Marriott International Brings Travel Industry Together in the Fight Against Human Trafficking

As Marriott International continues its efforts to advance human rights, the company hosted and participated in a series of industry conversations focused on strengthening the hospitality industry's response to human trafficking ahead of World Day Against Trafficking in Persons. Bringing together the world's leading travel companies, nonprofit partners, survivor advocates, and Marriott associates, the discussions explored the evolution of human trafficking training, industry collaboration, and pathways to opportunity for survivors.

Convening the Industry

Marriott hosted a Business for Social Responsibility convening at its global headquarters in Bethesda, Maryland, bringing together more than two dozen representatives from leading hospitality and travel companies alongside nonprofit and advocacy organizations, including Polaris and the American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA) Foundation. Together, we discussed how the industry can better understand and address human rights risks, including human trafficking, particularly during large-scale events around the world.

The day's discussion brought industry consensus: human trafficking requires more than individual action; collaboration and a shared mission to support survivors is key to progress. Claudio Formisano, Global Lead, Human Trafficking and Forced Labor, Collaborations and Partnerships at Business for Social Responsibility, underscored the importance of trust and coordination in strengthening prevention efforts.

Building that shared response starts with awareness. Whether it be at large-scale events or in daily hotel operations, training the hospitality workforce to recognize and respond to potential signs of trafficking has been a tentpole strategy in Marriott's efforts. Since its launch nearly a decade ago, Marriott's human trafficking awareness training has been completed by more than 1.7 million associates as of year-end 2025. The company has also made the program available to the broader hospitality industry at no cost, leading to more than 2.7 million additional completions by hotel workers and community members outside Marriott.

From Safe Shelter to Career Pathways

As Marriott's anti-trafficking efforts continues to evolve, the company has recognized that prevention extends beyond awareness alone. By applying lessons learned through its training programs and collaborating with leading experts, nonprofit partners, and survivors, Marriott has broadened its focus to create pathways to real opportunity for survivors, supporting initiatives that equip individuals with skills, confidence, and resources to build long-term stability. These efforts were discussed at a panel hosted at Marriott's global headquarters by the company's Women's Associate Resource Group and Serve 360 team, as well as during the AHLA Foundation's No Room for Trafficking Summit.

Marriott leaders joined nonprofit partners from the University of Maryland SAFE Center and the AHLA Foundation, along with survivor advocates, to address how hospitality companies and community organizations can help support survivors at critical points in their recovery. Through HotelHelp and the Future in Training (FiT) Curriculum - two Marriott-developed programs - the company is helping address survivors' immediate and longer-term needs, from access to safe, short-term shelter to job readiness training that can help create pathways to meaningful careers.

HotelHelp provides immediate support through a network of participating Marriott properties that donate short-term emergency stays for survivors of trafficking. Since launching as a pilot in 2024, the program has expanded to 64 hotels across 14 North American markets, creating a growing network of safe, welcoming accommodations for survivors leaving unsafe situations and taking critical first steps toward recovery.

Tricia Primrose, Marriott's EVP and Chief Global Communications & Public Affairs Officer, reflected on the program's impact.

While HotelHelp addresses an immediate need, the FiT Curriculum program focuses on long-term economic empowerment by helping survivors build confidence, strengthen workplace skills, and prepare for meaningful careers in hospitality. Since its pilot launch in 2022, FiT has trained nearly 1,000 survivors of human trafficking. Early participant surveys showed increased knowledge and confidence and a 98% satisfaction rate with the pace and content of the curriculum. Feedback from survivors and consultants with lived experience is helping refine and strengthen the program as it continues to expand throughout Canada, Thailand, and the U.S.

The impact of FiT came to life through the experiences of program graduates including Toni, a Marriott associate, and another FiT alumna. The graduates shared how the program helped them build skills, confidence, and a renewed sense of possibility. Their stories reinforced the value of survivor-centered workforce development - not only for participants, but also for employers seeking to build stronger, more inclusive talent pipelines.

Together, HotelHelp and FiT reflect a practical approach to survivor support: helping address immediate safety needs while helping individuals build a foundation for long-term stability and opportunity. The programs also contribute to Marriott's goal to educate 300,000 people through Marriott-developed programs and community partnerships, and support 1,000 survivors of human trafficking between 2026 and 2030.

As the week's conversations demonstrated, addressing human trafficking requires ongoing awareness, collaboration, and survivor-centered support. Marriott remains committed to working alongside nonprofit partners, survivor advocates, and hospitality peers to strengthen prevention efforts and expand support for survivors - helping to build an industry where there is no room for trafficking.