Podcast:

Florida lives and breathes tourism, a $110 billion industry that attracts visitors from all over the world. However, behind the glittering lobbies and sunny beaches lies a chilling reality: our state ranks third nationwide in the number of reported human trafficking cases.

As managers and owners of hotels, motels, and resorts, you are at the center of this dynamic, often without knowing it. Human traffickers are fatally attracted to the hospitality industry for the “privacy and anonymity” your properties can offer.
The statistics are alarming: 1 out of 6 reported trafficking cases occurs right in a hotel or motel.

A legal, moral, and safety threat Beyond the human tragedy, ignoring this phenomenon carries enormous legal and reputational risks for your businesses. Recently, 22 hotels in Collier County were named in a $100 million civil lawsuit, accused of turning a blind eye to sex trafficking activities taking place in their rooms and profiting from the occupancies of traffickers and victims. Furthermore, a recent Florida state law requires hotel owners to train their employees to detect and report human trafficking.

But there is another fundamental aspect: labor trafficking. In 2024, it is estimated that around 500,000 people in Florida were victims of labor exploitation, and the hospitality sector is one of the most at risk. Your own employees, especially in housekeeping, food service, and maintenance roles, could be silent victims or, conversely, key witnesses to abuses happening just steps away from them.

The signs are there, but training is needed to see them In the legal cases that have emerged, the signs of sex trafficking were obvious: women forced to wander the hallways under the influence of drugs, a continuous flow of strange men in the rooms, “do not disturb” signs hanging on doors for days on end, and housekeeping staff finding rooms with foul odors, drug paraphernalia, and even blood.

The physical and verbal signs of trafficking (malnutrition, disorientation, burns, fear, or individuals who are coached and not allowed to speak for themselves) are clear, but only to those who have the tools to recognize them. Often, hotel staff are not trained to notice these anomalies or, out of fear and lack of protocols, deliberately avoid paying attention.

Our Call to Action: Organize a training seminar Florida employs 1.2 million people in its tourism industry. If every manager committed to training their staff, we could create “an army of 1.2 million people” capable of tackling human trafficking at ground zero.

We ask you to act today. Organize a mandatory seminar or conference for your employees. Provide them with the tools to recognize the physical and behavioral signs of trafficking, both sexual and labor-related. Teach them the safety protocols to report suspicious activities without endangering themselves or potential victims.

The non-profit association “United for Human Rights Florida” organizes seminars in hotels or via Zoom, free of charge. Call Nat at 727 467 6960.

A trained staff is not just a legal obligation; it is your best asset to protect the integrity of your business and, above all, to save lives.

Remind your employees that in the event of imminent danger, they must call 911.

For suspicions and safe reporting, provide them with the essential contacts:

• National Human Trafficking Hotline: 1-888-373-7888 (or by texting “HELP” to 233733)
• Florida Human Trafficking Hotline: 1-855-FLA-SAFE

The silence and anonymity of hotel rooms are the traffickers’ main weapons. With the right training, your team can turn on the light and stop them. Don’t wait for the next case to happen in your property. Prevent it.

Listen song in GoodSense Club (clich here) or https://soundcloud.com/fabclooney/sets/all-united-for-human-rights