Human trafficking, a form of modern-day slavery that involves the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring, or receipt of people through force, fraud, or deception to use them for profit, is a pervasive problem. American Express Global Business Travel (Amex GBT), which acquired Lawyers Travel in 2021, recently formalized a training program to identify human trafficking and what to do if such a crime is suspected. In partnership with ECPAT, which upholds a code of conduct for the protection of children from sexual exploitation in travel and tourism, we have committed to train 100% of our workforce by 2025.
The travel and meetings and events industries are uniquely poised to address this abuse of human rights. As traffickers regularly rely on travel networks to operate, travelers unknowingly may be a bystander of human trafficking during their journeys. Warning signs to be on the lookout for include:
- A person who doesn’t know which country they are in or lacks knowledge of their whereabouts.
- A person who allows others to speak for them when addressed directly.
- A minor who’s unaccompanied or traveling with someone who is not a relative or guardian.
- A person not in possession of their own passport/travel documents and has little or no personal belongings.
If you suspect a human trafficking incident or encounter a situation of concern, for your own safety, never approach a suspect directly. Instead, report it to the authorities, file a complaint with the hotel, or call a confidential anti-human trafficking hotline. To read more, click here.
With the powerful backing of Amex GBT, Ovation is dedicated to staying ahead of these ever-changing times and ensuring our clients continue to receive the same knowledgeable, unrivaled service we've provided for over 35 years. If you're interested in learning more about the many benefits of our managed travel program, we would love the opportunity to speak with you and welcome the future of business travel together.
Ovation Travel Group and Lawyers Travel are wholly owned by American Express Global Business Travel (GBT). GBT is a joint venture that is not wholly owned by American Express Company or any of its subsidiaries (American Express). American Express Global Business Travel”, “American Express", and the American Express logo are trademarks of American Express and are used under limited license. “American Express Meetings & Events” is a division of GBT.
