December 27, 2019​

MCRCC has been training staff at a major hotel downtown Monterey on how to identify and respond to human trafficking. In honor of January and National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, MCRCC is shining a light on the important role hotels can play in ending human trafficking.

Portola Hotel & Spa in downtown Monterey has over 300 staff and next to the Monterey Conference Center. Over the last few months, and continuing on in January, we have offered multiple trainings to nearly 100 of the Portola Hotel’s staff, particularly staff in the security and hospitality departments who are more likely to see the signs of human trafficking. 

The one hour curriculum, called No Room For Trafficking, was developed by a consortium of anti-trafficking organizations throughout the Bay Area called No Traffick Ahead. Using actual human trafficking cases and warning signs honed from hotels throughout the Bay Area, No Room For Trafficking offers a training customized for the hospitality industry. 

The No Room For Trafficking curriculum was originally only available in English, however, MCRCC staff translated the full presentation and handouts to Spanish. Two of the sessions taught at Portola Hotel have been in Spanish with more planned in the future. 

Although this training is provided free by MCRCC, Portola Hotel is the first hospitality business in Monterey County to devote staff time to this important training. We want to commend Portola Hotel for their foresight and leadership. 
Starting January 1, SB 970 requires all hotel staff throughout California to have human trafficking training. MCRCC provides this training free to local hotels and fully meets this requirement. If you know a hotel who would like to receive this training, contact our Salinas office at 831-771-041. 

Everyone has a part to play in ending human trafficking. Thank you, Portola Hotel & Spa for leading the industry in creating more safety for those staying at your hotel and throughout our community. 
 

Written by Deborah Pembrook, MCRCC Human Trafficking Outreach Manager