The California Hotel & Lodging Association (CHLA) is working with members, state and federal agencies and other interested parties, to help the hotel and lodging industry better combat the abhorrent practice of human trafficking. Human trafficking - modern day slavery - is not just a problem in developing nations; estimates show that thousands of men, women, and children are trafficked in the United States each year primarily for sexual or labor exploitation. Trafficking networks often rely on legitimate businesses, like hotels, to sustain their operations and infrastructure.
CHLA encourages every hotel company and property to:
- Educate employees to recognize and report instances of trafficking when perpetrated or attempted in or around hotel properties;
- Establish policies and procedures for reporting of instances or suspected instances of trafficking;
- Encourage other companies and parties in the hotel industry to join the fight against trafficking, and collaborate with those companies that have already done so;
- Encourage business partners in the broader travel industry and beyond to educate their employees and take other necessary steps to combat trafficking; and
- Work collaboratively with law enforcement and policymakers so that industry and government initiatives can be appropriately and efficiently integrated into a society-wide effort to combat trafficking.
CHLA and Businesses Ending Slavery and Trafficking (BEST) Partnership
CHLA has partnered with BEST to provide FREE human trafficking training to CHLA members and their staff.
BEST is the first nonprofit organization in the country dedicated entirely to working with businesses to disrupt human trafficking. BEST has provided consultation and training to hundreds of hotels focused on reducing human trafficking and mitigating the reputational, legal and financial risks associated with it. BEST has trained thousands of hotel employees and equipped them to protect their hotel and employer from human trafficking.
BEST's Inhospitable to Human Trafficking Training
BEST offers the most comprehensive human trafficking training available in the country for hospitality employees. BEST's training is a proven tool that helps victims of human trafficking escape exploitation and helps trained hotels become less hospitable for traffickers. Survey research has shown that before receiving training, only 8% of trainees recognized a trafficking incident within the prior year. After taking BEST's training, that number jumped to 44% of trainees identifying victims.
Training Objectives:
- Provide an overview of human trafficking and its impact on the hotel industry
- Discuss common indicators of human trafficking
- Provide action steps for responding to and preventing human trafficking
- Summarize key takeaways and provide additional resources, including video modules with real scenarios and the option to receive more in-depth training
Training options:
- Individual online training for staff (in English and Spanish)
- Individual online training for employers (staff training course plus additional modules and resources for owners and managers)
- Group training (in English and Spanish) that employers can use to train their staff in person
This 30-minute training is available to all CHLA members at no cost. Everyone who completes the training will receive a certificate and be in compliance with California Senate Bill 970, which requires that hotel and lodging employees who are likely to interact with victims of human trafficking undergo at least 20 minutes of human trafficking awareness training and education.
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BEST's Print Materials
NEW BENEFIT - BEST Printable Toolkit
BEST Printable Toolkit is now available for people that work in the lodging industry. This kit includes indicator cards by lodging functions, prevention tips and printable resource cards for trafficking victims. The toolkit includes human trafficking indicators for Managers & Security, Front of House Staff, Housekeeping & Maintenance, and Food & Beverage staff.
Download BEST Printable Toolkit
BEST Human Trafficking Posters
As a member benefit, CHLA is pleased to offer two human trafficking posters for any member property to display in employee areas, break rooms or any other back-of-house areas.
CHLA members can order these for your property, free of charge, by contacting Michelle Donohue at 916-554-2663 or michelle@calodging.com.
Human Trafficking Indicators for Lodging Establishments
CHLA members can download Human Trafficking Indicators for Lodging Establishments, a free educational resource to help reinforce the online training. Login to the members only section to download.
AHLA No Room for Trafficking Campaign
No Room for Trafficking is an AHLA national awareness campaign that builds on the industry’s ongoing commitment and work to end human trafficking. Through elevating, assessing, educating and supporting the fight to end human trafficking, AHLA’s campaign will ensure hotel employees are continuously developing a better understanding of ways to identify traffickers and potential victims in hotels.
More Resources to Combat Human Trafficking:
- AB 260 (Santiago, 2017), mandates that lodging establishments post an 8 ½ x 11-inch human trafficking sign, written in no smaller than 16-point font, in a conspicuous place near the public entrance of the establishment or in another conspicuous location in clear view of the public and employees.
- AHLA No Room for Trafficking Toolkit
- U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Blue Campaign
- Department of State Trafficking in Persons Report
- Department of Health and Human Services Resources
- Department of Justice Resources
- "Freedom's Journey Understanding Human Trafficking" - USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work
- Lodging Security Officer Program
- Alliance to End Slavery & Trafficking
- The Polaris Project
- ECPAT (End Child Prostitution and Trafficking)
- International Tourism Partnership Know-How Guide and Resources to Addressing Human Trafficking
- Immigration & Customs Enforcement Human Trafficking Overview
- National Center for Missing & Exploited Children Child Sexual Exploitation
- The Code – Protect Children from Sex Tourism
