Hotel Safety Red Flags: Empowering Every Team Member to Spot the Signs

Hotel Safety Depends on Back-of-House Awareness

Human trafficking awareness training is crucial in hospitality — but too often it focuses only on the front desk. Housekeeping, laundry, maintenance, and other back‑of‑house teams routinely enter guest spaces where subtle signs may first appear.

January, which marks Human Trafficking Prevention Month, is the perfect time to shift that imbalance and ensure every hotel employee understands their role in spotting red flags and reporting concerns.

Red Flags Every Back-of-House Team Member Should Know

Back-of-house teams like housekeeping, laundry, and maintenance spend more time in guest areas than any other department. This gives them a unique opportunity to recognize early signs of human trafficking or unsafe activity that might otherwise go unnoticed.

Here are common indicators that team members should be aware of when performing daily duties, especially in guest rooms and areas away from the front desk:

• Prolonged “Do Not Disturb” signs or repeated refusal of housekeeping
• Unusual trash patterns, odors, or discarded restraint materials
• Signs of distress or coercion in guests
• Frequent guestroom maintenance calls without cause
• Consistent refusal of room entry across multiple shifts
• Excessive linens, towels, or supply use beyond occupancy
• Maintenance requests that don't align with room usage
• Concerns or odd behavior spotted during cleaning rounds
• Suspicious activity around the hotel such as doors propped open or people hanging out for long periods of time
• Connected rooms where one room has not been used
• More people entering a room than what’s typical or expected

Helpful Resources:

• PACT Training through Visual Matrix
• DEA Human Trafficking Prevention Resources
• National Human Trafficking Prevention Month – U.S. State Dept.
• Hospitality Human Trafficking Toolkit (DHS)
• No Room For Trafficking Initiative (AHLA Foundation)
• Hotel Risk & Reporting Guidance (HUB)

Take Action: What You Can Do Today

• 💬 Share this article with your team
• 📘 Schedule PACT training for all staff in all departments
• 📌 Post Trafficking Prevention guides in back-of-house areas
• 🗣️ Encourage staff to speak up without fear