Human Trafficking: Educate Your Employees

Did you know human trafficking is a major problem in the United States?  Most trafficking networks rely on legitimate businesses like yours to sustain their operations.  It goes on right under our noses and is occurring in properties of all kinds.  Hotels have an opportunity to help combat this serious issue by monitoring their guests and watching for certain signs.  Law enforcement has increased their efforts toward stopping human trafficking and has made great progress.  There are a few things you can keep an eye out for in case this should be occurring at your property.  The American Hotel and Lodging Association (AH&LA) provides several actions you can take to prevent this in your hotel.  You can download several helpful materials from their website which is linked at the bottom of this page.

The number one way to combat this issue is to educate your employees on the problem.  Making sure your employees are aware of the problem and understand what to do in the event a situation arises is essential to stopping it and avoiding further complications.  The Department of Homeland Security provides several documents to educate your employees on this very real problem.  You can download an informative page, awareness poster and human trafficking indicators card to provide to your employees.  All of these documents are linked at the bottom of this page.

The first red flag you should notice is if a customer comes in without a reservation and pays for their room with cash.  This is an uncommon occurrence at hotels and is something to look for because they will attempt to come to your hotel and leave without any paper trail.  If someone comes to your property and performs this process, your front desk employees should be educated on the situation and request to take a copy of their ID.  It is legal in most states to request a copy of their ID to hold onto until they check out of the hotel at which point the copy must be destroyed.  With this ID copy, if something should happen where police approach your employees requesting information, you have that information readily available. Your employees should also be educated on what to do if police should approach them with or without a warrant.

Human trafficking is a serious issue that won’t likely ever stop, but by doing your part we can work to make a difference.  Check out these links below for more information and to get involved in actively combatting human trafficking.

Department of Homeland Security

Informative Document

Awareness Poster

Human Trafficking Tip Card

In Colorado, the Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking is a group of volunteers dedicated to doing their part.  If you would like to join them and help fight this problem, check them out here: http://www.combathumantrafficking.org/

View the American Hotel and Lodging Association’s guide to combat human trafficking: http://www.ahla.com/content.aspx?id=30645

Mountain Lodgings see Steady Increase

According to Denver-based research company, DestiMetrics, mountain lodging has seen a steady increase in bookings and is expected to remain strong throughout the winter season!  DestiMetrics took data from a variety of mountain lodging resorts in California, Utah and Colorado.  Their findings show that there has been a 9.7% increase in reservations from this time last year.  These positive results are a continuation from a strong summer for bookings and reservations.  Year-round it seems that bookings and reservations are on the rise from last year’s numbers.  We can only assume these are more positive signs that the economy has come a long way and is continuing to slowly improve.  “The company’s research found on-the-books occupancy for October is up 7.4 percent compared to last Oct. and revenues are up 13.9 percent.”

http://www.9news.com/rss/story.aspx?storyid=360052

DestiMetrics

SPOTlight: The Osprey at Beaver Creek

Looking for your next luxurious mountain getaway?  Look no further.  The Osprey at Beaver Creek is the ultimate in Beaver Creek lodging.  “The Osprey creates unforgettable vacation experiences by coupling luxurious, stylish accommodations and a superior level of comfort with exemplary service from a friendly, welcoming staff.” The Osprey was recently awarded the #1 Top Resort in the Continental United States by the 2012 Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards readers survey.”

In the winter months, it’s obvious why people travel to Beaver Creek.  This world class ski resort is a winter wonderland that’s perfect for riders of all skill levels.  People come from all over the world to enjoy skiing, snowboarding, ice skating and snow shoeing.   In the summer months, “this area is a mecca for hiking, mountain and road biking, horseback riding, whitewater rafting, fly fishing, and golf.”  The surrounding area is stocked with mountain biking and hiking trails for all skill levels.  With a list of activities this long, there’s no doubt Beaver Creek has something for everyone!

