Hotel Outreach to End Human Trafficking

Agenda Introductions Contextual Background for Outreach Human Trafficking Overview in NYC How to Approach Hotels Volunteer Role and Packet Wrap-up

Introductions

ICCR Tri-State CRI Human Rights Work 1971 – South Africa Country Specific Industry / Company Specific Today HR Policies, Implementation, Verification, Reporting Supply Chain Trafficking

Human Trafficking Shifting Policies and Programs Hotels Airlines Travel/ Leisure Companies Beyond travel & leisure Fashion Factories Mining Supply Chain Agriculture, etc.

More than corporate dialogue… Insider Strategy Complement Outsider Strategies Supporting additional efforts

Super Bowl Program From Dallas to Indianapolis to New Orleans to NEW JERSEY! NYC Metropolitan Area Massive undertaking Amazing Opportunity

Hotel Outreach Goals Short-term Raise awareness of human trafficking Prevention, Reporting Strengthening relationship with/ among NY based anti-trafficking organizations Outreach to Tourism and Travel Industry

Hotel Outreach Goals Long-term Wide spread awareness of human trafficking across the state Victim-centric, anti-demand system

Emily Amick www.sanctuaryforfamilies.org www.tvpja.com

How to Approach Hotels Michelle Guelbart, ECPAT-USA

Child Sex Trafficking in the Hospitality Industry A Guide to Engaging the Business

About the Speaker Michelle Guelbart, MSW Michelle is in charge of ECPAT-USA’s engagement with the private sector on issues related to child protection. Her expertise is in tourism. In her role, Michelle manages relationships with corporations, NGOs, and responsible investors to encourage and provide technical assistance on corporate social responsibility initiatives to protect children. She speaks regularly to local, international, and federal agencies as well as industry professionals. Michelle also represents ECPAT-USA as the Local Tourism Child-Protection Code Representative in the United States. Michelle holds a Masters Degree from Columbia University’s School of Social Work and a Bachelors Degree from the University at Albany.

Child Sex trafficking and the hospitality industry Understanding the Phenomenon I’m going to start the presentation by presenting the issue to you, as I would at an industry event. Please take note of my language and make note of any terms of you don’t understand or want me to explain my usage. Child Sex trafficking and the hospitality industry

Overview Human trafficking The exercise of coercive control over persons for the purpose of exploitation Second largest – and fastest growing – criminal industry in the world Under 18 + Commercial Sex Act = VICTIM I use this information to present the issue “One of the great human rights causes of our time.” - President Obama, 2012

45% of sexually exploited NYC youth were exploited in hotels. Key Statistics 100,000 – 300,000: American children at risk for trafficking per year. 1.2 million children are trafficked worldwide. 45% of sexually exploited NYC youth were exploited in hotels. 25% of child sex tourists are NORTH AMERICAN. I am giving you these numbers because it IS important to give some facts, what numbers do you use in NJ? Are there any local numbers?

Child Sex Trafficking and Hotels Traffickers use technology to sell victims, even children, in a hotel setting without the hotel's knowledge. Pimping and trafficking is becoming a preferred method for illegitimate crime because children can be sold repeatedly while drugs can only be used once. Traffickers think hotels are anonymous and risk-free. One-Pager

It can happen in small cities... “According to his guilty plea, Dumas helped recruit girls and used online advertising to attract customers to hotel rooms.” -Dumas, GA

These Queens girls were 15, 16, & 17 “Prosecutors say over the course of eight months, the 18-year-old girl was taken to various locations and hotels throughout Queens and New York City where she would have sex with numerous men in exchange for money. She would then turn that money over to Price, prosecutors said.” -Yonkers Voice Daily

What I Have Been Through Is Not Who I Am “I’ve been inside many of the top hotels in Atlanta and quite often when I would walk in the receptionist or the employees would, would, our eyes would meet and they would recognize it and know that something’s not quite right and there’s never been a time where they’ve said anything.”

Pressure on the Industry to Address Human Trafficking “[t]he airline and hotel industries should be on the front lines of the fight” against human trafficking - Congressman Christopher Smith, NJ, 2010 2012 Olympics: Celebration Without Exploitation “Each of us has a role to play. We are all travelers. …You can help by learning the basic indicators of human trafficking, and when you see something, taking action to report it.” - Ray LaHood, Secretary of Transportation, 2012 “It ought to concern every business, because it distorts markets….I’m talking about the injustice, the outrage, of human trafficking, which must be called by its true name — modern slavery.” – President Barack Obama, 2012 Consumers Legislators: More and more testimonies to Congress Investors: In Summer 2012, in advance of the London Olympics, an coalition of U.S.- and U.K.- based investor groups sent letters to 13 hospitality companies, including hotel chains, seeking information on anti-trafficking policies. In June 2011, the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility, which is made up of 90 organizations worldwide asked 27 companies, including four in the travel industry, to take a leadership role in abolishing human trafficking and slavery. Presidential Administration: In December 2012, the Department of Transportation launched a partnership called the Transportation Leaders Against Human Trafficking, in which companies are asked to build an initiative by sharing best practices, measuring progress, coordinating activities. Amtrak also training. Consumers: Heightened consumer advocacy including an increasing numbers of online petitions

What are Companies Being Asked to Do? Draft policies against human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation. Train employees how to spot and report the signs. Inform suppliers about policies against human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation.

