Combating Human Trafficking
Our Efforts To Prevent Human Trafficking
There is nothing more important to our company than the safety and well-being of our guests, our team members, and the communities in which we operate. Motel 6 and Studio 6 hotels implement a variety of practices that help to prevent human trafficking through enhanced safety and security procedures; employee and franchise education, training and response; and partnerships and advocacy.
G6 condemns all forms of human trafficking. Trafficking of people violates basic human rights and constitutes a global societal problem in which multiple stakeholders must partner to eradicate this problem.
G6, with a focus on its Motel 6 and Studio 6 brands, takes a proactive, zero-tolerance stance on human trafficking.
Policies, Procedures, & Governance
Codes of Conduct
Specific requirements and policies that reinforce our commitment to preventing human trafficking, developed for team members, suppliers, franchise owners.
Confidential Reporting Hotline
Method for team members or other staff to report breaches of the Code of Conduct or violations in our anti-human trafficking policies.
Safety & Security
Enhanced requirements for all properties include multiple measures designed to prevent human trafficking and other criminal activity.
Enhanced background-check requirements for team members
Enhanced check-in process and identity verification for guests
Updated “Do Not Rent” system across entire Motel 6 network
“Every room, every day” policy requiring daily room inspection
Property scorecards tracking safety improvements such as lighting, fencing, etc.
Education, Training, & Response
Our commitment to anti-trafficking efforts is made clear through our comprehensive awareness, training and response program. In 2018, G6 overhauled its training materials and program to ensure it was relevant for Motel 6 and Studio 6 team members and contained updated information on our anti trafficking efforts, including how to spot the signs of and help prevent human trafficking.
Motel 6 and Studio 6 trains all staff—from the General Manager through the most junior housekeepers—to be the “eyes and ears” and to alert the property’s General Manager, local police, and the Motel 6/Studio 6 Hotline upon observing any signs of suspected human trafficking or prostitution.
Motel 6 and Studio 6 require Anti-trafficking Signage with the National Human Trafficking Hotline be displayed in public areas and in team centers in all hotels.
Partnership & Advocacy
G6 is committed to working with anti-trafficking and survivor services organizations. In 2019, G6 signed the ECPAT Tourism Child-Protection Code of Conduct (www.thecode.org), which is a joint venture of the tourism and hospitality sectors and ECPAT-USA (www.ecpatusa.org), a leader in advocacy and efforts to shape policy designed to end the commercial sexual exploitation of children.
Built upon a set of shared business principles that travel-related organizations put in place to help prevent human trafficking and exploitation, the Code establishes a framework for companies to provide training, education, and collaboration with other stakeholders.
In addition to becoming an ECPAT-USA member in 2019, Motel 6 is the first hotel company to become a member of the Texas Businesses Against Trafficking Alliance. Through our active membership of the American Hotel & Lodging Association (www.ahla.com), G6 participates in the industry-wide No Room for Trafficking campaign as well as issue roundtables, public awareness and state advocacy days.
In addition, we provide financial support to several organizations working at the forefront of anti-trafficking efforts and survivor support programs including New Friends, New Life and Truckers Against Trafficking. In 2020, G6 will begin a partnership with the University of North Texas Foundation to create the G6 Hospitality Opportunity Fund, focused on at-risk and under-served students.
Survivor Support
G6 recognizes that often trafficking survivors face significant challenges in accessing resources and social services to rebuild their lives. According to Polaris, in many parts of the United States, specialized survivor support and recovery programs may not exist or are under-resourced to meet the high demand for services and assistance.
As a result, G6 is spearheading the creation of an industrywide Survivor Support Fund to assist with the immediate and long-term needs of survivors including food, housing, clothing/goods, medical/legal/counseling services, job training/education/placement.
The Fund is expected to launch in the first quarter of 2020 and will be overseen by an executive director and an External Advisory Council, with representatives from survivor advocacy organizations (including survivors), law enforcement, industry experts, among others.
