ECPAT-USA Training Featured At AHLA Chicago Summit Building on Human Trafficking Awareness Month

Last week, the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA), the Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) and the Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association (IHLA), hosted a summit featuring key stakeholders, including ECPAT-USA, ahead of the 2020 NBA All-Star Game in Chicago.

Kyra Wooden, ECPAT-USA’s Youth Outreach Manager, facilitated a training session with nearly 500 hospitality employees on how to recognize the indicators of trafficking in their chains. This program included information about warning signs for hotel and motel staff; housekeeping, room service and restaurant staff; management, and security personnel.

Held just before the Super Bowl and in anticipation of large crowds expected for the NBA All-Star Game, the summit came at a crucial time for raising the awareness of trafficking for members of the hotel industry. As with any event that draws a large crowd of individuals from out of town, these national sporting events bring people together but are also associated with increases in demand for both sex and labor and the influx of people can allow traffickers and victims to go unnoticed.

As National Human Trafficking Awareness Month comes to a close, ECPAT-USA continues to engage with the tourism and hospitality industry to instill corporate social responsibility on this issue. Already each year, thousands of hotel employees are trained through the No Room for Trafficking campaign, and AHLA’s mission is to make sure all employees alert and understand the unique role they play in the fight. 

Other key stakeholders and partners in the effort to end exploitation, both within the hotel industry and were present at the Chicago summit. Amongst them were local officials, congressmen, local and national law enforcement who spoke on effective tools that have already been implemented to reduce the number of incidents of trafficking in hotels. Governor J. B. Pritzker, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, and Mayor Lori Lightfoot were all in attendance and were granted awards for their commitment to combating the issue. 

Governor J.B Pritzker eloquently highlighted the expansive nature of labor and sex trafficking in the industry. “Human trafficking isn’t something that only happens at global entertainment events or in other countries. This is something that happens to children here in Illinois and across the United States, in communities urban and rural alike, every single day,” he said.

This call to action was furthered by Mayor Lightfoot’s remarks about confronting the situations that place individuals at risk, poverty and homelessness. “No resident should ever have to live in fear, and I commend hotel industry leaders for convening this important event to raise awareness and develop solutions to address this critical challenge in one of Chicago’s most vibrant industries. Human trafficking exists because poverty exists, and I look forward to working with industry leaders, elected officials, community organizations, and law enforcement agencies in doing all we can to reach every exploited individual and bring them out of the shadows of society.”

Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul said the “coordination between law enforcement and the private sector is essential to ensure that instances of suspected trafficking are identified and properly reported.  My office is proud to assist in the effort to end human trafficking and promote awareness within the industry across Illinois. The hotel industry’s leadership through training and streamlining reporting mechanisms will help turn the tide in this important fight.”

ECPAT-USA will continue our efforts to raise awareness and facilitate collaboration with hoteliers, government officials and other stakeholders on the best practices for policies, contracts, and training in order to enhance our human trafficking prevention efforts throughout the new year.

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