Human trafficking in hotels: an "invisible" threat for a vulnerable industry

Paraskevas, Alexandros ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1556-5293 and Brookes, Maureen (2018) Human trafficking in hotels: an "invisible" threat for a vulnerable industry. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, 30 (3). pp. 1996-2014. ISSN 0959-6119

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Abstract

Purpose: To identify and analyse the hotel sector's vulnerabilities that human traffickers exploit in order to use hotels as conduits for trafficking in human beings (THB).
Design/methodology/approach: Using the MAVUS framework of sector vulnerability analysis, the study adopted a qualitative approach employing 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 our understanding of why hotels are vulnerable to human trafficking for both sexual and labour exploitation.

Item Type: Article
Identifier: 10.1108/IJCHM-04-2017-0213
Additional Information: As accepted for publication © Emerald Publishing Limited 2018
Keywords: crime, human trafficking, hotels, MAVUS, vulnerability studies
Subjects: Business and finance > Business and management
Hospitality and tourism > Hospitality
Hospitality and tourism > Hospitality > Risk and reputation management
Depositing User: Alexandros Paraskevas
Date Deposited: 12 Jan 2018 17:59
Last Modified: 06 Feb 2024 15:55
URI: https://repository.uwl.ac.uk/id/eprint/4273

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