- AHLA Foundation, Hotels Canada fight trafficking.
- The foundation expanded its NRFT Advisory Council.
- No Room for Trafficking Summit set for July 30.
THE AMERICAN HOTEL & Lodging Association Foundation will work with Hotels Canada to expand its No Room for Trafficking initiative. The hotel groups will align their anti-trafficking initiatives, strengthen industry participation, and coordinate efforts across borders.
The associations signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a framework for collaboration between AHLA Foundation and Hotels Canada, the foundation said in a statement. The announcements come ahead of the AHLA Foundation’s 2026 No Room for Trafficking Summit on July 30 in Arlington, Virginia.
“Human trafficking knows no borders and our response should not either,” said Kevin Carey, AHLA Foundation president and CEO. “By partnering with Hotels Canada, we are reinforcing our shared commitment to equipping hotel employees with the training and resources they need to help identify and prevent trafficking. Together, we can build a stronger, more united hospitality industry committed to protecting vulnerable individuals.”
Beth McMahon, Hotels Canada president and CEO, said human trafficking requires collective action.
“This partnership will create a coordinated international response by expanding awareness, increasing access to resources, and strengthening our industry’s capacity to help prevent and combat human trafficking,” she said.
The Foundation also announced the expansion of its NRFT Advisory Council with the appointment of executives from Red Roof Franchising, LLC, and Accor.
Gerrod Bede, Red Roof’s general counsel, was named co-chair. He will serve alongside current Co-Chair Joan Bottarini, Hyatt Hotels Corp. chief financial officer, to guide the NRFT initiative and support collaboration across the hospitality industry.
“I am honored to have been selected as Co-Chair of the No Room for Trafficking Advisory Council,” said Bede. “The hospitality industry has the opportunity to bring awareness to the crime of human trafficking, and I look forward to working alongside the AHLA Foundation, Hotels Canada, and industry leaders across North America to expand our impact and continue advancing this work.”
Accor’s Marina Elsener, executive director of sustainability for Raffles and Fairmont, will join the Advisory Council.
The 5th annual summit brings together hospitality leaders, survivor advocates, law enforcement officials, policymakers and nonprofit organizations to share practices, strengthen partnerships, and advance efforts to combat human trafficking, the statement said.
In December, the AHLA Foundation testified before the Congressional Task Force on Enhancing Security for Special Events. The testimony outlined the lodging industry’s anti-human trafficking efforts ahead of global events bringing international visitors to the U.S.
