Human Trafficking and the Hotel Industry
Hotels are connected to human trafficking because they afford traffickers the ablility to discreetly carry out their crimes.
What is Human Trafficking?
Human trafficking is a crime that involves recruiting individuals to engage in and perform sexual acts or provide services through the use of force, fraud, or coercion. Victims under the age of 18 are recognized as victims of human trafficking regardless of whether force, fraud or coercion are present.
What is Sex Trafficking?
Sex Trafficking is a crime that involves recruiting individuals through the use of force, fraud or coercion, to engage in sexual acts for the financial gain of the trafficker.
Common Indicators:
- Individual has no personal possessions or few carried in a small or plastic bags.
- Individual checking into room appear distressed, coerced or injured.
- Individual does not have freedom of movement or is constantly monitored and avoids interactions with others.
- Individual averts his or her eyes or does not make eye contact, especially with the individual accompanying them.
- Individual shows signs of physical abuse, fear or malnourishment.
- Individual shows signs of poor hygiene, fatigue, and sleep deprivation.
- Individual appears to be with a significantly older “boyfriend” or in the company of older males.
- Individual is treated in a demeaning or aggressive manner or is verbally abused.
- Individual is not forthcoming about full names, home addresses or vehicle information when checking in.
- Individual appears with a minor he or she did not originally come in with.
- Individuals are dropped off or picked up at the hotel over a period of time.
- Individual does not have identification.
- Individual is not aware of the time, his or her or their whereabouts, and destination.
- Individual is unable or unwilling to speak on his or her own.
- Individual is dressed inappropriately for age and/or weather conditions.
- Individual pays for room with cash or rechargeable credit card and has excessive cash in his or her room.
- Individual’s room has multiple computers, cell phones, credit card swipes or other technology.
- A room has excessive amounts of alcohol, illegal drugs, sex paraphernalia, and condoms.
- Excessive foot traffic in and out of a room or rooms, through the day and during off hours, rented by the same person.
- There is presence of photography equipment, such as cameras and lighting, in the room.
- A room is consistently requesting linens or amenities but refuses cleaning for multiple days.
- A minor exhibits adult roles or behaves older than actual age, such as paying the bills or requesting services.
- A minor is with a patron late at night or during school hours.
- A group of girls are traveling with an older male or female.
- There is evidence of pornography rentals when children are staying in the room.
- A room is rented hourly, less than a day, or for an abnormal long-term stay where the visit are extended day-to-day.
- Individuals staying in the room far exceed the number of beds in the room.
- Individual hangs around the lobby, hallways, or outside of rooms to monitor the area.
- Individual loiters and solicits male customers.
- Individual loiters and solicits male customers.
- Individual waits at restaurant table or bar to be picked up by a male.
- Individual requests rooms that have a “sight” advantage (such as on the second floor and to be able to see cars coming in and out of the parking lot and on the main street).
What is Labor Trafficking?
Labor trafficking is a crime that involves recruiting individuals through the use of force, fraud, or coercion, to provide services for the financial gain of the trafficker.
Common Indicators:
- Individual sells items or beg from patrons and staff.
- Individual is receiving the paycheck for another hotel employee.
- Employee is heard discussing wages and destinations different than originally advertised or promised.
- Employee is seen sleeping on the hotel premises or a car.
- Employee is dropped off or accompanied by another employee or individual.
- Employee is unable or unwilling to speak on his or her own.
- Individual has no personal possessions or few carried in small or plastic bags.
- Individual does not have freedom of movement or is constantly monitored and avoids interactions with others.
- Individual averts his or her eyes or does not make eye contact, especially with individual accompanying them
- Employee does not carry identification documents or money.
What information should you provide to law enforcement?
Provide as many of the following as you can:
Name; date and times; telephone numbers; addresses; description of the individuals; number of rooms rented; credit card information; vehicle license plate number, including the state.
Additional Information
What should you do if you suspect sex trafficking?
If a minor is involved, call the Department of Child Services.
Call local law enforcement.
Call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-800-373-7888
Text HELP to Be Free (233733)
Hotel Industry & Human Trafficking Information Sheet
Hotel Front Desk & Human Trafficking Information Sheet
Contact Us:
For questions please contact: htinfo@atg.in.gov
National Human Trafficking Resource Center
Phone: 1-888-373-7888