Hotel Sex Trafficking

The hotel and hospitality industry is a prime location used by human traffickers due to its relative anonymity and privacy. Traffickers use hotel and motel rooms to force their victims to perform sex acts hourly, daily, or even during extended stay visits. Unfortunately, hotel staff members do not receive adequate training to help them recognize and report suspicious behavior, further facilitating the use of hotel rooms for trafficking purposes.

If you suspect someone you know is being trafficked, or if you are a survivor of sex trafficking, you need to know how to help or how to get out. Learning the warning signs can help you identify potential trafficking situations and understanding how to communicate to hotel staff that you are in danger can save your life.

Signs of Hotel Sex Trafficking

Whether you work in a hotel or are a guest, being aware of the signs of hotel sex trafficking can help put an end to this abuse and save the lives of the victims of human traffickers. Some of the most common signs that a hotel guest may be involved in a trafficking situation include:

• Appearing malnourished, unkempt, sleep-deprived, and/or sick.
• Participating in unusual behaviors (loitering in the lobby or bar for no apparent reason, begging for money or food, appearing nervous)
• Being continually monitored (never alone)
• Not having access to personal identification like passports or driver’s licenses.
• Having no money
• Dressing in a way that is not age-appropriate and/or having clothing that is not good quality when other members of their party have high-quality clothing
• Receiving requests for room service without being given access to the room. Guests may ask for additional towels and bed linens but will not allow housekeeping into the room.
• Presence of numerous devices (phones, credit card scanners, etc. in the room).
• Presence of an unusual amount of sex paraphernalia in the room (condoms, lubricant, etc.)
• Guests are booked for an extended stay but do not have many personal belongings or baggage.
• Cars are intentionally backed into spaces so that the license plate cannot be easily seen.
• Multiple rooms are rented by one person, or rooms are rented for unusual periods like hours or weeks at a time.
• Guests may loiter in bars or the lobby and attempt to solicit male patrons
• The same guests are seen with different men

Although these signs may seem obvious, in real life it can be extremely difficult to spot a trafficking operation. If a situation looks out of the ordinary, it is best to report it to hotel management or the police.

Why Are Hotels Used for Sex Trafficking?

Aside from the fact that hotels provide anonymity in terms of a private room, they’re also a hotspot for trafficking for other reasons. Hotels are busy places that sometimes see hundreds or thousands of guests in a day, depending on the size. Because of the amount of people continually entering and leaving the hotel, traffickers can easily slide under the radar and come and go unnoticed.

Low-security measures and cash payments make it easy for traffickers to go undetected by hotel staff and guests. The advent of automatic check-in and check-out has made it even easier for a person to book a room without ever seeing the front desk clerk. Additionally, some hotels provide temporary housing for people in need. People who stay in hotels for temporary housing and find themselves in financial need are more susceptible to becoming victims of traffickers. They may also suffer from substance dependency or language barriers which increases their risk of being targeted by traffickers.

Thankfully, efforts are underway to end the trafficking that occurs in hotels and motels. In addition to training hotel staff members to look for signs, legal aid groups like StrongerThan are fighting back against hotels that have turned a blind eye to abuse.

Hotels Are Being Sued for Human Trafficking

Hotel management has a responsibility to maintain the safety of their hotels and to ensure the safety of their guests. When they breach this duty, they should be held accountable. More than 40 hotel companies are currently being sued for their negligence in recognizing human trafficking occurring at their properties, and in some cases, for knowingly ignoring it.

Some cities, like Houston, have adopted ordinances that require hotels to properly train staff members to look for signs of human trafficking, and report it immediately. Some of the most common reasons why hotel chains are being sued for human trafficking include:

• Failing to intervene in a trafficking situation when signs of trafficking were witnessed.
• Allowing trafficking to occur on the premises in exchange for compensation or financial gain.
• Participation of employees of the hotel in facilitating the trafficking.

No one wants to think that they could be victimized when staying at a hotel, but it can happen when hotel staff fail to acknowledge obvious signs of abuse.

How Hotels Can Prevent Sex Trafficking

Most hotels do want to help prevent sex trafficking. Having a poor reputation hurts the hotel’s bottom line, and ignoring abuse that occurs on hotel property can result in costly lawsuits.

Preventing hotel sex trafficking starts with training hotel staff members to look for the signs of trafficking. All staff members, from bellhops to front desk and housekeeping staff need to be trained to look for the signs of abuse. In addition to training, staff members must also know how and when to report suspicious activity.

How StrongerThan Helps Fight Sex Trafficking

Eliminating hotel sex trafficking involves more than just training hotel staff members. It’s an effort that must be made on all fronts. From hotel staff to other guests, and members of the legal community, fighting for survivor’s rights and always reporting abuse can help end sex trafficking for good.

