BEST’s Inhospitable to Human Trafficking Training Meets New York Requirements

Every year, thousands of New Yorkers fall victim to human trafficking and are robbed of their freedoms and dignity. But BEST is at the forefront of the fight against human trafficking by providing training, resources, and hope for survivors.

Recently, the state of New York took a significant step towards combating this heinous crime. Governor Kathy Hochul signed eight new laws into effect, bolstering the support for victims and increasing awareness to prevent human trafficking. The state is now requiring human trafficking prevention signage in places victims are taken most often. This includes hotels, airports, bus terminals, and truck stops. The new legislation will also increase human trafficking awareness training for employees in those industries.  

As of July 2023, all newly hired hospitality employees in New York must receive an approved human trafficking prevention training within their first 60 days of employment, and all current employees must receive human trafficking prevention training by November 20, 2023. This new state requirement will help more hospitality employees in New York be able to identify and assist potential human trafficking victims.  

The New York Division of Criminal Justice Services and Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, along with the New York State Interagency Task Force on Human Trafficking are approving training programs that meet the state’s standards set forth in the new legislation. The approved training must cover information about the nature of human trafficking, how to recognize victims of human trafficking, and how to safely report suspected instances of human trafficking. Hotel owners and operators must keep records showing each staff member’s compliance with this new training requirement while they are working at their facility, and for at least one year after an employee’s separation.  

BEST’s Inhospitable to Human Trafficking training for hotel employees has been approved to meet New York’s training requirements. Ater completing Inhospitable to Human Trafficking training, employees can easily print a certificate of completion from BEST that employers can keep on file as proof that each employee is following the new state requirement. BEST’s video-based training takes just 30 minutes and is available in English or Spanish.  

Hotel owners and operators who are interested in using BEST’s Inhospitable to Human Trafficking training can contact BEST’s program manager, Violeta Vega, at violeta@bestalliance.org.  

For more information about using BEST’s awareness raising signs in New York hotels, airports, bus terminals, and truck stops, contact BEST’s communications coordinator, Rachel D’Alio, at rachel@bestalliance.org.