By Georgine Muntz and Corey McCarthy, Guest Authors
Every day, in hotels across the world—from luxury resorts to budget motels—a crime of unimaginable cruelty is taking place, usually unseen. Behind closed doors, in rooms meant for rest and hospitality, lives are being exploited in a multibillion-dollar industry that thrives in the dark: human trafficking.
For too long, trafficking has been seen as someone else’s problem—a societal issue best left to law enforcement or nonprofit organizations. But the day for action is long past—for the hotel industry especially.
A 2018 study from the Polaris Project found that 80% of all sex trafficking incidents occur in hotels. Failure to take a stand against human trafficking can result in legal liabilities, lost revenue and sweeping reputational damage. Furthermore, guests and employees could be at risk the longer we delay in taking proactive measures.
The question is not just “Is this happening in my hotel?” The real question is: “What are we doing to try to stop it?”
Turning the tide
The good news is that, today, the hotel industry is in a position to make a real difference. Many companies are taking meaningful action, as are industry organizations. Training, strategies and technology are now available to help front desk and housekeeping team members recognize and report suspicious check-ins and identify warning signs. Many major industry players, including brands, owners, management groups and partners, have invested in training, security measures and the support systems staff need to try to identify perpetrators and step in when the time is right by prioritizing action. But more help is on the way.
Georgine Muntz
Visual Matrix
During Visual Matrix’s recent Townsquare gathering in Fort Worth, TX, attendees discussed practical solutions and strategies available today and being developed in the fight against human trafficking. Melissa Ice, founder/executive director, The Net FW and cofounder of the Worthy Co., both organizations dedicated to combating trafficking and supporting survivors, said that technology has typically been an enabler, allowing traffickers to hide information and coordinate their movements. Now, owners and operators can invest in technology that is evening the odds.
The proliferation of communications technology is helping hotel operations teams stay in contact at all times, and housekeepers equipped with mobile panic buttons can quickly alert both the front desk and local authorities in the event of an on-property incident. Furthermore, a new crop of innovative solutions are giving hoteliers the potential for oversight of their property’s foot traffic and the probability of sex trafficking. Advanced algorithms are being developed to identify potential trafficking incidents even before they occur—and galvanize appropriate and effective response teams. Monitoring systems are being developed to detect potential trafficking episodes with a keener eye and quick action.
Hotels are at the epicenter of these challenges and will soon have an opportunity to use data to identify potential incidents and perpetrators even before they come on property, collaborate even more effectively with law enforcement and grow networks of survivor care organizations, monitoring centers and more.
The time is now
Confronting the reality of sex trafficking in hospitality can be daunting for business owners, but it must be done for the benefit of victims and survivors everywhere, as well as for the hotel industry’s ongoing success. The operational and reputational consequences that result from human trafficking are severe and long-lasting. Proactive prevention is necessary to save lives and preserve the future of our industry.
As in many areas of our lives, technology and innovation may hold the keys. While telltale signs are always present around traffickers and their victims, few reliable indicators currently exist to identify perpetrators. Better data means better identification and monitoring, which can promote deterrence and effective remediation.
Engaging with local community organizations and advocacy groups can help with worker training and support awareness among team members. Hotel leaders must also strive to provide transparency in their prevention efforts and tap into all available material to support employees.
Today is the best day for your hotel or organization to take a strong, zero-tolerance stance against human trafficking. Traffickers cravenly target hotels that lack preventative measures and avoid properties that resist their activity. It’s time to draw a line in the sand.
Georgine Muntz is CEO of Visual Matrix and cofounder of the Hospitality Women’s Innovation Council. Corey McCarthy is chief marketing officer of Unifocus.
Let us know what you think… To comment on this piece, or to voice your own opinion about industry topics, please email Christina Trauthwein at [email protected]. We’d love to hear from you and share your point of view.
