CHICAGO—The Illinois Hotel & Lodging Assn. (IHLA) and American Hotel & Lodging Assn. (AHLA) recently hosted the “No Room for Trafficking” seminar at the Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk, with more than 100 local hotel employees including housekeepers, front desk staff, maintenance teams and general managers, receiving training on how to identify and report human trafficking.
The event also featured remarks by Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, a message from Mayor Brandon Johnson, as well as a panel discussion with industry officials, community groups and trafficking prevention organizations to emphasize the importance of building effective and workable partnerships to prevent crime and support victims. The program marked the conclusion of National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, which is recognized annually throughout the month of January.
Hotels serve as a critical first line of defense in identifying, preventing, and reporting human trafficking as criminals sometimes exploit legitimate businesses without the knowledge of operators and owners. Hotel employees are often among the first to notice warning signs, and regular, comprehensive training gives them the tools and confidence to act safely and responsibly.
The Human Trafficking Recognition Training Act
In 2019, IHLA worked alongside lawmakers and law enforcement to lead the effort in enacting the Human Trafficking Recognition Training Act, which requires that all employees are prepared and educated on how to spot the signs of human trafficking. This law standardized best practices that many hotels had already adopted, requiring hotel employees to complete training every two years to identify warning signs and understand best practices for reporting suspected criminal activity. In 2025, Illinois further strengthened these efforts with the passage of Senate Bill 1422, which gives municipalities the ability to ensure local hotels remain in compliance with training standards. This additional layer of accountability helps ensure training requirements are not only established, but followed, reinforcing a shared commitment to prevention and enforcement statewide.
“Hotels across the state do their best every day to welcome guests and build stronger communities. Sometimes that means doing the hard and important work outside the boundaries of excellent guest service—including preventing human trafficking,” said Michael Jacobson, President and CEO of the Illinois Hotel & Lodging Assn. “The training provided today empowers workers to act against this crime, and we remain committed to partnering with policy makers, law enforcement officials and other stakeholders to protect our communities and support survivors.”
“Life-saving human trafficking prevention relies on strong coordination between state and local law enforcement and the private sector,” said Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul. “The hotel industry’s leadership in ensuring employees have the tools they need to recognize and properly report suspicious activity continues to strengthen our collective ability to identify human trafficking, hold traffickers accountable, and support survivors across Illinois.”
“I am grateful to the IHLA and AHLA for hosting this seminar and being a leader in the mission to end human trafficking. With this training, hotel employees will be empowered to identify human trafficking and stand on the frontlines of efforts to build a safer city. The City of Chicago is aligned in this effort, and my administration is committed to partnership with the hotel industry, local law enforcement, and community partners so that we may support survivors and heal our communities,” said Mayor Brandon Johnson.
Through No Room for Trafficking, an initiative of the AHLA Foundation, hotel employees can access free training in more than 34 languages that help them to identify and report suspected human trafficking. This training has been completed more than 2.6 million times since its launch in 2020.
“The hotel industry is unwavering in its commitment to helping prevent human trafficking,” said AHLA President & CEO Rosanna Maietta. “These efforts require coordinated partnerships among law enforcement, elected leaders, community organizations, and the business community. Our industry continues to lead with action, vigilance, and a deep dedication to protecting our community.”
The hotel industry’s work goes beyond prevention; it helps make communities and survivors safer by working with local organizations to equip survivors with the support they need to thrive. Hotels across Illinois also partner with community-based and survivor-serving organizations to help equip survivors with the support they need to recover and thrive. These partnerships support access to emergency housing, workforce training programs, job placements within the hospitality industry, and mental health services to help survivors rebuild their lives while strengthening communities.
The Illinois hotel industry has emerged as a national leader in the effort to protect communities from human trafficking, but there is still more work to be done. Addressing this crisis requires sustained attention, strong partnerships, and a comprehensive approach that prioritizes prevention, enforcement, and survivor support year-round.
