AAHOA Applauds Pennsylvania Enactment of Human Trafficking Awareness Training Legislation

ATLANTA, GA, July 20, 2026 — AAHOA (Asian American Hotel Owners Association) joins with the Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association (PR&LA) in applauding Governor Josh Shapiro for enacting House Bill 1286, requiring human trafficking awareness training for hospitality employees and certain online lodging and reservation companies.

Sponsored by Rep. Regina Young, the legislation expands Pennsylvania’s human trafficking awareness requirements to include hotels, motels, short-term rentals, rental operators, third-party booking platforms, and certain contract workers. It also requires employees with guest contact or room access to complete approved human trafficking awareness training, with refresher training every two years. Short-term rental operators must also complete the training, and third-party listing platforms must verify operator compliance.

“AAHOA is proud to support this legislation,” AAHOA Chairman Rahul Patel said. “Hotel owners want to do the right thing, but awareness and training are essential. This legislation gives hospitality employees the knowledge to recognize the warning signs and respond appropriately. Every step we take to raise awareness helps protect vulnerable individuals and strengthen our communities.” 

“Human trafficking has no place in Pennsylvania, and Pennsylvania’s hospitality industry is proud to be part of the solution,” PR&LA President & CEO Joe Massaro said. “We applaud the Pennsylvania General Assembly for advancing and passing PRLA priority and industry-backed legislation, House Bill 1286, which expands anti-human trafficking training across the lodging industry and brings us one step closer to making it law. This legislation reflects our shared commitment to protecting people, saving lives, and ensuring our tourism industry operates responsibly.”

For years, AAHOA has supported efforts to combat human trafficking through education, advocacy, and industry partnerships. The association provides members with training and resources to help hotel owners and employees recognize the signs of trafficking and respond safely and effectively.

“AAHOA has long believed the hospitality industry can play an important role in helping combat human trafficking through education and awareness,” AAHOA President & CEO Laura Lee Blake said. “We commend the Governor, Representative Young, and the Pennsylvania General Assembly for advancing legislation that equips hospitality professionals to recognize and report suspected trafficking. This is an important step forward, and we hope to see more states follow Pennsylvania’s lead.” 

About AAHOA

AAHOA is the largest hotel owners association in the nation, with Member-owned properties representing a significant part of the U.S. economy. AAHOA’s 20,000 members own 60% of the hotels in the United States and are responsible for 1.4% of the nation’s GDP. More than 1 million employees work at AAHOA member-owned hotels, earning $51.3 billion annually, and member-owned hotels support 4.2 million U.S. jobs across all sectors of the hospitality industry. AAHOA’s mission is to serve and protect business interests of our members through profit-driven member benefits and services, effective advocacy, industry leadership, professional development, and impactful community engagement.