Connecticut law mandates that workers at all of the state's hotels, motels and lodges must receive annual training on how to detect and report human trafficking when they suspect that it is taking place in their workplace. This state became the first in the U.S. to require this annual training when it enacted the legisConnecticut law mandates that workers at all of the state's hotels, motels and lodges must receive annual training on how to detect and report human trafficking when they suspect that it is taking place in their workplace. This state became the first in the U.S. to require this annual training when it enacted the legislation in 2017.

That's why the Connecticut Convention & Sports Bureau (CTCSB) has introduced a new benefit program for its lodging industry members, one that will make it more convenient for them to provide this State-required education to its employees. The Bureau's Director of Business Development & Convention Services Susan Henrique is now certified as a Trainer on Human Trafficking Awareness, and the CTCSB is offering complimentary group sessions to CTCSB lodging members who require it.

"Our Bureau offers this opportunity to our member-hotels that might not have internal human resources personnel who are certified to train their own employees," says Robert Murdock, President of the Connecticut Convention & Sports Bureau, the State's official meetings and sports event sales and marketing organization. "We hope this will makes it easier for smaller hotel groups and individual properties who are having difficulty finding a cost-effective certified trainer to provide the education they need to comply with this law. We also can provide this service to other Bureau members in the hospitality industry who want to learn more about human trafficking. We plan to host multiple training sessions throughout the year as a member benefit."

The need for more available trainers in human trafficking awareness is also the reason that the Connecticut Convention & Sports Bureau recently partnered with the Connecticut Lodging Association to offer a two-day Human Trafficking Awareness course presented by Connecticut Department of Children and Families. The purpose of the November 18-19 program was to certify more individuals so they could return to their lodging workplaces and train their employees on Human Trafficking Awareness, with a specific focus on Connecticut issues and the lodging industry.

Human Trafficking Awareness Training assists lodging employees in identifying victims of Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking (DMST) as well as receiving tips on how to best respond and support identified trafficking victims. Participants learn definitions, federal and state legislation related to human trafficking, prevalence of DMST in Connecticut, pathways to victimization, warning signs, impact to the victims, and who are the buyers/exploiters of this crime. Specific information and resources are included to assist employees with identifying victims of human trafficking while staying at lodging establishments.

Working in partnership with the state's businesses, institutions, nonprofit organizations, and their surrounding communities, the Connecticut Convention & Sports Bureau (CTCSB) markets all of the state - convention and meeting venues, hotels and attractions, and sporting venues - as a premier destination for international, national, regional and statewide conferences, conventions and major sports events. The Connecticut Sports Advisory Board, a division of the CTCSB, focuses its efforts on attracting and serving international, national and regional sporting events. Events booked by the CTCSB in the last fiscal year alone are projected to result in: $62,989,859 in spending by convention, meeting and sports events attendees during their visits to the state, generating $4,272,596 in Connecticut taxes. In addition, more than 17,331 Connecticut jobs in the hospitality industry will be supported by these events as a result of these bookings.* For more information about the Connecticut Convention & Sports Bureau, visit www.CTmeetings.org or call 860-728-6789.(*Destinations International economic calculator FY 2018-19).