Human trafficking in hotels: an “invisible” threat for a vulnerable industry
International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management
ISSN: 0959-6119
Article publication date: 19 March 2018
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to identify and analyse the hotel sector’s vulnerabilities that human traffickers exploit to use hotels as conduits for trafficking in human beings (THB).
Design/methodology/approach
Using the Method for the Assessment of the Vulnerability of Sectors framework of sector vulnerability analysis, the study adopted a qualitative approach using environmental scanning and semi-structured key stakeholder interviews in three European countries: UK, Finland and Romania.
Findings
The study identifies the types of THB occurring within the industry and the specific macro-, meso- and micro-level factors that increase hotel vulnerability to trafficking for sexual exploitation, labour exploitation or both.
Research limitations/implications
Given the sensitivity of the topic, the number of interviewees is limited as is the generalisability of the findings.
Practical implications
The framework developed serves as a practical tool for independent or chain-affiliated hotels to use to assess their vulnerability to human trafficking for both sexual and labour exploitation.
Social implications
The framework will assist hotel professionals to assess their vulnerability to human trafficking and identify specific and proactive measures to combat this crime within their business.
Originality/value
This is the first study to empirically explore human trafficking in the hotel sector and to apply an integrated theoretical lens to examine macro-, meso- and micro-level sector vulnerabilities to a crime. It contributes to the authors’ understanding of why hotels are vulnerable to human trafficking for both sexual and labour exploitation.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This article reports on the findings of a project that has been funded with support from the European Commission (HOME/2013/ISEC/AG/THB/4000005873). It reflects the views only of the authors, and the European Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein. The authors would like to thank the following people for their contributions in this project: Prof Angela Roper, Prof Simonetta Manfredi, Dr Madalina Mocan, Dr Pekka Iivari, Dr Sonia Morano- Foadi, Kate Clayton-Hathway, Niko Niemisalo, Aulikki.Laitinen-Tolonen, Mihai Cazacu and Andreaa Salvan.
Citation
Paraskevas, A. and Brookes, M. (2018), "Human trafficking in hotels: an “invisible” threat for a vulnerable industry", International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, Vol. 30 No. 3, pp. 1996-2014. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCHM-04-2017-0213
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited