Should Travel Businesses Take a Political Stand?

Let me ask you something: Should your business take a political stand? The world isn’t neutral. Silence is a form of complicity. Desmond Tutu put it bluntly: “If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.” Let’s break that down for a second, if you stay silent when injustice is happening, aren’t you, in fact, enabling it?

This isn't just an abstract discussion about ethics or some distant political ideal. It’s about real-life consequences. Think about the ongoing conflict at AirBnB (link in comments). The company is facing a dilemma. The founders are at odds, and hosts are startin pulling out. It wasn’t just about business; it was about taking a stand on the larger issues of their co-founder joining the undemocratic shadow organisation DOGE. Before that it was housing affordability and ethical hosting. By staying on the sidelines, they only delayed facing what needed to be addressed: their role in this ecosystem and what side they were on.

You might be thinking, “But my business isn’t political.” Well, here’s the thing: business is politics. Every decision you make, whether it’s who you partner with, where you source your products, or how you market, has political implications. Whether you want to admit it or not, your business is part of the system, and that system is full of politics.

So, if you have a voice, it’s your responsibility to use it. If not you are supporting the oppressor.

And no, I’m not talking about spouting off random opinions or engaging in hot takes. I’m talking about making decisions that reflect your values. Milton Friedman’s famous quote “the business of business is business” is not just outdated; it's dangerous. If you follow that logic, you’re saying that the only thing that matters is profit. If you say nothing when your business can actively contribute to positive change, you’re reinforcing a system that only serves the powerful.

I guess that quote is hanging on the wall on the billionaire club formerly known as the White House.

Being neutral in a world full of injustice isn’t some virtuous middle ground, it’s the easy way out. It's choosing comfort over accountability, convenience over courage. So if you run a travel business, or any business, for that matter, ask yourself: Where do you stand?

Because if you’re not using your platform to fight for what’s right, you might just be helping the oppressor. Many small voices together make an impact.