Hotels, Motels and Lodging
A hotel or motel is generally defined as a building or structure:
- Kept, used, maintained, advertised or held out to the public to be a place where sleeping or rooming accommodations are furnished to the general public
- For less than one week
- With or without meals.
In Minneapolis, hotels and motels must be licensed. Before operating a hotel or motel, the owner or operator is required to file an application with Minneapolis Business Licensing for a license to operate.
Hotels and motels are inspected regularly under the Minneapolis Code of Ordinance Chapter 297.
Any concerns of unsanitary appearance or other conditions in the operation of the facility which may constitute a substantial hazard to the public health can be reported online to the Minneapolis Health Department.
Sex trafficking prevention training required annually
Minnesota law requires hotel and motel owners, managers and employees to complete sex trafficking prevention training every year. The initial training under this law was required by November 28, 2018.
The Minnesota lodging industry is an important partner in preventing sex trafficking.
Has your business met the training requirements?
The Sex Trafficking Prevention and Response Training is yours to use for free.
The training includes:
Manager and owner training toolkit • Trainee guide • Poster set for display
Guided training presentation • The role of hotels and motels • Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
The training was developed by the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and the Minnesota Lodging Association
to meet the sex trafficking awareness prevention training requirements for most hotels and motels in Minnesota.
Corporate trainings
Businesses may use their own training if:
1. The training has been approved by the Minnesota Department of Health. To have your training reviewed
by the Minnesota Department of Health, contact Caroline Palmer at [email protected] or
651-201-5492, or Beatriz Menanteau at [email protected] or 651-201-4154.
2. The training, at a minimum, must include instruction on:
- What sex trafficking is in order to raise awareness of it;
- How to recognize potential victims of sex trafficking;
- How to identify activities commonly associated with sex trafficking; and
- Effective responses to trafficking situations including, but not limited to, how to report suspected sex trafficking to proper law enforcement officials.
Excluded employees
Some employees are excluded from the sex trafficking prevention training. Employees are exempt if they:
- Are under the age of 16 years unless they clean guest rooms;
- Work exclusively in a restaurant, providing catering services, or both; or
- Do not have direct contact with either guests or guest rooms.
In Minnesota, youth who engage in prostitution are viewed as victims and survivors, not criminals.
At MDH Sex Trafficking Prevention and Response Training learn about:
- Support for trafficked youth at Safe Harbor Minnesota
- The role of hotels and motels in preventing sex trafficking
- Answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs)
- Other topics
Do you have questions? Contact an Environmental Health supervisor by calling 311 (outside Minneapolis call 612-673-3000) or email [email protected].
Bed bugs
Not all guests are welcome!
Bed bug information for hotels and motels - English, Spanish
Bed bug information for lodging residences - English, Spanish
Accommodations
Should you require a reasonable accommodation in order to fully participate, or information in an alternative format, please contact 612-673-2301.
Para asistencia 612-673-2700 - Rau kev pab 612-673-2800 - Hadii aad Caawimaad u baahantahay 612-673-3500.
Last updated Dec 23, 2020
