Come fly with me

Tennessee – Travel brand Expedia has developed a project that gives severely ill children a travel experience unlike any other.

• Expedia worked with St Jude Children’s Research Hospital to offer three young cancer sufferers an immersive travel adventure
• The campaign encourages Expedia users to donate their Rewards points to the hospital

The Dream Adventures initiative paired three St Jude patients with three Expedia employees who have either had cancer or know people affected by cancer. The employees journeyed to Argentina, Miami and Mexico, and live streamed their travels using 360-degree cameras, which the children viewed in real time in a special six-sided room at the hospital. Due to the broadcast’s live nature, the children could ask the employees questions and direct their actions.

Expedia aims to the make the installation a permanent one. ‘We believe in the power of travel and believe that if everyone had the ability and access to travel, the world would be a different place,’ Vic Walia, senior director of brand marketing at Expedia, told AdAge. ‘Our goal is to get more people travelling by building the tools and technology for it.’