AHLA Foundation Expands No Room for Trafficking Initiative Through New Partnership with Hotels Canada
Gerrod Bede, General Counsel of Red Roof, appointed as Co-Chair of NRFT Advisory Council
The AHLA Foundation and Hotels Canada formalized a cross-border MOU to align anti-trafficking programs, expand employee training, and grow the NRFT Advisory Council with new appointments from Red Roof and Accor.
Photo by AHLA Foundation
The AHLA Foundation today announced the expansion of its No Room for Trafficking (NRFT) initiative through a new partnership with Hotels Canada, reinforcing a shared commitment to combatting human trafficking through education, industry collaboration, workforce engagement, and survivor support.
Formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), the partnership with the American Hotel & Lodging Association’s (AHLA) Canadian counterpart establishes a framework for collaboration between the AHLA Foundation and Hotels Canada, aligning their respective anti-trafficking initiatives to further strengthen industry participation and advance coordinated efforts across borders.
Human trafficking knows no borders and our response should not either. By partnering with Hotels Canada, we are reinforcing our shared commitment to equipping hotel employees with the training and resources they need to help identify and prevent trafficking. Together, we can build a stronger, more united hospitality industry committed to protecting vulnerable individuals
Kevin Carey, President & CEO of the AHLA Foundation
Human trafficking is a complex issue that requires collective action. This partnership will create a stronger, more coordinated international response by expanding awareness, increasing access to resources, and strengthening our industry's capacity to help prevent and combat human trafficking
Beth McMahon, President & CEO, Hotels Canada
The Foundation also announced the expansion of its NRFT Advisory Council, with the appointment of top executives at Red Roof Franchising, LLC and Accor. Gerrod Bede, General Counsel of Red Roof, was named as Co-Chair. Bede’s leadership in shaping Red Roof’s anti-trafficking strategy reflects the company's commitment to continuous improvement and partnering with industry organizations to advance solutions that help raise awareness and confront human trafficking. Bede will serve alongside current Co-Chair Joan Bottarini, Chief Financial Officer at Hyatt Hotels Corporation, to help guide the strategic direction of the NRFT initiative and support collaboration across the hospitality industry.
"I am honored to have been selected as Co-Chair of the No Room for Trafficking Advisory Council," said Bede. "The hospitality industry has the opportunity to bring awareness to the crime of human trafficking, and I look forward to working alongside the AHLA Foundation, Hotels Canada, and industry leaders across North America to expand our impact and continue advancing this important work."
Accor’s Marina Elsener, Executive Director, Sustainability, Raffles & Fairmont will join the Advisory Council.
The announcements come ahead of the AHLA Foundation's 2026 No Room for Trafficking Summit, taking place July 30 in Arlington, VA. The 5th annual summit brings together hospitality leaders, survivor advocates, law enforcement officials, policymakers, and nonprofit organizations to share best practices, strengthen partnerships, and advance solutions to combat human trafficking. Since its launch, the AHLA Foundation's No Room for Trafficking initiative has mobilized the hospitality industry through education, survivor-centered programming, and strategic partnerships, that can help hotels better recognize, respond to, and prevent human trafficking.
For more information about No Room for Trafficking, visit https://www.ahlafoundation.org/nrft/
About AHLA Foundation
The AHLA Foundation, the charitable arm of the American Hotel & Lodging Association, works to support the hotel and lodging industry’s greatest asset – our people. By connecting employees, employers, and their communities, we seek to continuously nurture a culture of professional growth and belonging. When the people who work in our industry thrive, the industry thrives along with them. The Foundation is funded by grants and charitable contributions from generous individuals and organizations who want to support individuals seeking opportunities to thrive in the hotel and lodging industry. Learn more at www.ahlafoundation.org.
About Hotels Canada
Hotels Canada is the national voice of the Canadian hotel sector, representing more than 8,300 hotels and 320,000 employees operating in every province and territory. The organization advocates for policies that support a competitive and sustainable hotel industry, provides research and insights to strengthen business performance, and works to advance Canada’s visitor economy. Originally founded in 1913, Hotels Canada continues to champion the interests of hotel operators, workers, and the communities they serve. Learn more at hotelscanada.ca.
About the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA)
The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) is the largest hotel association in America, representing more than 30,000 members from all segments of the industry nationwide – including iconic global brands, 80 percent of all franchised hotels, and the 16 largest hotel companies in the U.S. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., AHLA focuses on strategic advocacy, communications support, and workforce development programs to move the industry forward. Learn more at www.ahla.com.