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

Purpose - This paper aims to identify and analyse the hotel sector's vulnerabilities that human traffickers exploit to use hotels as conduits for trafficking in human beings (THB). Design/methodology/approach - Using the Method for the Assessment of the Vulnerability of Sectors framework of sector vulnerability analysis, the study adopted a qualitative approach using 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 the authors' understanding of why hotels are vulnerable to human trafficking for both sexual and labour exploitation.