5 Safety & Security Tips for Hotel Managers

Providing a Safe Hotel is one of the biggest challenges that a Hotel Manager faces. I have been asked to focus upon this topic today.

Hotel Managers must create and then consistently enforce their security policies; Achieving Safety and Security within a Hotel requires thorough planning as-well as the involvement of Hotel Staff, Hotel Guests and other Hotel Stakeholders through Education and Training.

Constantly managing the following 5 areas is Very Important:

Controlling Hotel Access is a critical part of Hotel Security planning to prevent, amongst other things, the stealing of money and other resources from the Hotel. Hotel Management must train contractors and staff in controlling room security and restricting access just to appropriate staff and guests.

Many Hotels, but not every Hotel, will need security personnel at all main access points to greet people, while deterring anyone with no business on the property, including disruptive or intoxicated non-guests.

Educate Hotel Guests Hotel staff have a responsibility to educate Hotel Guests about their Safety and Security responsibilities. The challenge is getting the message across without negatively affecting the customers’ experience.

For example, Front Office teams can discourage Hotel Guests from actions that leave them vulnerable to thieves, such as showing room numbers or talking about their room numbers in public areas.

Using Technology for Safety and Security Technology can go a long way in helping Hotels to improve their basic security measures today. Closed-circuit TV cameras with recording systems are essential for security within Hotels, especially public spaces such as bars, lounges, and parking lots.

But, remember there must be active monitoring of the camera images by staff and proper lighting to reduce the opportunities for Hotel crimes.

Communicating simple Safety and Security measures to all Hotel Stakeholders. This becomes even more important when travellers may feel as if they're leaving real world dangers behind by entering your Hotel; such as at public events or conventions.

To reduce problems, Hotel Management could send advance communiques to event attendees or to attendees on arrival. Notices could contain basic safety tips, such as the need for locking doors, not leaving cell-phones and laptops unattended and being alert in public areas.

Quality Staff Training and Development. Of course, Hotel Security will always become more of an issue in certain Countries, Regions or locations within Countries than others; like-wise additional higher levels of security might be required during certain special events being held within a Hotel or perhaps when a Hotel has particularly special or vulnerable guests using its bedrooms or facilities.

Hotel Managers should empower Hotel staff to take responsibility in addressing unusual behaviour that occurs on Hotel property, with-out jeopardizing their own safety. 

In the end, Hotel Security is only as good as the level of training and development given to Hotel Staff; who serve as the Hotel's eyes and ears. Training should be an ongoing process, not just 5 minutes during induction, with the aim of ensuring a consistent, professional response during any emergencies.

My posts are intended for hotel workers, supervisors and managers around the world, who are (or want to become) actively engaged in learning and development.

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