When it comes to sex trafficking, many people assume that it only happens on the street or in a dark alley. After all, who would ever think that someone is trying to sell their body online?! However, this doesn’t mean that sex trafficking isn’t occurring; it just means that it’s not being reported as much because of how discreet the site is and where you can buy/sell/trade services.
Escort sites are often used by pimps and traffickers to recruit young women (and men) into forced prostitution. It is possible for these victims to be underage or have been coerced into becoming prostitutes. The escort sites themselves may even help cover up human trafficking activities. If they’re using an anonymous platform like TNA Board, a website that connects escorts with clients, there’s no way to tell if someone is a victim or not.
Hotels play a big role when it comes to sex trafficking. In fact, a study found that hotels were a common place where trafficking victims are found. This is because hotels offer a lot of privacy and security. They also provide easy access to transportation. When hotel employees see something suspicious, however, they aren’t always able to get help from law enforcement quickly enough. Because sex trafficking cases are so difficult to prove, police officers don’t want to make arrests unless they’re 100% sure.
A few years ago, a man was arrested at the Westin Hotel in downtown Los Angeles after he was caught attempting to purchase sex with two undercover detectives. Unfortunately, the hotel did nothing to intervene until it was too late. Without intervention from management or law enforcement, the man could have continued his illegal activities throughout the day and night.
In addition to hotels, sex tourism has become more popular among travelers. While some people travel to exotic locations for strictly sexual reasons, others come with the intention of buying sex. These tourists often have no idea what they’re getting into, and if they do, they simply don’t care. There’s little risk involved for them. In fact, many travel agents will encourage these types of clients because it brings in extra money.
If a hotel employee notices a strange man hanging around a room or asking questions about the hotel’s amenities, they should report it immediately. If the police are contacted, they can investigate further and possibly prevent other potential incidents. In most cases, hotels will let law enforcement know what rooms have been rented out to ensure that no one gets away with anything.
In order to keep sex trafficking and sex tourism under control, hotels need to take action against anyone who is caught engaging in illegal activity. It’s up to them whether or not they want to protect their guests and enforce their own policies. They must also educate their staff on how to spot sex trafficking and how to handle it appropriately.
Hotels and sex trafficking are linked together. Both will continue to occur without intervention from hotel employees, but they can both be stopped if we work together to put an end to them.