A woman has initiated a lawsuit in efforts towards fighting sex trafficking in hotels. She alleges that hotel chains have failed to stop sex trafficking at their properties despite ample knowledge that the issues might have occurred. Fighting sex trafficking in hotels has increasingly received more and more news coverage particularly as certain chains might be defendants multiple times.

This woman claims that she was the victim of sex trafficking from 2012 to 2013 at six major hotel chains in Washington and Oregon. She argues in her lawsuit that rather than fighting sex trafficking in hotels that the companies continue to enjoy the profit from rooms for rent that were clearly being used for the purpose of sex trafficking.

The lawsuit names Myriad International, Wyndham Hotels and Resorts, Hilton Worldwide Holdings, Red Lion Hotels Corp., and Extended Stay America as defendants.

The woman says that she was subjected to repeated instances of verbal abuse, rape, physical abuse, psychological torment, false imprisonment, and exploitation while trafficked for commercial sex purposes at the age of 22.

Human trafficking generates global profits of around $150 billion a year for involved traffickers. Nearly, $100 billion of that comes from commercial sexual exploitation. Many people are surprised to learn that 71 percent of enslaved people around the world are women and girls, whereas, boys and men make up 29 percent.

Motels and hotels are common venues for sex trafficking due to the ability to funnel finances through secretly, lack of up-keep of expenses or facility maintenance, and ease of access for buyers. This means that victims can be compelled to provide commercial sex through fraud, coercion, or force. Some hotel companies have generated specific programs for front line staff to be aware of potential sex trafficking issues.

A hotline operating between 2007 and 2015 collected over 1400 phone calls involving claims of sex trafficking happening at hotels and motels. In many cases, the hotel property is used to set up meetings with the purchaser of the sex services and the victim of sex trafficking, who is brought there by the criminals managing the meetings and pay.

In most of these situations, individual controllers are the ones handling all communication and venue decisions about where these acts will take place. While the relationship between the trafficker and the victim can vary, they often use similar tactics to keep the victim living in fear and unsure of their exact location. The similar look of many hotels and motels makes it hard for the victim to reach out for help or share identifying characteristics with law enforcement.

Sex traffickers may enslave only a few people at a time or might have large groups that move across a geographic region.

Sex traffickers benefit from the anonymity and privacy inside the hospitality industry, but some victims have argued that they have been subjected to abuse at the hands of sex traffickers when the hotel chains could have intervened. If you or someone you know was subjected to sex trafficking and related assaults, you could be eligible to initiate a lawsuit to recover compensation for your damages.

If you were a victim of sex trafficking and forced to work at a truck stop, hotel or motel, night club or other hotel venue, you may be eligible to move forward with a civil investigation against these businesses. This investigation involves a civil case, and is not a criminal case against you or your loved ones.

Top Class Actions is working with experienced human trafficking attorneys who will be informed and sensitive to your situation. Join the fight by filling out the short form on this page. 

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