Peepholes in Your Hotel Security
Of all the risks a hotelier faces, who would have ever considered the risk of a guest tampering with another guest's room? Yet that's exactly what happened to ESPN's Erin Andrews, who was the victim of an alleged peeping tom - a man who reportedly stalked the woman in a most unusual way.
The case against the man states he tampered with the peep hole in Ms.
Andrews' hotel door, then proceeded to watch her movements in her hotel room.
What's equally disturbing is the alleged perpetrator's actions prior to the incident and the hotel's response.
According to police records, the man requested a room adjacent to the victim's room, a request the hotel chain honored.
That move has turned the industry upside down in an effort to redefine hotel policies and guest security procedures.
In hindsight, it's easy for any of us to find fault with a policy that allows such room requests.
But in general, many hotels had no prior stopgap in place for handling these requests.
The American Hotel and Lodging Association has sent out advisories to their membership in an attempt to decrease a hotel's exposure to privacy violations.
It's a call to action for all hotel operations, large and small.
Hoteliers should have an adequate risk assessment performed on their operations to identify weaknesses in materials or policies.
Are current door peep holes safe from tampering? Are there policies in place that require guest approval for all adjacent room requests? If so, do all your employees adhere strictly to those policies? Risk assessments can help you determine any additional security measures or equipment to further ensure guest safety.
For instance, some hotels already use CCTV to monitor hallways on all floors.
Such monitoring can increase hotel security substantially while lowering guest fears.
Your hotel's security is as strong as your practicing of all the precautions and guest safety policies.
Assessments, and ensuring your employees follow to the letter all guest safety procedures, can protect not just your guests, but your reputation.
The case against the man states he tampered with the peep hole in Ms.
Andrews' hotel door, then proceeded to watch her movements in her hotel room.
What's equally disturbing is the alleged perpetrator's actions prior to the incident and the hotel's response.
According to police records, the man requested a room adjacent to the victim's room, a request the hotel chain honored.
That move has turned the industry upside down in an effort to redefine hotel policies and guest security procedures.
In hindsight, it's easy for any of us to find fault with a policy that allows such room requests.
But in general, many hotels had no prior stopgap in place for handling these requests.
The American Hotel and Lodging Association has sent out advisories to their membership in an attempt to decrease a hotel's exposure to privacy violations.
It's a call to action for all hotel operations, large and small.
Hoteliers should have an adequate risk assessment performed on their operations to identify weaknesses in materials or policies.
Are current door peep holes safe from tampering? Are there policies in place that require guest approval for all adjacent room requests? If so, do all your employees adhere strictly to those policies? Risk assessments can help you determine any additional security measures or equipment to further ensure guest safety.
For instance, some hotels already use CCTV to monitor hallways on all floors.
Such monitoring can increase hotel security substantially while lowering guest fears.
Your hotel's security is as strong as your practicing of all the precautions and guest safety policies.
Assessments, and ensuring your employees follow to the letter all guest safety procedures, can protect not just your guests, but your reputation.
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