Hailey Tran
Human trafficking is a modern form of slavery, and the hospitality industry is highly vulnerable to it. Hotels and motels are the most common locations for reported trafficking cases, with 7.7% of human trafficking cases in 2016 occurring in these settings. The hospitality industry, including hotels, motels, casinos, amusement parks, and cruises, is a known sector for both sex and labour trafficking. Traffickers exploit the privacy, anonymity, and transient nature of these establishments. The impact of human trafficking on the hospitality industry has led to lawsuits, highlighting the need for industry-wide training and vigilance to address this issue effectively.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Hotels and motels as common locations for human trafficking | 7.7% of human trafficking cases reported in 2016 were based in hotels or motels; 75% of U.S. survivors report having some contact with a hotel or motel during their trafficking experience; 80% of commercial sex occurred at hotels |
| Lack of staff training and awareness | Staff are often not educated on how to recognize and report signs of trafficking; lack of awareness and training to spot signs |
| Privacy and anonymity | Hotels provide traffickers with privacy and anonymity; larger hotels with busy staff are chosen to disguise illicit activity |
| Indicators of human trafficking | Frequent visitors to a single room, especially at odd hours; guests paying in cash or refusing to show ID; guests without luggage or personal belongings; signs of distress or fear; guests avoiding staff interaction |
| Labour trafficking | 43 foreign nationals were identified as victims of labour trafficking, forced to work for a cleaning service in Ontario in 2019; forced labour in hotels or their supply chains |
| Laws and policies | Bill S-211 in Canada requires businesses to meet reporting and compliance obligations; "No Room for Trafficking" campaign by AHLA; National Human Trafficking Hotline |
| Lawsuits and accountability | 170 lawsuits against hotels in 2019-2020; hotels accused of profiting from trafficking; high-profile civil suits by survivors |
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What You'll Learn
Hotels and motels are common sites for human trafficking
There are several reasons why hotels and motels are attractive locations for human trafficking. Firstly, they offer a degree of privacy and anonymity, which traffickers can exploit. Traffickers can also take advantage of the transient nature of hotels, where guests come and go, making it easier to hide their activities. Hotels are also commonly used for sex trafficking, with 75% of survivors of human trafficking reporting some contact with a hotel or motel during their exploitation.
Hotels and motels are also vulnerable to human trafficking due to their supply chains. For example, goods such as coffee, linens and other equipment may be produced using forced labour. Additionally, hotels may be targeted for labour trafficking, where victims are forced to work for the hotel itself or a related business, such as a cleaning service.
The hospitality industry must take steps to address human trafficking by implementing training, policies and technologies to identify and stop trafficking. This includes training staff to recognise signs of trafficking, such as frequent visitors to a single room, guests paying in cash or refusing to show ID, and guests who appear malnourished or exhausted. Hotels can also display anti-trafficking signage and hotline numbers, and create company-wide reporting policies. By raising awareness and encouraging whistleblowing, the hospitality industry can play a crucial role in preventing human trafficking.
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Hospitality staff are often the first line of defence
However, staff are often not educated on how to recognize and report signs of trafficking. For instance, in 2024, several Red Roof Inn locations in Atlanta were sued for allowing trafficking to happen on their properties, with employees being paid to ignore the activity. In some cases, staff may fear retribution if they report suspected incidents. Therefore, it is important for hotels and other hospitality businesses to invest in training and policies that help staff identify and stop human trafficking. This includes yearly education and awareness training for all staff that provides important contextual information and considerations.
Senior management can also use maps showing smuggling and trafficking routes to pinpoint properties in their portfolio that are close to these routes and prevent human trafficking. At the corporate management level, anti-trafficking policies can be developed and their effectiveness monitored using KPIs such as the number of anti-human trafficking training programs offered and attended, and the number of properties that have undergone a risk assessment for human trafficking per year. Hospitality businesses should also be aware of the potential for human trafficking in the supply chain of goods and products they purchase, including coffee, hotel linens and other equipment.
By empowering employees to speak up about suspicious behaviour and creating a transparent, safe reporting culture, hospitality businesses can prevent human trafficking activities on their premises and strengthen legal and ethical accountability.
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Guests can help identify trafficking
Guests can play a crucial role in identifying human trafficking situations and helping victims. Human trafficking victims can be of any age, race, gender, sex, ethnicity, nationality, immigration status, or socioeconomic class, and they may be hidden in plain sight. Here are some ways guests can help:
Recognize Potential Red Flags
Guests can educate themselves about the indicators and red flags of human trafficking. For example, victims may appear to be monitored by someone when interacting with others, or they may live and work in isolated conditions. They may also owe money to their employer or recruiter and not have control over their identity documents. In the case of sex trafficking, victims may want to stop participating in commercial sex but feel scared or unable to leave.
Be Aware of Hidden Victims
Traffickers often isolate victims, keeping them locked behind closed doors or hidden within legal jobs at hotels, restaurants, or factories. These victims may be working for little or no pay. As a guest, you may come across such victims and have the opportunity to discreetly observe and identify potential red flags.
Report Suspected Trafficking
If guests suspect human trafficking, they can report it to the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or text 233733. This hotline is available 24/7, and anti-trafficking advocates can provide specialized victim services referrals and support. Guests can also report urgent situations to local law enforcement by calling 911.
