Sexual exploitation: hotels on the lookout all year round

As major events approach, such as the Formula 1 Grand Prix, which will be held this weekend in Montreal, prevention against sexual exploitation is back on the agenda. But for hotel establishments, which train their staff to identify suspicious situations, vigilance is required all year round.

“To say that it happens more in hotels during the Grand Prix is ​​more of a myth than anything else. I haven’t noticed any stronger signals, in any case. » Eric Hamel, interim general director of the Association of Hoteliers of Greater Montreal (AGHM), on the front line of the media, does not want to focus specifically on the event.

“We must make no mistake, the risk of sexual exploitation is experienced at all times, both in remote regions and urban centers, and whether or not it is linked to any event,” also maintains the director of the Association. Hôtellerie Québec (AHQ), Véronyque Tremblay.

Difficult to perceive, complex information to collect: there are no statistics on acts of sexual exploitation in hotels in the province, and in particular in Montreal. Still, during the Grand Prix, police teams visit some 80 hotel establishments ahead of the festivities surrounding the race. “The officers meet with employees, all with the aim of prevention and awareness,” underlines the Montreal City Police Service (SPVM) in an email.

Dedicated training

“Although the Grand Prix is ​​a major event, you have to be vigilant all year round; but nothing prevents a booster shot at that time,” tempers the director of the AHQ. Through the organization Le Phare des AffranchiEs, supported by the Secrétariat à la condition feminine of the Quebec government, the AHQ offers its members dedicated training to raise awareness among hotel workers about sexual exploitation in the run-up to motor racing.

Entitled “Glimmer”, the program aims to equip staff to “Act without harm”. “We are neither police officers nor social workers, that is not our role. On the other hand, we can learn to detect signals to offer help in a subtle way,” explains Véronyque Tremblay. The police take over if the identified danger is imminent for the safety or life of a person.

Observe the attitude of people, identify signs, start a non-confrontational discussion with the person likely to be in danger… “The training, free, lasting five hours, was set up with professionals in the field and takes taking into account the specific needs and constraints of the different hotels,” assures Nathalie Khlat, director of the Phare des AffranchiEs, who has been prospecting to raise awareness among new establishments since the creation of the program four years ago.

Social implication

The objective is to train as many people as possible, regardless of their role in the company. Over the past year, the organization has noted a 25% increase in the number of hotels participating in the Lueur program.

For Véronyque Tremblay, taking into account the social aspect, which is part of the association’s sustainable development objectives, is gaining momentum. “There is an increasingly strong involvement of our employees, that’s undeniable. » According to the AHQ, around fifty member hotels and a little more than 1,000 employees have already followed the training in Quebec.

In hotel chains, training provided internally is also carried out for employees. “We try to prepare the teams as best as possible to deal with situations…”, underlines Sébastien Gagné, general manager of the Marriott Château Champlain hotel in Montreal.

Video capsules, data on human traffic and key principles are highlighted in the company’s modules. “An individual who goes to pay in cash with an accompanying person at his side who does not have access to the room can be considered as a signal, for example,” indicates the hotelier. More general, the internal modules of hotel groups are often complementary with the Lueur program, which puts into perspective the issues and legislation in Quebec.

“During the Grand Prix, the hotel clientele is mostly male, even if things change a little. », notes Sébastien Gagné. Reservations are almost full for the weekend. “With us, it is often companies that pay for the event for their employees, which means that blocks of rooms are reserved. It also helps in a certain way to reduce the risk…”. This year, three teams of stable technicians will stay at the Marriott Château Champlain hotel. “That gives us 80% of the hotel’s occupancy. »

Also read: Hospitality: the “business” of the Grand Prix

Quebec (province)
Human ressources
Hotel