norms that this may entail – we want to make sure we are there for them, every step of the way. Providing a helping hand to travellers is our mission, whether it's a physical hand to hold for added comfort, or the act of arming them with all the information they need to confidently plan their next trip. We're on a multi-year journey to becoming a travel company that is obsessed with our travellers, understanding their wants and needs," said Nisreene Atassi, Sr. Director and Global Head of Communications for Expedia Brand. "It's clear from our Travel Companions Report that people put an immense value on feeling taken care of and supported during their journeys and there are so many people in the travel industry that contribute to a traveller's experience. At Expedia, we've made a number of updates to our site to deliver that reassurance and confidence to our customers, including more self-service tools that provide instant answers and more ways to earn and redeem Rewards points."

For more information, visit Expedia.co.uk to read our pledge to customers.

Notes to Editor: 

About the Travel Companions Study: Expedia's Travel Companions report was launched to discover attitudes to travel in 2021. OnePoll surveyed 2000 adult respondents in the UK, who have been on holiday as an adult. Dates of survey: 1st – 7th April 2021.

Traveller wellbeing is our priority. Expedia understands how the global impact of the coronavirus pandemic continues to affect travellers everywhere, as well as the importance of abiding by government restrictions and practicing social distancing. Travellers can visit the Expedia COVID-19 travel resource page for information to make informed travel decisions. for information to make informed travel decisions.

Expedia.com® is one of the world's leading full-service travel brands, with a mission of helping travelers get the most out of every trip they take by providing everything they need all in one place, ensuring they are getting the most out of their budget and above all else, feel supported every step of the way.  

Our commitment to insights matched with our unprecedented scale allows us to understand our travelers better than anyone else, delivering exactly what they need, when they need it. Our personalized experiences backed by incredible technology, enables us to deliver the widest selection of product offerings across accommodations, transportation, activities, and experiences, that help you get the most out of your journey.  

Use our mobile app or visit http://www.expedia.co.uk to plan your journey with us. 

© 2021 Expedia, Inc., an Expedia Group company. All rights reserved. Expedia and the Airplane logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Expedia, Inc.  CST# 2029030-50.  

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SOURCE Expedia.co.uk