Brings Vast Experience and Network to Community Awareness & Education Workgroup
ATLANTA, Ga, Feb. 15 – AAHOA, the nation’s largest hotel owners association, announced its
membership with the Georgia Criminal Justice Coordinating Council’s (CJCC) Human
Trafficking Task Force to combat criminal trafficking efforts in the state. AAHOA represents
over 18,500 hoteliers nationwide, including over 800 in Georgia. The association is part of the
Task Force’s Community Awareness and Education Workgroup.
AAHOA Interim President and CEO Rachel Humphrey said, “AAHOA is proud to bring our
knowledge of and expertise in anti-trafficking education and prevention to the CJCC’s Human
Trafficking Task Force. Education and cooperation are key to combating the traffickers who
exploit the most vulnerable in our society, and we are committed to working with law
enforcement and our state’s elected officials to keep these criminals out of our communities. We
look forward to continuing the fight against trafficking in Georgia.”
The Task Force’s mission is to protect Georgians from perpetrators and systems of sexual
exploitation while working to support victims’ recovery to ensure that they are ready a successful
future. The Task Force operates by a targeted, strategic framework which consists of nine Work
Groups to address the five elements of the trafficking continuum: Vulnerability – Recruitment –
Exploitation – Withdrawal – Reintegration. AAHOA is a member of Work Group 1 which
focuses on awareness and education.
AAHOA’s efforts to combat trafficking in the hotel industry include partnerships with the
Department of Homeland Security, the Blue Campaign, Polaris, and Businesses Ending Slavery
and Trafficking (BEST). The association worked with Polaris and BEST to create two free
online and on-demand trainings and certifications for members and their employees that educate
them about trafficking, how to identify its signs, and how to respond to potential trafficking
situations.
For more information about AAHOA’s Human Trafficking Awareness Training, please visit
http://www.aahoa.com/htat.
