Hilton Hotel Group and Best Western targeted in global cage egg campaign

Hotel groups, Hilton and Best Western, are being urged to go cage-free worldwide by over 55 major international animal protection organisations as part of a global campaign. The coordinated campaign, asking Hilton and Best Western to use exclusively cage-free eggs, has just launched out of Europe at the 2019 summit of the Open Wing Alliance, of which SAFE is a member organisation.

The Open Wing Alliance is a global coalition, dedicated to freeing hens from cruel cages. The organisation orchestrated two protests in Warsaw, Poland today, which took place outside Best Western Hotel Portos and Hilton Warsaw Hotel and Convention Centre.

“We are thrilled to join over 55 international animal protection organisations and be a part of this incredibly important campaign,” says SAFE Head of Campaigns Marianne Macdonald.

“Hundreds of animal advocates from around the world have come together today to attend these protests here in Poland. The caging of hens for eggs is cruel and unnecessary, this is a fact that has been recognised time and time again by businesses across all industries. We, as an international collective, will continue to pursue this campaign until we see Hilton and Best Western name a date and commit to removing cage eggs from their supply chains.”

In April of 2015, Hilton Hotel Group announced that all hotels across five of its brands in 19 countries would switch to cage-free eggs by the end of 2017. Disappointingly, Hilton has failed to follow through with its policy across several countries.

In New Zealand, Hilton Hotel Group and its brand DoubleTree by Hilton currently operate six hotels across the country, with a further two locations due to open by late 2020. To confirm Hilton’s cage-free policy is in place in New Zealand, SAFE reached out to individual hotel managers but received confirmation from only three hotel locations. We also contacted Hilton’s Australasian Vice President of Operations to confirm the policy is in place and are still awaiting a response.

Best Western Hotel and Resorts operate over 4,500 hotels, under 16 brands worldwide. As part of this joint campaign, the Open Wing Alliance is asking Best Western to produce a cage-free egg commitment. A cage-free egg policy would put Best Western’s policy in line with competing major hotel groups including Accor Hotels, Intercontinental Hotel Group, Marriott International, and Wyndham Hotel Group.

“Our ask is clear, we’re demanding both Hilton Hotel Group and Best Western publish a commitment and timeline to go 100% cage-free for all shell, liquid and ingredient eggs globally for all locations owned, operated, franchised, and otherwise.”

SAFE is working hard to free hens from cruel cages. Within the past year we have secured cage-free commitments from businesses across all facets of the foodservice industry.

Recently, we secured commitments from New Zealand’s top two foodservice companies Bidfood NZ and Service Foods. 

Take Action:

• Sign our petition asking Best Western to name a date and commit to dropping cage eggs.