Major Hotel Brands Have Knowingly Profited from Sex Trafficking
Sex trafficking is modern-day slavery involving the use of the intimidation or coercion to force a person to preform sexual acts for money against their will.
According to the Department of Homeland Security, there are several tell-tale signs that willfully go ignored and unreported within the hotel industry.
These important indicators are not helpful if hotels choose to ignore what is happening on their premises. Hotels that fail to implement policies for procedures to report sex trafficking choose to put their profits over people. Traffickers understand that hotels value profits above all else and use this to their advantage, using hotel premises as a haven to conduct their illegal activity while remaining largely anonymous.
Trafficking survivors across the United States have filed lawsuits against dozens of well-known hotel chains that have profited from sex trafficking and ignored obvious signs of exploitation taking place on their properties. Hilton, Red Roof Inn, Marriott Hotels, and Wyndham Hotels were among the hotel chains accused. Many of these victims were minors when the trafficking occurred.
The National Human Trafficking hotline reports that hotel and motels account for almost 74% of potential sex trafficking instances in the United States.
Human Trafficking and the Hospitality Industry
Data provided by the U.S. National Human Trafficking Hotline in 2016 determined that hotel and motel-based trafficking operations contributed to almost 8% of all trafficking cases reported-naming the hospitality industry as the most common location for trafficking to occur in the United States. Traffickers are drawn to hotels and motels for their relatively low rental costs and the growing ability to rent rooms with a considerable amount of anonymity. Traffickers and victims often attempt to keep a low profile within hotels to prevent drawing attention from guests and staff. Since 2007, almost ,1500 cases of human trafficking within hotels and motels across the country have been reported to the U.S. National Human Trafficking Hotline and the Polaris BeFree texting helpline.
How the Hospitality Industry has Been Complicit
The human trafficking industry has been estimated to be a $150 billion global industry, and this is something that does not go unnoticed by major hotel chains who continue to financially benefit from the exploitation taking place on their premises. Hotel executives have failed to put into place any substantial policies or training to help their staff understand and report the signs of trafficking happening right in front of their eyes. According to the Department of Homeland Security there are a number of signs that can be easily identified by hotel staff in trafficking victims at various stages of their stay when staff are informed. When staff are provided little to no training on how to identify these signs, or how to proceed when they do, these signs are rendered useless and the victim is left to suffer.
Major Hotel Chains Sued for Profiting from Sex Trafficking
A recent case from Texas alleges that Backpage.com and several national hotel and truck stop companies benefited from sexual exploitation of the survivor. This case has resulted in a change in the law to make it illegal for companies to profit from sex trafficking. Since then, many victims have come forward to tell their story, but many more may need the help of our Ohio human trafficking lawyers to make sure you receive compensation that you deserve.
Trafficking survivors across the United States have filed lawsuits against dozens of well-known hotel chains that have profited from sex trafficking and ignored obvious signs of exploitation taking place on their properties.
Hilton, Red Roof Inn, Marriott Hotels, and Wyndham Hotels were among the hotel chains accused. Many of these victims were minors when the trafficking occurred.
Our Commitment Against Human Trafficking
As an experienced attorney with a background in representing survivors of sexual abuse, Steven Babin is committed to being a voice for those who have been exploited by not only their traffickers, but the hotel industry itself. Under the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) of 2000 human trafficking was established as a federal crime and asserted that no business can benefit financially from something that they knew, or should have known, was human trafficking.
Legal Cases with Care and Discretion
As experienced sexual abuse attorneys, our goal is to put an end to human trafficking and prevent perpetrators from succeeding in such horrific crimes. Babin Law’s Steven Babin, located in Columbus, Ohio is committed to being a voice for those who have been exploited by not only their traffickers, but the hotel industry itself. Under the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) of 2000 human trafficking was established as a federal crime and asserted that no business can benefit financially from something that they knew, or should have known, was human trafficking.
At Babin Law, it is our job to get you compensation and to hold hotels accountable for turning a blind eye to your suffering. When you hire Babin Law, it will cost you no money upfront. We only get paid if we recover you money. We take a percentage of what we recovery at the end of the case.
Survivors Take Action
Trafficking survivors across the United States have filed lawsuits against dozens of well-known hotel chains that have profited from sex trafficking and ignored obvious signs of exploitation taking place on their properties. Hilton, Red Roof Inn, Marriott Hotels, and Wyndham Hotels were among the hotel chains accused. Many of these victims were minors when the trafficking occurred.
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