Name: How Booking.com and It’s A Penalty Are Addressing Human Traffick…
Uploaded: 2026-03-18T11:20:41+00:00
Description: Human trafficking is a complex and often misunderstood issue, and one that exists across communities, including within hospitality. In this episode, we’re joined by…

Human trafficking is a complex and often misunderstood issue, and one that exists across communities, including within hospitality.

In this episode, we’re joined by Betsy Steckler, Regional Director of Partner Services at Booking.com, and Jennifer Easterday, Head of Human Rights at Booking.com, to talk about how their teams are approaching human trafficking through awareness, education, and partner support.

From building training programs to equipping operators with practical tools, they share how Booking.com is working to help partners better understand the signs, respond appropriately, and create safer environments for both guests and communities.

We then continue the conversation with Philippa King, Deputy CEO of It’s A Penalty, a global non-profit organization focused on raising awareness and preventing human trafficking through large-scale campaigns tied to major events like the Super Bowl and the upcoming World Cup.

Philippa shares how these campaigns work, why major events create both risk and opportunity, and how collaboration between platforms, organizations, and local communities plays a critical role in prevention.

Across both conversations, a few themes stand out: the importance of awareness, the need for practical action, and the role that individuals, teams, and communities can play in recognizing and responding to potential risks.
While the issue is complex, the conversation highlights practical ways to better understand it and take action when something doesn’t feel right.

Episode Chapters:
00:00 – Welcome to the show
03:00 – Booking.com partner services and human rights overview
05:30 – Human trafficking awareness in hospitality
08:30 – Understanding human trafficking in lodging and guest environments
10:30 – How operators and teams can stay informed
13:00 – Signs of human trafficking in guest stays
18:00 – Reporting suspicious activity and escalation process
22:30 – Training and resources for hospitality teams
30:36 – It’s A Penalty overview and mission
31:00 – How It’s A Penalty campaigns started
34:10 – Human trafficking risks during major events
36:20 – Types of human trafficking explained
40:30 – Real-world example of trafficking in a rental property
43:00 – Why human trafficking is often hidden in plain sight
45:30 – Practical steps for awareness and prevention
47:10 – World Cup preparation and risk awareness