Miami STR hosts help shape Florida-approved ECPAT trafficking awareness training

US: Miami-based short-term rental hosts Pascal and Jacomina Depuhl have helped secure Florida state approval for ECPAT International’s human trafficking awareness training programme for the short-term rental sector.

The training, which was developed in collaboration with ECPAT International and Airbnb, has now been approved by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation’s Division of Hotels & Restaurants.

The approval follows Florida Statute 509.096, which requires annual human trafficking awareness training for employees of public lodging establishments performing housekeeping or front desk duties.

The free training programme is designed to help short-term rental operators meet those legal requirements while improving awareness around identifying and reporting suspected human trafficking activity.

According to ECPAT International, the course was updated to better reflect operational realities within the short-term rental sector and align with Florida compliance standards.

Gabriela Kühn, head of private sector engagement and child protection at ECPAT International, said the updated training had now been formally approved following revisions to the curriculum.

Pascal and Jacomina Depuhl contributed to the project through their businesses Miami Vacation Stays and MaSTRmind, which focus on short-term rental management and host education.

Highlights:

• Miami short-term rental hosts Pascal and Jacomina Depuhl helped secure Florida approval for ECPAT International’s human trafficking awareness training programme.
• The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation approved the training for use within the short-term rental sector.
• The programme helps Florida short-term rental operators comply with annual human trafficking awareness training requirements under Florida Statute 509.096.
• The free course was developed in collaboration with ECPAT International and Airbnb to address operational realities in the STR sector.
• The training aims to improve awareness around identifying and reporting suspected human trafficking activity in public lodging establishments