Skip to content

Search

Latest Stories

Events focus awareness on preventing human trafficking

Hotel companies and associations provide training to fight the crime

THE U.S. HOSPITALITY industry’s campaign against human trafficking continued in 2020 as hotel companies and associations recognized National Human Trafficking Awareness Day. That included training and awareness events leading up to the Super Bowl, scheduled for Feb. 2 in Miami Gardens, Florida.

National Human Trafficking Awareness Day was Jan. 11, and January is National Human Trafficking Awareness Month. On Jan. 9, AAHOA, the American Hotel & Lodging Association and the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association held an event in Miami to begin a month-long anti human trafficking campaign as part of AAHOA and AHLA’s joint “No Room for Trafficking” campaign.


“Human trafficking is a deplorable crime that damages and destroys millions of lives. Because of this, the hotel industry is committed to helping lead the way in bringing it to an end,” said AHLA President and CEO Chip Rogers. “We believe it is critical to convene our entire industry around a united approach to combat human trafficking and build partnerships with law enforcement officers and leaders in the prevention space.”

One of those law enforcement partners, Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody, attended the event along with lawmakers, experts and AAHOA President and CEO Cecil Staton and AAHOA Chairwoman Jagruti Panwala. In a joint statement, Staton and Panwala called human trafficking “a blight on society.”

“Trafficking is one of the ugliest and most despicable crimes in our society. It exploits society’s most vulnerable and destroys lives,” Staton and Panwala said. “Understanding the signs of trafficking and knowing how to respond can be the difference between life and death.”

AAHOA launched its anti-trafficking campaign in 2017 to provide training to members on recognizing the signs of human trafficking. It offers the programs online in partnership with organizations including Businesses Ending Slavery and Trafficking and Polaris.

Individual hotel companies also train their employees and franchisees on preventing human trafficking, with special focus during January. Intercontinental Hotels Group recognized the day and month with training for its employees, including a special group training and discussion session at the Crowne Plaza Atlanta Perimeter at Ravinia near the company’s Americas headquarters in Atlanta.

Georgia First Lady Marty Kemp and Mary Frances Bowley, founder and executive director of non-profit human trafficking survivor support group Wellspring Living attended the event.

“At IHG, we condemn human trafficking in all forms, and we are taking a strong stance in partnership with our owners, elected officials and others in the industry,” said IHG CEO for the Americas Elie Maalouf. “We will not tolerate it, or those who would enable it, in the IHG system of hotels, and we are empowering all of our colleagues with the tools, resources and support they need to combat this crime on every level.”

Earlier this month, Aberdeen, South Dakota-based My Place Hotels offered two weeks of training for its employees on preventing human trafficking, also in recognition of to National Human Trafficking Awareness Day.

More for you

CBRE: US Hotel RevPAR to Grow 1.3 Percent in 2025

CBRE: RevPAR to grow 1.3 percent in 2025

U.S. HOTEL REVPAR is expected to grow 1.3 percent in 2025, supported by urban markets from group and business travel and increased demand for drive-to and regional leisure destinations, according to CBRE. Occupancy is forecast to rise 14 basis points and ADR 1.2 percent year-over-year.

This represents slower growth than CBRE’s February forecast, which projected 2 percent RevPAR growth based on a 21-basis-point increase in occupancy and a 1.6 percent rise in ADR, the commercial real estate and investment firm said.

Keep ReadingShow less
Palette Hotels to Transform DoubleTree by Hilton in Washington, PA

Palette to manage Washington, PA, DoubleTree

Palette’s Expertise in Hospitality Management

SUNRISE GOLD HOSPITALITY recently selected Palette Hotels to manage its 140-room DoubleTree by Hilton Washington Meadow Lands Casino Area in Washington, Pennsylvania. Palette will oversee renovations, including Hilton Connected Rooms technology upgrades, new signage, landscaping, building systems and updates to the lobby, guestrooms, bathrooms, meeting spaces, restaurant, bar and lounge.

Sunrise Gold Hospitality is led by owner Ramesh Pandya, and Palette Hotels by Founder and CEO Richard Lou.

Keep ReadingShow less