Hilton, Hyatt and IHG Hotels & Resorts Create Modernized, Updated Human Trafficking Prevention Training
Training Made Available to the Industry at No Cost, Underscoring Hospitality’s Longstanding Commitment to Preventing Human Trafficking
Washington, D.C. [January 28, 2026] — Hilton, Hyatt, and IHG Hotels & Resorts today announced a comprehensive human trafficking prevention training curriculum that will be made available to the hospitality industry at no cost. The training will be available to independent hotel owners, operators, and brands throughout 2026, marking the first time these three major hospitality companies have collaborated on a training initiative designed to help prevent human trafficking across the industry.
The updated training, developed in partnership with the three hospitality companies, Protect All Children from Trafficking (PACT), and Unboxed Training & Technology, is survivor-informed and leverages live-action video storytelling that will now be available in English and Spanish on PACT’s website for industry use.
PACT will serve as the training administrator and provided subject-matter expertise grounded in survivors’ lived experience. Unboxed Training & Technology served as the strategic learning design partner, working with the companies to design and deliver a scalable, multilingual learning experience aligned to shared industry standards. Participants will receive technical support throughout the training, scheduled reminders to encourage completion and a certificate upon successful completion.
The collaboration exemplifies AHLA Foundation’s mission to unite the industry against human trafficking through its No Room for Trafficking (NRFT) initiative. All three companies are represented on AHLA Foundation’s NRFT Advisory Council, whose members champion and shape the hotel industry’s unified anti-trafficking efforts and survivor support. It will be featured alongside the industry’s existing training launched by Marriott International, which has been completed more than 2.6 million times by industry employees since 2020.
“This collaboration shows that together, we can achieve more than any of us could alone,” said Katherine Lugar, EVP, corporate affairs, Hilton and president, Hilton Global Foundation, “Today, we’re putting competition aside and partnering across the industry to ensure every hospitality professional has access to the most up to date information and tools they need to recognize, respond and report instances of trafficking.”
“By listening to survivors and learning from hotel teams on the ground, we gained invaluable insights into where guidance could be strengthened to deepen the impact of our existing training,” said Joan Bottarini, Chief Financial Officer at Hyatt and Chair of AHLAF’s NRFT Advisory Council. “That understanding helped us shape and design an updated training to better support and equip hotel teams in real-world situations.”
“This partnership succeeded because we shared a commitment to turn an idea into action, together,” said Rani Hammond, SVP, Global Human Resources at IHG Hotels & Resorts. “By uniting around a common purpose, we’ve created a new, survivor-informed resource that can empower hotel teams to make a real difference in preventing human trafficking.”
“As an industry, we’ll continue to play a leading role in human trafficking prevention. Through the AHLA Foundation’s NRFT initiative, our mission is to convene the industry to elevate awareness of the crisis of human trafficking, educate the industry, and support survivors on their path forward,” said Kevin Carey, President and CEO of AHLA Foundation. “We are proud to support this collaboration. This is the kind of industry-wide cooperation on shared priorities that we hope will inspire future collective efforts on critical societal concerns.”
This training launch announcement culminates a series of advocacy and awareness events conducted throughout January in recognition of Human Trafficking Prevention Month, offering the industry a valuable tool as it prepares to welcome large-scale events to the U.S. in 2026, which present opportunities to further strengthen awareness and prevention efforts. Industry members can access the training and additional information at courses.wearepact.org/preventing-human-trafficking.
CONTACT: Rahkendra Ice | media@ahla.com
Hilton: HiltonPR@Hilton.com
Hyatt: Connie.Mccauslin@Hyatt.com & Mitch.Taylor@Hyatt.com
IHG Hotels & Resorts: AmericasComms@ihg.com
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About AHLA Foundation
AHLA Foundation, the charitable arm of the American Hotel & Lodging Association, works to support the hotel and lodging industry’s greatest asset – our people. By connecting employees, employers, and their communities, we seek to continuously nurture a culture of professional growth and belonging. When the people who work in our industry thrive, the industry thrives along with them. The Foundation is funded by grants and charitable contributions from generous individuals and organizations who want to support individuals seeking opportunities to thrive in the hotel and lodging industry. Learn more at www.ahlafoundation.org.
