Human Trafficking Prevention Seminar to be Held in Pigeon Forge

The Pigeon Forge Hospitality and Tourism Association will hold a community educational seminar on Human Trafficking Prevention on Wednesday. Attendees will learn how to identify human trafficking; who is effected; what to do if you suspect someone is at risk; and what role the hospitality industry has in the fight against human trafficking at this comprehensive training event.

The seminar will be facilitated by Derri Smith, CEO & Jill Rutter, director of Community Outreach from the Tennessee Anti-Slavery Alliance (TASA) End Slavery team and Bill Mish, vice president of Operations, M. Gibson Hotels. Completers of this seminar will receive a Certificate of Training on Human Trafficking Prevention from the Tennessee Hospitality & Tourism Association(TnHTA).

The Human Trafficking Prevention seminar will be held on Wednesday, May 17, 2017 at SpringHill Suites by Marriott, 120 Christmas Tree Lane in Pigeon Forge. A light breakfast will be provided by Flapjack’s Pancake Cabin. Registration & breakfast begin at 8 a.m. and program runs 8:30–10:30 a.m. This seminar is open to everyone – cost is $5 per person for non PFHTA members.

“When people hear the term “Human Trafficking,” often they are unsure of what exactly it involves, how big of a global problem it has become, how to identify it or that it just simply cannot happen here. The latter is so not true. According to the National Human Trafficking Hotline 2015 Annual Report Tennessee ranked 12th in the U.S. for human trafficking cases reported by state. This seminar will provide invaluable information for our employees in any area of hospitality on how to identify human trafficking and what to do if you suspect someone is at risk,” said PFHTA Education Committee Chair Joe Fall.

Register online or by calling Melanie Clifford at 865-453-4514 ext. 610. Space is limited.