Caitlin Campbell
Over two days in Brussels, advocates made sure Radisson Hotel Group had to answer for stalled promises to save animals from suffering.
Promises don’t fade just because a company goes quiet. And last week in Brussels, a group of people made sure Radisson remembered that—by showing up on its doorstep.
Radisson Hotel Group once promised to spare hens from lives spent confined in cramped wire cages. While timelines stretched and transparency faded, hens remained trapped—unable to move freely, stretch their wings, or escape the cages they were promised relief from. So advocates crossed borders to ask a simple question people everywhere care about: What happened?
Over two days in Brussels, supporters brought that question straight to Radisson hotels and headquarters. To make the truth visible and remind this global brand that accountability doesn’t stop at borders.
When promises meet the public
The Radisson Collection sits in the center of Brussels, designed to feel calm, comfortable, and untouched by conflict. On the first morning, advocates from The Humane League and L214 stood just outside, talking with hotel staff and sharing information with people walking past. And once staff understood why advocates were there, concern set in.
For about thirty minutes, it was smooth and steady. Then the volume changed.
A megaphone came out, and the calm gave way to urgency. Radisson was called out by name for its stalled promise to spare hens from the cruelty of battery cages. Not long after, hotel management called the police.
That moment said more than any chant could. When a company responds to questions about animals by shutting things down, it’s a sign the message landed. Accountability can feel uncomfortable—especially when it asks a company to explain choices that affect living beings.
Still, the point wasn’t disruption for its own sake. It was visibility. It was about ensuring that a promise to animals didn’t remain buried in corporate fine print or forgotten timelines. Day one ended with Radisson very aware of something it could no longer ignore: people were paying attention.
Accountability doesn’t take the day off
The next day, advocates brought those same questions to Radisson’s headquarters. They handed out leaflets, spoke with employees, and talked with anyone willing to listen. They made sure Radisson’s promise to spare hens from cages didn’t stay hidden behind closed doors.
Advocates pressed the company to explain what happened to its promise to spare hens from cages—and when, if ever, that promise would be honored. Instead of a response, police were called again. By the end of the day, it was clear that supporters were seeking clarity, and Radisson was choosing not to provide it.
Moments like this don’t happen without people who care enough to keep showing up. The kind of people who sign their names or make donations because animals continue to suffer when companies delay.
What showing up makes possible
Brussels matters because it’s home to Radisson’s headquarters, where decisions take shape. But this mattered for a bigger reason: it showed what happens when people don’t let promises to animals fade. When people keep showing up—asking fair questions and insisting on transparency—companies lose the ability to delay.
Progress grows when people who care about animals stay engaged and expect companies to follow through. Volunteering with The Humane League is one way people like you turn that belief into action—alongside others who know persistence is what moves companies to do better.
Want to be part of what keeps accountability moving? Help us keep corporations accountable.
