Exchange Initiative is planning its first national conference on sex trafficking to promote global awareness and understanding of the issue while sparking real action at the local level. The conference will be held in St. Louis from March 2 – 4, 2014.

“As a socially responsible company, we decided to use our professional resources in the meeting and conference industry to take action against child and teen sex trafficking,” said Molly Hackett, co-owner of Nix with Jane Quinn. Both Hackett and Quinn also are principals of Exchange Initiative.

Cosmopolitan magazine in the UK last month recognized Nix Conference & Meeting Management for their work to end sex trafficking. Nix was one of just eight organizations worldwide featured in their article “The Female Fightback.” http://bit.ly/15WhJcz

In addition to the conference, Exchange Initiative will provide real resources – including a database of information – to educate and empower criminal justice officers, first responders, educators, corporations and faith-based organizations. Exchange Initiative will be funded by sponsorships, contributions and proceeds from the conference.

Sex trafficking is the forced coercion of women and men into the sex trade. At least 300,000 American children and 1.2 million children worldwide are prostituted each year according to UNICEF. The average age when a child first becomes involved in sex trafficking is just 12 to 14 years old.

In 2012, Nix led the charge among meeting planners worldwide by initiating and signing the first-ever Meeting Planners Code of Conduct with ECPAT-USA in 2012, and encouraging their industry peers to do the same.

Nix has an extensive reach in the hotel industry, booking more than 21,000 room nights a year on behalf of their clients. Nix staff research more than 500 hotels and visit more than 50 hotels in the U. S. and internationally each year.

Nix addresses the issue of sex trafficking with management at every hotel where they do business, and includes a clause in their standard Request for Proposal, asking hotel management about their policies on human trafficking.

Exchange Initiative combats child sex trafficking in hotels by empowering individuals and organizations with information, networking and real resources. For more information, call Molly Hackett at (314) 645-1455 or visit www.ExchangeInitiative.com.

Nix Conference & Meeting Management, based in St. Louis, manages meetings, conferences and trade shows for associations, religious organizations, businesses and nonprofits. Nix has managed events on four continents and in 17 countries since 1985. For more information, call (314) 645-1455 or visit www.nixassoc.com.

Media Contact
Mary Schanuel
[email protected]
314-266-7035