Not Everyone Gets the Training They Need, And That’s a Problem

You ever notice how the biggest problems rarely announce themselves? They don't show up with a warning label or sound the alarm. Instead, they sit quietly in the background, building momentum until it's almost too late. Human trafficking is one of those problems. And the scariest part? A huge chunk of people working in hotels, schools, clinics, airports, and shopping centers have never been taught how to spot it.

Not because they’re careless or cold. But because no one ever pulled them aside and said, "Hey, this matters. Here's what to look for."

That’s where Through Their Eyes comes in.

Let’s break it down...

So, How Bad Is It, Really?

Alright, let’s start with the hospitality industry. Why? Because it’s one of the few places almost every trafficking survivor reports passing through, often times going unnoticed.

There are about 60,000 hotels and motels across the U.S. Sounds like a lot, right? That’s because it is. These include everything from five-star chains to the kind of motels you pass on the highway that haven’t updated their signage since 1989.

Here’s the estimated breakdown:

• 60% are part of a chain (Marriott, Hilton, Choice, etc.)

• 40% are independent (mom-and-pop, roadside, boutique)

Most big chains now have mandatory human trafficking training, thanks to public pressure and partnerships with groups like ECPAT-USA and AHLA. But independent places? Not so much. Many operate under tight margins and even tighter schedules.

So here’s the conservative math:

• Trained chain properties (80%): ~28,800

• Untrained chain properties (20%): ~7,200

• Trained independents (35%): ~8,400

• Untrained independents (65%): ~15,600

Total properties with no training? Roughly 22,800.

That’s nearly 2 out of every 5 hotels. Let that sink in.

Where's This Data From?

Good question. You’d think there’d be a nice clean government database tracking all this, but NOPE. There’s no federal requirement that says, "Hey, if you run a hotel or hospital, you must teach your staff how to recognize trafficking."

So, we did what anyone working on this problem has to do: we pieced it together.

• Public reports from the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA)

• Statements and press releases from hotel brands

• State-level training mandates (like those in California, Texas, Illinois, and Florida)

• Conversations with industry insiders and survivor advocates

All that adds up to a smart, cautious estimate. We’re not saying it’s perfect, but it’s better than crossing our fingers and hoping someone else is keeping track.

Let’s Talk About the Others: The Big 4 Sectors Getting Overlooked

Here’s the thing, hotels aren’t the only ones in the dark.

Human trafficking is sneaky. It weaves itself into everyday places, relying on the fact that most people won’t recognize it unless someone literally spells it out for them. So, let’s spell it out.

1. Healthcare

Ever gone to the ER and seen chaos? Now imagine being a trafficking survivor trying to ask for help without tipping off the person watching you. Most medical professionals care deeply, they just don’t always know what to look for.

Did you know many trafficking victims pass through healthcare settings without ever being identified? A 2014 study from Loyola University found 88% of survivors had some kind of medical interaction during their exploitation.

And yet, in most states, trafficking training is still optional for doctors, nurses, EMTs, and social workers. Optional.

That’s like giving lifeguards the option to learn CPR.

2. Transportation & Travel

Airports, bus terminals, and even rideshare platforms like Uber and Lyft are all places where traffickers move people around. Some airlines do a great job training flight crews. Delta Airlines has been a leader here, offering survivor-informed education since 2018.

But on the ground? Drivers, gate agents, baggage handlers? Many of them are left out. There’s no federal law saying, "Hey, if you're working in this space, you should know how to spot red flags."

That leaves a lot of room for danger to sneak by.

3. Retail

Think about it: malls, gas stations, convenience stores, etc. are all places where people come and go all day without raising suspicion. Victims might be allowed to shop alone or be sent to buy supplies.

Retail employees are often the last line of visibility. And yet, the idea of training them to spot trafficking? It’s barely a blip on most corporate radars.

Even major retail chains with loss prevention protocols rarely include trafficking in their training decks. That’s a missed opportunity.

4. Education

This one hits hardest. Teens are one of the most vulnerable groups when it comes to trafficking, especially those who are homeless, in foster care, or in unstable living situations.

Schools should be on the front lines of prevention. But most aren’t equipped.

• High school teachers, counselors, and nurses often don’t receive targeted trafficking training unless mandated by state law.

• College campuses? Even less. And if you think traffickers don’t operate there, you’d be mistaken. From online grooming to labor exploitation and campus nightlife, it’s all in play.

We need to treat school staff like first responders, because in many cases, they are.

What Now? Do We Just Throw Up Our Hands?

Nah. That’s not how change happens. Believe us, we've heard all of the excuses, from a CEO of a national hospitality company stating (behind closed doors) that "Human Trafficking is just too big of an issue for us to deal with. It's best to not even bring it up because there's nothing we can do.", to reading your neighbor Karens FB comments about victims willingly allow themselves to be trafficked because of their outfits or lifestyle.

True change and impact happens when we stop shrugging and start asking better questions. Like: "How can we make this training accessible, affordable, and actually engaging?" Or: "Why haven’t we made this a universal standard already?"

At Through Their Eyes, we’re not just talking about the problem. We’re building the solution.

Our program isn’t another mandatory slideshow you click through while scrolling Instagram on your phone. It’s story-driven, modular, emotionally powerful, and tailored for real-world settings. Whether that’s behind the front desk, inside a school counseling office, or during a new hire orientation.

And we’re just getting started.

Here’s How You Can Help (Without Losing Your Mind)

We know people are busy. You’ve got a job to do, a family to feed, and maybe a favorite show you’re trying to finish before spoilers hit social media. But this work? It’s worth a pause.

• If you run a business: ask if your team has been trained. If not, we’ll help.

• If you work in education, healthcare, travel, or retail: ask your leadership what resources exist. And if they say, "None?" Send them our way.

• If you’re just a human being reading this: share it. Talk about it. Don’t let the silence win.

Because here’s the deal: trafficking survives on silence. Training kills the silence.

And if you ask us, that’s a pretty solid start.

Need more info? Want to bring training to your organization?

Visit us at www.ThroughTheirEyes.co

We’ll show you how awareness becomes action. One story at a time.

We’re building bridges where there are none. But we need your help. We're looking for funding, partnerships, and outreach to get this training into the hands of those who’ve been overlooked for too long.

Because awareness shouldn’t depend on your zip code. Or your franchise. Or your budget.

Everyone deserves to be part of the solution.