About Hilton
Hilton (NYSE: HLT) is a leading global hospitality company with a portfolio of 26 world-class brands comprising 9,000 properties and over 1.3 million rooms, in 141 countries and territories. Dedicated to fulfilling its founding vision to fill the earth with the light and warmth of hospitality, Hilton has welcomed over 3 billion guests in its more than 100-year history. As the No. 1 World’s Best Workplace by Great Place to Work and Fortune, Hilton aims to create the best culture for its 500,000 team members around the world. Hilton has introduced industry-leading technology enhancements to improve the guest experience, including Digital Key Share, automated complimentary room upgrades and the ability to book confirmed connecting rooms. Through the award-winning guest loyalty program Hilton Honors, the more than 235 million Hilton Honors members who book directly with Hilton can earn Points for hotel stays and experiences money can’t buy. With the free Hilton Honors app, guests can book their stay, select their room, check in, unlock their door with a Digital Key and check out, all from their smartphone. Visit stories.hilton.com for more information, and connect with Hilton on Facebook, X, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.
About Hyatt Hotels Corporation
Hyatt Hotels Corporation, headquartered in Chicago, is a leading global hospitality company guided by its purpose – to care for people so they can be their best. As of September 30, 2025, the Company’s portfolio included more than 1,450 hotels and all-inclusive properties in 82 countries across six continents. The Company’s offering includes brands in the Luxury Portfolio, including Park Hyatt®, Alila®, Miraval®, Impression by Secrets, and The Unbound Collection by Hyatt®; the Lifestyle Portfolio, including Andaz®, Thompson Hotels®, The Standard®, Dream® Hotels, The StandardX, Breathless Resorts & Spas®, JdV by Hyatt®, Bunkhouse® Hotels, and Me and All Hotels; the Inclusive Collection, including Zoëtry® Wellness & Spa Resorts, Hyatt Ziva®, Hyatt Zilara®, Secrets® Resorts & Spas, Dreams® Resorts & Spas, Hyatt Vivid® Hotels & Resorts, Sunscape® Resorts & Spas, Alua Hotels & Resorts®, and Bahia Principe Hotels & Resorts; the Classics Portfolio, including Grand Hyatt®, Hyatt Regency®, Destination by Hyatt®, Hyatt Centric®, Hyatt Vacation Club®, and Hyatt®; and the Essentials Portfolio, including Caption by Hyatt®, Unscripted by Hyatt, Hyatt Place®, Hyatt House®, Hyatt Studios®, Hyatt Select, and UrCove. Subsidiaries of the Company operate the World of Hyatt® loyalty program, ALG Vacations®, Mr & Mrs Smith, Unlimited Vacation Club®, Amstar® DMC destination management services, and Trisept Solutions® technology services. For more information, please visit www.hyatt.com.
About IHG Hotels & Resorts
IHG Hotels & Resorts (tickers: LON:IHG for Ordinary Shares; NYSE:IHG for ADRs) is a global hospitality company, with a purpose to provide True Hospitality for Good.
With a family of 20 hotel brands and IHG One Rewards, one of the world’s largest hotel loyalty programmes with over 145 million members, IHG has more than one million rooms and 6,800 open hotels in over 100 countries, and a development pipeline of over 2,300 properties.
- Luxury & Lifestyle: Six Senses, Regent Hotels & Resorts, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Vignette Collection, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, Hotel Indigo
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- Essentials: Holiday Inn Express, Holiday Inn Hotels & Resorts, Garner hotels, avid hotels
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InterContinental Hotels Group PLC is the Group’s holding company and is incorporated and registered in England and Wales. Approximately 385,000 people work across IHG’s hotels and corporate offices globally.
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