Raise Awareness and Educate Others
Guests can use their social media platforms to raise awareness about human trafficking, using hashtags like #endtrafficking and #freedomfirst. They can also encourage local schools to include human trafficking in their curricula and develop protocols for identifying and reporting suspected cases. Additionally, guests can mentor young people to help them navigate suspicious situations and reach out for help.
By being vigilant and proactive, guests can make a significant difference in identifying human trafficking and supporting victims on their path to freedom and recovery.
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Employment practices can facilitate human trafficking
Human trafficking is a modern form of slavery that involves the recruitment, movement, and exploitation of human beings. The hospitality industry is highly vulnerable to human traffickers, especially when it comes to child sexual exploitation, forced prostitution, forced criminality, domestic servitude, and forced labour. Hotels and motels are the most common locations for reported trafficking cases, with 7.7% of human trafficking cases in 2016 occurring in these settings. The anonymity and privacy that hotels offer make them attractive to traffickers.
- Priority of meeting customers' requests that exceed ethical boundaries: Employees may be pressured to prioritize customer satisfaction over ethical concerns, potentially enabling human trafficking activities.
- Lack of background checks on new employees: Inadequate screening of job applicants can lead to the hiring of individuals involved in human trafficking or those vulnerable to exploitation.
- Lack of awareness and training among employees: Without proper training, staff may be unable to recognize the signs of human trafficking, hindering their ability to identify and report suspicious activities effectively.
- Fear of retribution: Staff members may fear retaliation or negative consequences if they report suspected incidents of human trafficking. This deterrence can create an environment where trafficking goes unnoticed or unaddressed.
- Lack of clear measures to address human trafficking: The absence of established protocols and policies for addressing human trafficking within the organization can lead to confusion, inaction, or inadequate responses when faced with potential trafficking situations.
- Lack of whistleblower protection: Whistleblowing platforms and incident management solutions are essential to encourage employees to report suspicious activities without fear of retaliation. Establishing safe and confidential reporting channels empowers employees to speak up and helps create a culture of transparency and accountability.
To combat these issues, the hospitality industry should invest in comprehensive training programs to educate staff about human trafficking, including how to recognize signs and report suspicious activities. Additionally, implementing clear anti-trafficking policies, displaying anti-trafficking signage, and establishing company-wide reporting procedures are crucial steps to address human trafficking effectively.
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Hospitality businesses can be held liable for sex trafficking
Human trafficking is a modern form of slavery that involves the recruitment, movement, and exploitation of vulnerable individuals. The hospitality industry is highly vulnerable to human trafficking, especially in the case of child sexual exploitation, forced prostitution, forced criminality, domestic servitude, and forced labour in hotels or their supply chains. Hotels and motels are attractive locations for human trafficking due to the privacy and anonymity they offer. The transient nature of these establishments also makes it easier for traffickers to facilitate their crimes.
Hospitality businesses, including hotels and motels, can be held liable for sex trafficking under the Criminal Code if their staff knowingly permits individuals under the age of 18 onto their property for commercial sexual activity. There have been several lawsuits in the United States where survivors of trafficking have sued hotels, accusing them of turning a blind eye and profiting from their exploitation. For example, in 2024, several Red Roof Inn locations in Atlanta were sued for allowing trafficking on their properties, with some employees being paid to ignore the activity.
To prevent liability and protect their customers, hospitality businesses should take proactive measures to address human trafficking. This includes training staff to recognize and report signs of trafficking, such as frequent visitors to a single room, guests paying in cash or refusing to show ID, and guests who appear malnourished, exhausted, or dressed inappropriately for the weather. Senior management can use criminal heat maps to identify properties close to trafficking routes and implement anti-trafficking policies. Additionally, whistleblowing platforms and incident management solutions are crucial to encourage reporting and effectively address suspicious activities.
By investing in training, policies, and technology, the hospitality industry can play a vital role in identifying and preventing human trafficking. Hotels and motels should also be vigilant about potential human trafficking in their supply chains, such as for coffee, linens, and other equipment. Through these efforts, the industry can make a meaningful impact in combating human trafficking and ensuring the safety of their guests.
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Frequently asked questions
Human trafficking is a modern form of slavery that involves the recruitment, movement, and exploitation of human beings. Vulnerable individuals are often recruited through coercion or deception and isolated from their environment to be easily controlled.
Human trafficking has significantly impacted the hospitality industry, with hotels and motels being common sites for trafficking activities. Traffickers exploit the privacy, anonymity, and transient nature of these establishments. Lawsuits have been filed against hotels for allowing trafficking, and staff may unknowingly permit trafficking by accepting minors for commercial sexual activity. The hospitality industry must ensure compliance with laws, implement anti-trafficking policies, and train staff to recognise and report signs of trafficking.
There are several signs that staff and guests can look out for to identify potential human trafficking situations. These include frequent visitors to a single room, guests paying in cash or refusing to show ID, guests without luggage, signs of distress or fear, and guests avoiding staff interaction. Other indicators include malnourishment, poor hygiene, unusual behaviour, and individuals asking staff or patrons for food or money.
To prevent human trafficking, the hospitality industry should implement training programs to educate staff about the signs of trafficking and encourage whistleblowing. Senior management can use maps and risk assessments to identify high-risk properties, while corporate management can develop anti-trafficking policies and monitor their effectiveness. Hotels should also display anti-trafficking signage and hotline numbers, such as the National Human Trafficking Hotline, to facilitate reporting.
