RIU strengthens its fight against child sexual exploitation in tourism with new international agreements
The hotel chain is expanding its collaboration with specialized organizations in the Americas and strengthening prevention efforts, training, and action protocols
RIU Hotels & Resorts announced the signing of new cooperation agreements with representatives of ECPAT (End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes) in the Americas, consolidating its strategy for the protection of children and adolescents in the field of travel and tourism.
The company formalized partnerships with PACT USA in the United States and with MAIS-ECPAT in the Dominican Republic, while also strengthening its collaboration in Quintana Roo, Mexico, with ECPAT Mexico and the state's Tourism Secretariat. These actions aim to bolster prevention, staff training, and response mechanisms for potential cases of commercial sexual exploitation of minors in tourist environments.
In the United States, RIU joined PACT USA in the Changemaker for Protection category (level 2 of 5), which involves implementing structured awareness measures, internal training and improvement of corporate policies, aligned with international standards for child protection in the tourism sector.
In the Dominican Republic, by adhering to the ECPAT Code of Conduct through MAIS-ECPAT, the chain will promote continuous training of employees, dissemination of preventive information to guests, notification of suspicious situations and the application of clear guidelines for action in the event of incidents.
In Mexico, the company participated in the signing of an agreement to establish the Working Group for Monitoring the Protocol for the Protection of Children and Adolescents in the travel and tourism sector of Quintana Roo. During the event, state authorities highlighted the company's role as a key player in the sector in promoting responsible practices.
These initiatives are part of the Proudly Committed sustainability strategy , which focuses particularly on health, education, and child protection. Since 2012, the chain has been working with The Code and ECPAT International to implement internal protocols and contractual clauses with suppliers that expressly reject the commercial sexual exploitation of children.
In recognition of these actions, RIU has been distinguished as a Top Member of ECPAT, a category that highlights companies with the greatest commitment to the prevention and eradication of this crime within the tourism industry.