Hospitality Industry Working To Fight Human Trafficking

aahla

We reported this month that Michigan State Police are working with the trucking industry to help stop human trafficking. Another industry that is responding to the crime is hospitality. Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association President Justin Winslow tells WSJM News his group represents more than 5,000 restaurants and hotels in Michigan with more than 595,000 workers. The group is training staff how to spot signs of human trafficking and how to report it.

“This is something that the lodging industry has taken very seriously,” Winslow said. “The restaurant industry is picking up steam. It doesn’t maybe happen as often in and around restaurants as maybe the hotel side of the industry, but there’s awareness that’s necessary, and we’re doing our best job to make sure that they are aware of all the resources available to them.”

Most human trafficking victims are forced into the sex trade. Winslow says the MRLA plans to hold a major training event ahead of the next North American International Auto Show. The American Hotel and Lodging Association’s “No Room for Trafficking Member Resource Guide” is used by the group as it works with staff. You can find out more right here.