ilani isn’t waiting for a human trafficking crisis
photo courtesy of ilani
How a Portland-area meeting and entertainment venue is fighting human trafficking
By Shelly Strom, Contributing writer
The largest casino and entertainment destination in the Portland-Vancouver metro area isn’t waiting for a human trafficking crisis to happen before calling its 1,500-person workforce into response mode.
Instead, ilani, with a 100,000-square-foot gaming floor and entertainment venues drawing upwards of 3 million visitors annually, is equipping workers to recognize and respond to potential human trafficking. Through a partnership with the Cowlitz Indian Tribe’s Pathways to Healing program, the casino is investing to educate all of its workers for basic competencies around human trafficking.
Although ilani already has anti-trafficking training in place, not all workers are required to receive it.
“Considering our location and our scope of business, we are in a situation to make a difference,” said Kara Fox-LaRose, president and general manager of ilani.
Human trafficking is a growing problem, one that often intersects with the hospitality industry.
Global nonprofit Polaris has reported that 75 percent of survivors surveyed said they came into contact with hotels during their trafficking.
ilani sits on a 156-acre reservation established in 2016, near Ridgefield, Washington. In addition to the casino, the property includes a 30,000-square-foot ballroom, meeting rooms, a gas station and a convenience store. Read more.