Tourism Child-Protection Code of Conduct “The Code” To establish a policy and procedures against sexual exploitation of children. To train employees in children’s rights, the prevention of sexual exploitation and how to report suspected cases. To include a clause in contracts throughout the value chain stating a common repudiation and zero tolerance policy of sexual exploitation of children. To provide information to travelers on children’s rights, the prevention of sexual exploitation of children and how to report suspected cases. To support, collaborate and engage stakeholders in the prevention of sexual exploitation of children. To report annually on their implementation of Code related activities. www.thecode.org

United States Code Members Include Wyndham Worldwide Carlson Companies Hilton Worldwide Delta Air Lines Real Hospitality Group Sabre Holdings Association of Corporate Travel Executives Accor NH Hotels

Child Sex trafficking and the hospitality industry Making the Case Child Sex trafficking and the hospitality industry

Benefits of Action

Risk Management Legal Reputational Operational Protects brand First for a reason TAKE NOTES Better to be in the press for this than for having a case, always remembered for that.

Employee Morale Satisfied Happy Proud Empowered Comfortable Competitive hiring

Access to Industry Stakeholder Knowledge LCR TheCode.Org Portal Corporate Membership Organizations Special Events Newsletters National and International NGOs

Increased Revenue TheCode.Org Relationship Preference RFPs Large events Responsible Travelers Drives the message home

Great Press!

Corporate Social Responsibility Sustainable Tourism Children are the key to the future Responsible Tourism Should encompass children’s rights This issue is shocking and disgusting! These are oftentimes parents, they’re good people. Hit ‘em where it hurts!

Be Prepared Visiting hotels

Be Prepared Research the brand Research the property Rehearse your opening lines 5 minute elevator pitch Dress professionally Get the contact information of a local law enforcement officer that the hotel can contact.

What to Bring ECPAT-USA hotel one-pager Local news Clippings of sex trafficking victims who were rescued or discovered in hotels Government initiatives Clippings of success stories where victims were properly identified at hotels Training date for properties

Signatory Properties NOTE: THEY MAY NOT KNOW THEIR BRAND HAS SIGNED THE CODE. Bring their press release or information on the issue from their website. They can contact their corporate brand to receive an official company training.

Non-Signatory Properties Focus most on building a relationship. Bring clippings where hotels were noted for getting involved.

Dos and Don’ts Visiting hotels

Do’s Stay positive! Praise their efforts Don’t over exaggerate Be sensitive Provide materials

Don’t Name and Shame Force them outside of their comfort zone Hassle the General Manager

A company wants to sign the Code Membership process A company wants to sign the Code

Quick and Easy! Refer them to thecode.org Apply online for membership Payment of fees 50EURO-2,000EURO Create plan of action Approval by Code Board Train staff Report on efforts Sabre Holdings Signs the Code

Customizable for your company’s structure. Implementation Customizable for your company’s structure. Examples on TheCode.Org’s portal. Policy, clause in contract with suppliers, e-training. Work with the Local Code Representative in your region to implement.

A company Does not want to sign the Code Alternative Approaches A company Does not want to sign the Code

That’s okay! Can still implement the steps Receive training We provide consultation on this too Receive training Prove them with resources We’ll get ‘em next time. This might be the first time and it might be too shocking for them, the next time they hear it might get the message to them… Or an association might mention it and they’ll think of you and then want to do it

If and Then Scenarios

If…. A GM says this does not happen and has not happened at hotels like his/hers… THEN…

If… A GM is shocked by all the information and immediately shuts off… THEN… What might be their thought process: fear of associating brand with issue, upsetting customers Follow up on email, get to something lighter, start talking about increase revenues Good press All the people ahead of them

If…. A GM asks what happens if someone suspects something but then it’s not trafficking?.. THEN… Well they’re going to be well-trained, it’ll be operationally tested, there are checks and balances, law enforcement is the one that intervenes

If… I walk into a hotel that is a member of the Code and they have no idea what I am talking about… THEN…

www.ecpatusa.org www.thecode.org michelle@ecpatusa.org @ECPAT_michelle For More Information www.ecpatusa.org www.thecode.org michelle@ecpatusa.org @ECPAT_michelle

Hotel Outreach NJ, PA 410 (and counting) hotels NY, CT ~600-700 hotels 14 counties in NJ 2 counties in PA NY, CT ~600-700 hotels Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens

Packet Human Trafficking Information and Resources Role For you and can be provided for interested managers National Hotline # : 1-888-3737-888 Role Job Description Outline of Approach Timeline is GUIDELINE Outreach Materials Letter for Manager Phone Script Red Flags for Hospitality Professionals

Hotel Outreach Timeline Call hotel for name of the General Manager Security manager, day/night manager Send follow-up letter to hotel (provided in packet) Notifying them that someone will be in contact. Has your staff been trained in trafficking prevention? If not, would you like your staff trained in preparation for the Super Bowl? Does your staff know who to report to the authorities? Would you be willing to have materials in employee section? Email/ fax material when needed Follow up call to speak with the General Manager of the hotel. Scripts for these calls are provided. More than one follow-up call may be needed Update needed for when training information is made available Subsequent Hotel Staff Training One session for non-signers of ECPAT Code Looking at potential training dates for hotel staff – before February

EMAIL Check your inbox for a follow-up email containing: Hotel Lists (Excel) Power Point Slides (PDF format) ECPAT hotel one-pager National Hotline Flyer RFP Sample/ Client letter to hotels Electronic copy of Packet Website links

What else can we do? Talk about it Talk to your friends about the fact that there is a direct connection between prostitution, lap dancing and strip clubs and missing and exploited children. In interviews, sex-buyers admit that they would be deterred from buying sex if they were held criminally and socially accountable. Speak out. Don’t tolerate or use the lingo. When prostitution is portrayed as a choice or “funny” in movies, talk about the reality. Don’t glorify the “pimp” culture. Share these facts with others.