According to surveys, hotels are one of the most common hospitality facilities and vacation accommodations for American citizens. More than 50% of adults residing in the United States have agreed that they’re more likely to stay in hotels on vacation than in other lodging options like Airbnb. The United States is currently home to around 84,596 hotels and motels, a 9.4% increase from 2022. The increasing popularity of hotels in the United States is due to many reasons, including their focus on providing security guards and patrol services to guests and their luggage. However, hotels need to ensure they don’t compromise on security, as any security breach or issue can tarnish their reputation in the industry.
This blog discusses common security problems in hotels and other hospitality facilities like resorts and motels.
Unauthorized Visitors Entering the Hotel
One of the most common security problems in hotels is authorized visitors entering the place and staying there for long periods. Since hotels are a part of the hospitality industry, unauthorized visitors are bound to find different techniques to enter the place and take advantage of various facilities without paying for them. Not only is this a major financial loss for the hotel management, but it also makes the premises less secure. The security team doesn’t have a record of all the people living there and can’t conduct a background check on them or verify their identity, which can lead to many other security issues.
Many guests bring unregistered and unauthorized visitors with them, sneak them into their rooms, and take them to avail different facilities for free. Additionally, if the hotel management doesn’t know how many people are present on the premises, they can’t take effective measures for emergencies like evacuation in the case of a sudden fire. With large numbers of uncounted people on the hotel grounds, the safety regulations can be ineffective, turning into a huge safety hazard. It’s essential for hotels and other hospitality facilities like resorts and motels to invest in highly-trained security services that can keep a check on the entrances.
These security guards can check every individual’s registration status in the hotel to ensure that only authorized people are entering the hotel and staying. Additionally, an access control system in different areas of the hotel, like the bar or the pool, will allow a limited number of authorized people to access it using biometric identification like a fingerprint.
Violence on the Hotel Premises
Another common security issue that hotels have to deal with is the violent behavior of guests. In many cases, even authorized individuals residing on the hotel premises can engage in violent acts against other guests, employees, the hotel management, or the hotel property. These guests can be a security threat to the peaceful environment of a hotel. The violent acts can include harassing other guests or employees, which can include both verbal or physical assault.
According to surveys, 90% of women and 70% of men working in the hospitality industry, like hotels and restaurants, have experienced some form of harassment, usually at the hand of guests or superiors.
Additionally, vandalism or destroying the hotel’s property by breaking utilities in a hotel’s room or lobby is another example of violent acts on a hotel’s ground. Some guests can even write derogatory or threatening remarks on the hotel’s walls, a huge security concern. Other guests refuse to abide by the hotel regulations and initiate violence to get their way. The violent demeanor of authorized guests can be a huge problem for other guests who’re trying to enjoy their vacations in the hotel, forcing many of them to leave and not opt for your hotel the next time.
The negative impact of a guest’s violent behavior on a hotel’s long-term reputation means that hotel management needs to prioritize preventing any acts of violence on the hotel grounds. Hotels need to hire highly-trained security professionals who know how to handle different situations. These security guards should know how to resolve conflicts and have enough experience to spot guests that might cause trouble. Installing CCTV cameras in all areas of the hotel and monitoring them will also help the hotel management keep track of suspicious activity and deal with guests that might be causing issues on the premises.
Data Breaches
It’s no secret that hotels deal with large amounts of private information, including data of high-profile guests that stay at the hotel. Hotels are a potential target for cybercriminals looking for personal information. Many hotels make the mistake of not investing in secure data servers, making it easier for hackers to access confidential information. This information can include credit card details, employee information, and private data that cybercriminals can leak online, posing a threat to many people.
An example of this is the Holiday Inn Hotel breach in 2022, where hackers found the information of many VIPs residing on the hotel grounds, leading to security concerns. Therefore, it’s essential for companies to upgrade their cybersecurity systems, ensuring that the information of each of their guests remains private and confidential. Hiring a security professional who guards on-site data servers is also advisable to ensure that no unauthorized personnel can access the data physically.
Theft and Fraud
The United States Chamber of Commerce recently published a report stating that the hospitality industry experiences an annual financial loss of $40-$400 billion due to employee theft. Small-scale hotels that do most of their business transactions via cash are at a higher risk of theft, robberies, and fraud, as employees, guests, or unauthorized visitors can easily access cash registers and steal money.
People working or visiting a hotel can also steal valuable items from other guests, raising huge security concerns. Therefore, hotels invest in security services that perform background checks on employees and monitor the hotel around the clock to prevent robberies. You can also move to a cashless transaction system to minimize theft and fraud.
Get Started with Guard Services USA — The Leading Security Guard Company
With the help of security guards and patrol services, your hotel can fix many security problems and tackle emergencies effectively. Guard Services USA is one of the leading security guard companies in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. Their team has hotel and restaurant security guards who can patrol entrances and exits in a hotel. Additionally, this security patrol company has armed and unarmed security guards who ensure that only authorized personnel enter a hotel. This top security guard company has many loyal customers who recommend them for their extensive and top-notch services.
Reach out to them for more information, or hire security guards from this company today and make your hotel secure.
About the Author
The author is affiliated with the hospitality industry and has helped many hotels, motels, resorts, and restaurants up their game by enhancing their security and other services. She is passionate about seeing hospitality facilities grow and is an active part of the Guard Services USA team.
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