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HOTEL AND LODGING INDUSTRY |
The hotel and lodging industry is centered upon the concept of environments. A superior lodging experience provides the client with a combination of elegant surroundings; a professional and relaxing atmosphere conducive to both business and pleasure; great freedom of movement; and personal, courteous, detail-oriented service from the hotel staff. Security from both external threats and internal disturbances is assumed as a given in a hotel environment: clients expect effective security as much as they expect sanitary and well-maintained facilities throughout the hotel. No client of any hotel must have to consciously think about security issues, much as they should not have to spend any time worrying about running water or clean beds inside their rooms. These elements are, and should be, taken for granted by the clientbecause these are built into the concept of the quality hotel experience. At the same time, however,
the very nature of the lodging industry poses unique security challenges that must be addressed by comprehensive and sound planning. Total Protection Solutions provides this comprehensive end-to-end consultation for hotel management and fully implements the hands-on training of hotel staff personnel. |
The primary security challenge unique to the industry is maintaining the proper balance between effective security presence, and a highly pleasant environment, which permits free movement and makes clients feel at home. With the occasional exception of dignitaries and VIPs, few clients would elect to stay at an establishment with visible armed guards and surveillance cameras everywhere in sight. This is of course a secure environment, but an absolutely terrible hotel environment. The key to effective hotel security is rooted in collective awareness by all personnel at all levels. Following from this concept is strategic placement of security assets, both human and technical, to maximize the security coverage area while maintaining the lowest possible profile. Furthermore, security staff should be trained in physical defensive tactics, which place maximum emphasis on quick
containment and removal of the threat, in order to minimize disturbance to the hotel atmosphere and maintain guest confidence. |
In addition to the challenge of maintaining an environment, which is simultaneously secure and pleasant, hotels, present a collection of other security challenges which merit a sophisticated approach. In the TPS analysis, below is a summary breakdown of threat categories: |
EXTERNAL THREATS |
- Rush-in assailants in lobby area
- Walk-in theft of hotel or client property
- Harassment of guests near entries/exits
- Aggressive or belligerent individuals confronting hotel staff (also considered an internal threat)
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INTERNAL THREATS |
- Confrontations between guests
- Internal disturbances caused by guests
- Theft committed by guests against other guests or hotel property
- Criminal elements blended among guests
- Mass panic due to events such as fire, health scare, or criminal/terrorist activity
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TERRORISM CONCERNS |
The open walk-in structure of hotel lobbies poses an inherent vulnerability to possible terrorist acts, either direct attacks or plan of future attacks. This is compounded by the high level of activity and distraction in the course of normal hotel operations, in addition to the large numbers of people moving about. There is also the possibility of internal (originating from guests) terrorist attacks. Primary considerations should be high explosives (due to the high profile of certain hotels and the psychological impact); hostage situations (due to large numbers of families and children as guests); and acts such as poisoning of the hotel food supply or ventilation system with a chemical or biological agent (due to the fact that hotels utilize closed systems and self-contained processes). Furthermore, the common use of hotels, especially venues located near international airports, as meeting places creates an opening for
terrorist and other coordinate criminal activity. Vast varieties of individuals from all over the world routinely utilize hotel restaurants and lobbies as meeting places: this should be a focus of counterterrorism security awareness.
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