Running a hotel is not an easy task. Hotel management appears to have an infinite chore of booking customers, settling them in, and ensuring their satisfaction before they depart, only to repeat the process over and over. Then there’s the hiring and training of employees in how to run the company. There are also repairs, maintenance, and room renovations to consider.
However, one of the most important responsibilities of hotel management is to secure the facility, protect customers, guests, and staff, and safeguard the property. Hotel security may be a Herculean undertaking with guests coming and going all night with literally hundreds of access keys out at a time that can get individuals in and out of the building.
What is hotel security important?
Security is vital in a hotel or the hospitality sector since there is a system in place to protect workers, guests, and physical resources and assets. Equipment, appliances, structures, guest goods, and even the hotel grounds are physical assets.
When a guest checks into a hotel, he does so with the idea that he and his belongings will be safe and secure during his stay. At the same time, the hotel’s employees and assets must be safe and secure. As a result, having a robust safety and security system in place to protect staff, guests, and physical resources and assets such as equipment, appliances, buildings, and the hotel’s gardens, as well as the guest’s possessions, is critical. The top concern when it comes to guest care is always safety and security.
As a result, many hotels use seasoned security agencies with extensive experience in hotel security. Security guards that understand the intricacies of hotel security, such as recognising risk locations and installing security cameras there, knowing the optimal times to patrol, and appreciating the value of customer service, may significantly reduce the increased security load for hotel managers. There are numerous reasons to engage a professional security service with hotel security experience.
Hotel safety and security systems
The hotel safety and security systems should cover the following areas |
- ensuring guests safety, protection, and personal property during their stay in the hotel.
- protection of hotel property from hostile actions (theft, acts of vandalism, etc.).
- maintaining public order and ensuring proper behaviour in all public places of the hotel.
- providing hotel guests with peace and privacy during their stay at the hotel.
- ensuring the possibility of immediate and effective response in the case of any event that requires the intervention of hotel staff or representatives of third parties (e.g., police, ambulance, etc.).
- guaranteeing proper behaviour, as well as the honesty and integrity of all staff members.
- guaranteeing the possibility of providing the hotel with special services to ensure increased security of high-ranking officials.
These security measures will safeguard not only the customer during his stay in the hotel but also the hotel workers against false accusations. And this, along with other factors, will improve the hotel’s reputation, resulting in increased occupancy and a better visitor experience.
Hotel security issues
The priority areas for modern hotel security issues by technical means are:
- Access control in the hotel (electronic card wireless online system, video identification function).
- A set of measures for fire protection (effective and timely detection of fires with accurate location, automatic notification of security, all employees and hotel guests, organization of evacuation of people from the burning house, including unlocking all doors and elevators);
- Burglar alarm, CCTV and video surveillance (motion sensors for outsiders, security cameras, video surveillance in order).
TYPES OF SECURITY:
Physical aspect
Types of Safety and Security
- Safety and Security of persons
- Safety and Security of systems
The physical aspect is divided into two parts a) Internal b) External
Internal security against theft
- Fire safety
- Proper lighting
- Safeguarding assets
- Track unwanted guests
External Security
- Proper lighting outside the building
- Proper fencing of the building
- Fencing of the pool area to avoid accidents at the night
- Manning of service gates to restrict entry
- Fixing of closed-circuit TV cameras
Security aspects of persons
- Staff
- Effective recruitment and selection
- Identification of staff
- Key control
- Red tag system
- Training
- Locker inspection
2 b) Guests
- Check scanty baggage guests
- Guests suspected of taking away hotel property should be charged according to hotel policy
- Guest room security:
- Provide wide-angle door viewer, deadbolt locks, night torch, chains on doors etc
- Employees should be trained to not give any information about in-house guests to outsiders.
- While issuing a duplicate card key ask for identification if in doubt of the guest.
- Housekeeping, staff should never leave keys to expose on unattended carts in corridors.
Security aspects of systems
The term “system” refers to the hotel’s operations, such as all of the equipment utilised in operations, as well as the procedures and policies that must be followed. If implemented correctly, system procedures and regulations will protect assets, extend the life of equipment, and eliminate the need for breakdown maintenance.
This would mean the following:
Fix duties and responsibilities | Fix duties of staff members so that they don’t interfere with others’ work.
- Make surprise checks
- Staff who have access to liquid assets should be made to sign a bond so that in case of theft the concerned person can easily be caught
- The hiring of some independent security company to check the security system of the hotel
- Record of all losses and missing items immediately
- Inventory control should be proper
- Auditing should be done regularly
- A proper system for cash disbursements should be made
10 Top Safety and Security Measures Required in Hotels
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Key Card Locks |
Traditional hotel keys can get lost or stolen. Mobile keys, on the other hand, strengthen security and allow guests to bypass the front desk altogether. Everything takes place right from a smartphone, eliminating the effort of collecting keys from guests, rooms and elsewhere on the property.
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Security Guards |
Having trained security guards working 24-hours every day can be a great deterrent and can provide the best safety and security for the guests.
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Security Cameras |
Security cameras with digital technology, an intelligent access central system, a software interface with CCTV for matching unwanted visitors and criminals, as well as metal detectors, spy cameras, and the use of biometric readers such as hand key readers or face recognition systems, are all available options.
- Fire Alarms |
Smoke detectors and fire alarms are installed in each guest room and throughout the complex, and they are monitored 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to determine the exact location of any alarm condition, allowing our security staff to respond quickly.
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Emergency Power |
Emergency power provision in case of a power cut to provide uninterrupted guest service.
- Emergency Manual |
Hotels maintain an emergency manual, detailing exits and help in the event of a variety of emergencies.
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Employee Photo ID |
For additional security needs, some hotels have employees wearing a photo ID nametag allowing quick identification.
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In-Room Safes |
In addition to the safety deposit boxes available at most hotel front desks, some hotels offer in-room guest safes that can accommodate a laptop computer and are opened with the guest’s credit card.
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Guest elevators |
Guest elevators should be
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Defibrillation Units |
Defibrillation units, which can save lives in the event of a heart attack, are now being used by police and emergency services across the country.
Summing- up
The safety and well-being of hotel guests must be a major priority for hotel managers, yet only a few have the necessary skills or experience to secure their hotels. This isn’t a problem you can remedy afterwards if anything goes wrong. If a crime occurs in your hotel, someone is injured on property you are liable for, or damage is caused to the property, you will not be able to undo the harm.
Don’t take chances with the safety of your guests, employees, or the property you’re in charge of. Hire competent hotel security and free up your time to focus on more essential things, like making your residents happy! Contact Shergroup today if you own or operate a hotel in Orlando, or anywhere in Florida. Shergroup provides armed security guards with extensive expertise delivering quality hotel security guards for any size location.
So, if you are a hotelier looking for new ways to improve security? Follow the advice above. Look into a smart security system that saves time and money. Train your staff to understand what an unsafe situation looks like and how they should respond. And hire Shergroup for competent and comprehensive security services.