Of course people come to Beaver Creek for the outdoors activities, but just because you’re no the outdoors type doesn’t mean we don’t have something for you too!  The Osprey is the premier luxury hotel in Beaver Creek.  For those who just want to relax, this luxury hotel offers a heated deck and hot tub, fitness center, a steam room and sauna and often functions as an incredible wedding destination.  When traveling to Beaver Creek for the relaxing atmosphere, you’ll also want to explore the endless dining and shopping opportunities that are offered.  This area (the Vail Valley) is home to some of the most exclusive restaurants and shopping in the country.

Some of the unique features of The Osprey at Beaver Creek include ski-in/out access to Beaver Creek Resort, exclusive access to Beaver Creek Golf Club and Red Sky Golf Club, and The Osprey lounge which features an exceptional hand-picked wine list.  “Experience the supremely stylish side of Beaver Creek ski resorts with The Osprey. Elegant amenities, exceptional service, and ski in/ski out convenience will have you coming back to The Osprey again and again for years to come.”

http://ospreyatbeavercreek.rockresorts.com/

Black Canyon Inn–A Well Kept Secret Right in Estes Park

Lately we’ve featured several mountain properties in Colorado that are perfect for your next mountain getaway.  One town we have been highlighting is Estes Park–but for good reason.  Estes Park, Colorado is one of the best travel destinations in the country.  In 2011, Trip Advisor named the small Colorado mountain town of Estes Park number 14 in their “Top 25 Destinations in the United States.”  So why all this recognition?  Allow me to explain..

For starters, Estes Park is in the heart of Rocky Mountain National Park.  This gives you access to hundreds of miles of hiking and mountain-biking trails.  People travel from all over the world to enjoy the world class hiking that is Rocky Mountain National Park.  This area has suitable hikes for all ages and skill levels.  Some prefer more of a challenge and choose to hike up a nearby 14’er (a mountain reaching more than 14,000 feet in elevation) while others can enjoy flat trails along rivers and mountainsides.  Some of the flat trails are perfect for hiking with kids.  Many of them end up at beautiful lakes which are perfect for fishing! Or if you prefer, the park can be enjoyed from the safety and comfort of your vehicle, “Trail Ridge Road, a designated national scenic byway and the highest continuous roadway in America, takes visitors on a journey through an alpine wonderland.”

Because of the mountainous terrain, there are also opportunities for rafting, horseback riding and rock climbing for the more adventurous spirits!  The area is world famous for ice and rock climbers.  You can explore the endless terrain inside the park and have enough options that you never have to follow the same route twice.

Aside from the beautiful scenery, Estes Park is flooded with wildlife!  During the spring and fall months you can expect to see a variety of wildlife while visiting the area including Big Horn Sheep, Elk, Fox, Deer and the occasional Bear!  While there’s still wildlife to be seen in the summer, they are much more abundant in the spring and fall months.  Estes Park is also notorious to bird-watchers.  It draws a wide variety of birds and endless landscapes to chase them through!

Because of the popularity of Estes Park, the town has become very commercialized for a Colorado mountain town. Just outside town is a small lodge called the Black Canyon Inn which is just a half mile from downtown Estes Park.  While this lodge provides isolation from urban life, there’s enough civilization that you and your family can still enjoy tons of shopping, local restaurants, movie theaters and bars!  You can enjoy the endless natural landscapes offered by Rocky Mountain National Park and still be back in time to catch dinner and a movie in downtown Estes Park.   Despite the popularity of this travel destination, Rocky Mountain National Park spans for hundreds of miles of the Rocky Mountains making it easy for one to escape crowds and enjoy the solitude of the mountains.

When traveling to Estes Park there are tons of options in terms of where to stay.  Some are chain hotels, local lodges and cabins, while others are a little more difficult to find.  The Black Canyon Inn is a well-kept secret in EstesPark.  The Inn features 14 acres, a small stream-fed pond; rock cropping’s and is located only a half mile from downtown Estes Park.  This lodge gives you the seclusion that is sought after in the Rocky Mountains while still being accessible to the warm little downtown of Estes Park; making this location a preferred family vacation spot for generations.

Sources:

http://www.blackcanyoninn.com/ 

http://www.colorado.com/cities-and-towns/estes-park