Marriott announced it has trained 500,000 hotel employees to recognize and respond to human trafficking. The company launched a mandatory human trafficking awareness program for on-property staff in 2017 and has since expanded the training across its global operations.
“Human trafficking is a horrific form of modern slavery that entraps millions of people around the world,” said Arne Sorenson, president and CEO, Marriott International. “By educating and empowering our global workforce to say something if they see something, we are not just standing up for the most vulnerable in society, we are also protecting associates and guests as well as living up to a core company value — serving our world.”
David Rodriguez, chief global human resources officer at Marriott International, emphasized the hotel industry’s responsibility: “Hotels can unfortunately be unwilling venues for this unconscionable crime — and as a global hotel company that cares about human rights, we’re proud to be training hotel workers across the Marriott system to spot the signs. There is no easy fix, but combatting modern-day slavery starts with awareness — and we now have a significant number of people capable of recognizing suspicious behavior and reporting it to management and, in some cases, law enforcement.”
Marriott developed its training program in partnership with ECPAT-USA and Polaris. The course is offered in 16 languages and is available throughout the company’s footprint in all 130 countries and territories where Marriott operates, ensuring staff at properties worldwide can access the material in a language they understand.
The curriculum teaches employees to identify common indicators of trafficking: travelers with minimal luggage or clothing, people who cannot speak freely or appear disoriented, guests who refuse housekeeping, and situations where multiple men escort a single guest into a room. Staff are instructed to discreetly record observations, report suspicions to a manager, and, when appropriate, involve local law enforcement. Training also emphasizes the importance of preserving the safety and dignity of potential victims while avoiding confrontations that could escalate risk.
By standardizing awareness and reporting procedures across its hotels, Marriott aims to create safer environments for guests and employees and to contribute to broader anti-trafficking efforts. The company’s program focuses on prevention through detection, clear reporting protocols, and collaboration with experts and authorities to ensure responsible, effective responses when trafficking is suspected.
Marriott’s commitment to training half a million employees demonstrates a long-term investment in human rights and guest safety. Ongoing education, multilingual access, and partnerships with specialist organizations support the company’s goal of keeping hotels vigilant and prepared to act when signs of exploitation appear.