Safeguarding means protecting children and adults at risk from harm, abuse, neglect and exploitation. In hospitality it can look like a young person checked into a hotel room with much older adults, someone who never speaks for themselves and has their documents held by another person, a group of teenagers being plied with alcohol, or workers who seem controlled and frightened. Hotels in particular are encouraged to train staff to recognise the signs of child sexual exploitation, county lines activity and modern slavery, and to report concerns.
The protection of children from harm is one of the four licensing objectives, so licensing authorities expect venues to take it seriously, from age checks to policies on unaccompanied children. Good safeguarding is about clear escalation routes: staff know who to tell, managers know when to call the police or local safeguarding teams, and concerns are recorded. Staff should not investigate or confront suspected abusers themselves; their job is to notice, report and keep people safe.
What we ask on the show
- What signs of exploitation should hotel staff be trained to notice?
- How do you encourage staff to report concerns they are unsure about?
- Who should a manager call when something feels wrong?
- How does safeguarding fit with being welcoming to every guest?