StrongerThan has been helping sex trafficking survivors reclaim their lives and move forward. Our team of experienced experts is compassionate and empathetic. We understand the heinous acts that survivors have overcome, and we aim to help these survivors reclaim their voices through the use of both civil and criminal lawsuits.

We help survivors:

• Understand whether or not they have been criminally exploited.
• Identify all parties who may be liable for your abuse.
• Connect to resources that help with emotional and physical recovery.
• Build a solid legal strategy and collect all necessary evidence to build your case.
• In court. Some cases need to be tried in court, and if your case does not settle out of court, we will represent you in court and ensure your voice is heard and your rights are protected.

We offer compassionate care every step of the way, never forcing a survivor to make decisions they aren’t ready to make, and being their voice when they cannot speak. By holding accountable the individuals and institutions that are responsible for their abuse, survivors can feel empowered and move forward with their healing and their lives.

What Should I Do if I Am Being Trafficked?

Sometimes it can be difficult to determine whether or not you are in a trafficking situation. If, for instance, you owe your employer money and are being forced to work to repay it, you may not realize you are being victimized.

Knowing the signs of trafficking is key to protecting yourself and others. Signs include:

• Inability to leave your job if you want to. If you cannot leave your job even if you want to, or if you feel as though you are a prisoner, you may be in a trafficking situation.
• Being monitored even on lunch breaks. Being able to come and go to your job as you please and have private breaks is consistent with a healthy work environment.
• Loss of personal identification documents like passports or driver’s licenses.
• Inability to communicate with others. Human traffickers often isolate their workers and eliminate their ability to converse with anyone outside of work.
• Threats. Threats made to you, your friends, and your family could mean that you are being trafficked.
• Living with your employer and/or depending on your employer for food and other necessities.
• Working in hazardous, unsafe conditions without proper safety equipment or training.

If you suspect someone you know is being trafficked, it is important to know the steps to take to help them get out.

What Should I Do if I Suspect Someone Is Being Trafficked?

If you suspect someone is being trafficked, there are steps to take to report it without endangering yourself or the victim.

• Always report. Even if you are not 100% sure that abuse is occurring, you should report the suspicious behavior. It is always better to report it than to let it go unnoticed.
• Do not engage with the trafficker or the victim. Keeping yourself and the victim safe is the primary goal.
• Leave the investigation to law enforcement officers. Law enforcement officers are trained to investigate these situations discreetly, without alerting suspected traffickers of the investigation.

If you see repeated behaviors, continue to update your report to the appropriate authority. For instance, if you observe unusual behavior at work, keep a log of it and continue to report it to your employer or the appropriate department.

If you suspect someone’s life is in immediate danger, do not hesitate to contact 911.

Legal Options for Survivors of Hotel Sex Trafficking

Survivors who escape a trafficking situation should take the following safety precautions and actions to keep themselves safe. These include:

• Documenting the harm. You suffered abuse that was horrific and traumatic, and recounting the events can be triggering on many levels. It is extremely important to keep evidence like emails, text messages, and voice memos to build a case against the people who harmed you.
• Get a head-to-toe medical assessment. As soon as possible, see a doctor to ensure you are healthy, well-nourished, and do not have underlying illnesses or injuries that need treatment.
• Report your abusers to online platforms. Many traffickers use online platforms to recruit their workers. File reports with them to prevent further victimization.
• Report to hotels. If you were involved in hotel sex trafficking, report (openly or anonymously) to the hotels and give them any information you can about the traffickers.
• Report to law enforcement. This is a personal choice that may not be the best for every survivor. Speaking to an attorney can help you understand the ramifications of pressing charges against a trafficker.
• Speak to a lawyer. You have legal rights and options available to you. A civil suit against a hotel is an option that you may want to pursue along with or instead of a criminal case. A lawyer can help you understand all available options and decide the best way to move forward.

If you are a hotel sex trafficking survivor, we are glad you found us. You have legal rights that can help you recover and move forward with your life. Our team can help you with the next steps.

How to Help Someone Who May Be Involved in Hotel Sex Trafficking

The best way to help someone who may be involved in hotel sex trafficking is to report the suspected abuse. If someone’s life is in immediate danger, call 911. You can also contact the National Human Trafficking hotline.

If a friend or loved one is in a trafficking situation, listen to them, trust them, and be their advocate. Ask them what they need from you and how you can help. Being an advocate for survivors can help empower them. Together, we can end human trafficking through awareness, reporting, and holding negligent parties responsible.