Attitudes and perceptions of hotel employees in the Dutch hospitality industry regarding sexual exploitation and suspected human trafficking

This study examines how hotel employees in the Netherlands interpret and respond to potential signs of sexual exploitation and human trafficking. The hospitality industry, particularly the hotel sector, is widely recognised as vulnerable to sexual exploitation due to the temporary and private nature of hotel stays, high guest turnover and limited supervision. Although employee awareness is slowly increasing, little research has been conducted on how hotel employees make sense of ambiguous situations, experience emotional reactions and decide whether to take action. This study focuses on the interpretive and emotional dimensions of employees’ experiences and their preparedness, viewed as secondary outcomes shaped by the organisational context. A qualitative research approach was chosen, utilising semi-structured interviews with 12 employees from various hospitality companies in the Netherlands. The findings reveal that employees primarily associate human trafficking with sexual exploitation and rely heavily on intuition and stereotypical cues when interpreting suspicious situations. Emotional reactions, including fear, moral distress and uncertainty, were perceived by participants to inhibit action. The findings suggest that preparedness is best understood as an organisational capacity, requiring structured training, clear reporting procedures and a supportive workplace culture.