In the past, a hotel’s security was limited to locking the main door, with some effort on the windows and doors. Nowadays, hotels need to be prepared for any eventuality that might happen in this digital age. The protection of a hotel’s assets is no longer just about locking and securing the building's entrances and exits. A luxury hotel needs to take extra steps such as vulnerability assessments, network scans, data encryption, and firewalls for its IT systems. In this blog, we'll cover some of the best practices to ensure your luxury hotel is up-to-date with the latest security measures and standards.
Provide Exceptional Customer Service
Great customer service is key for any kind of successful business. It can also be the foundation for an effective security plan. Staff should engage with guests from the time they check in to the time they check out. It is easy for staff members to notice a guest who seems out of place or is acting suspiciously when they spend enough time getting to know them.
Restrict Access To The Building During Wee Hours
Security is a major concern for hotels, especially when it comes to the wee hours. Hotel owners have to figure out a way to make sure that their guests can feel safe and at the same time staff are not overworked.
Setting up restricted access is a good security measure during wee hours as it allows hotel staff to control who enters and leaves the hotel. This helps hotels protect their guests from crime at night. Guests also enjoy more privacy, knowing that only staff members are allowed in the hotel building after hours.
Get an In-depth Risk Assessment
Hotel owners and managers are not necessarily security experts. Request for a risk management plan from a reliable private security firm before acquiring equipment or recruiting additional staff. A risk assessment could reveal your most serious security risks and vulnerabilities. The security firm can then recommend the ideal tools, processes, and staff to meet your specific security requirements.
More Comprehensive Check-Ins
You have a right to know who is staying on your property, and one technique to aid with this is to be cautious during the registration and check-in process. Clients should be prepared to provide details such as their date of birth and license plate number when reserving their stay. When guests arrive, staff should be trained to ask for two forms of identification. This is for your safety. Guests should also be asked how many people they’re staying with. This can help limit the risk of inviting too many guests and overrunning a room that is supposed to accommodate one person.
Consider Investing In New Security Technology
If you want to make sure your tech equipment is up-to-date, an experienced security company can help you find the latest technologies that are needed to maintain your system's integrity. CCTVs, security cameras, access control systems, and other motion-detecting software can help to avert crime. They can detect suspicious behavior before it becomes an issue and also helps to restrict areas so that offenders cannot enter. Videos from security cameras can help law enforcement find the perpetrator after a crime.
The Value of Appearance
Sometimes it's said that you shouldn't judge a book by its cover. But humans tend to sooner than not rely on their first impression when they look at what's in front of them. Your property is a reflection of your business and this will affect it, so get everything looking good.
If you leave your property without maintaining it, it may attract people with dishonest intentions. There are other ways to make your parking lot or entryway safer. One example is using a high level of light. This discourages crime, as these actions usually happen at night.
Empower And Train Your Employees
Security should be addressed at all new-hire training and regular staff meetings to protect your clients. Training your employees to recognize security threats can go a long way in protecting your guests.
Empowered employees who are feeling enthused and are treated well are also likely to be committed and motivated to work for you. They will feel a sense of commitment because they know that you're interested in their welfare and career development. They will also take care of themselves, as well as your company, which means a greater sense of ownership over the whole process.
Keep An Eye On Your Business With Surveillance Software
Getting CCTV to monitor your property may not seem like a big deal if nobody's watching. Recent advances in software have made that problem easy to fix. Simply install the CCTV with surveillance software embedded. Coupled with video monitoring, this enables the system to understand what is happening and react appropriately.
One example is that the system can alert you when there's a spike in valet parking activity. Other options include using a third party to monitor the area around your hotel. Some systems have voice command capability, where operators can see and alert people approaching from behind.
Use Deadbolts and Secure Key Cards on the Doors
A hotel room lock can be very reassuring for a guest. They are one of the first things they usually notice when entering a hotel room. However, if you've been struggling to lock your room's door for a while now for any reason, in particular, if the locks are old or faulty in any way, then this can create a sense of insecurity that will not be welcomed by guests.
Providing security features like upgrading room keys and putting in deadbolts takes a bit more money, but it's worth it if it means it can provide you and your guests with a safe environment. Luxury hotels and resorts typically have guests with more money to spend when they travel. Having a safe in the room is another way to alleviate concerns and provide extra security.
Sense of Ownership
Employees are more inclined to take care of their property when they have the chance. This leads to enhanced security. One way to promote the mentality is by providing profit sharing. If employees see waste or even theft, they're more likely to say something about it. Employees are the ears and eyes of the hotel and often spot what regular guests miss.
Monitor Parking Lots
In crowded, busy spaces like hotels and malls, the parking lot can be a hotbed for crime. Many employees are concerned about vandalism and theft, especially when they're working late at night. In uncontrolled parking lots, it is common for non-guests to park their cars or camp overnight. Controlling access to garages and parking lots, as well as setting up security cameras, can help hotel owners avoid several security threats.
Emergency Response Plan
Preparing your staff beforehand with information about a potential emergency is important to keep people calm and prepared. It's a good idea to meet as regularly as possible with police and emergency services, so you can have your communication strategy sorted out without too much difficulty. By doing this, you'll give your staff the chance to think through and prepare themselves for an emergency. This will result in a team that is calm, informed, and ready to take action.
Install A Video Surveillance System With Active Monitoring And Facial Recognition Technology
Most businesses nowadays have a video surveillance system to document any staff activity in and around sensitive areas like the front desk and cash register. However, new technology enables another level of monitoring and ensures you have accurate data coming in.
With video surveillance software, owners of hotels can match transactions with video footage and identify suspicious activity quickly. In this way, instead of wasting hours on end watching the footage to find illicit actions, owners can work more effectively to prevent crime.
Electricity
A routine inspection of your electrical equipment is essential since your power supply could pose a security risk. Because your company is always running, your systems are prone to wear, tear, degradation, and overloading. This report, which should be completed by a licensed electrician, will confirm that your electrical devices in every room are suited for their intended use.
Schedule routine checkups. By doing this, you'll make sure you're minimizing the chance of fires, electrical shocks, and incidents, which will in turn reduce workplace accidents.
Increased Employee Empowerment
Employees that feel empowered will be capable of addressing hotel security and safety issues immediately and frequently more effectively. Have a tip hotline number where staff can call in anonymously to report fraudulent activities or risks to the welfare of guests or other staff. Additionally, put in place an order system that prioritizes reports from employees who detect anything suspicious or risky on the premises.
Gas Safety
Like your power supply, gas safety is an important factor. Regular inspections of your company's gas supply and related appliances are recommended. Even though an appliance is located far from the visitors' rooms but still services guest facilities, it is a smart idea to schedule yearly gas safety tests for it.
The secret to a successful workforce is thorough training in all facets of your operation, including safety. Staff should receive rigorous training on how to operate all gas appliances, including how to identify any evident problems visually. This includes any broken piping or connections.
Alarm systems for carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide leaks are essential. These sensors can indicate any danger and aid in the prevention of disasters. When concentrations are unsafe, they should sound an audible alert and be capable of turning off your supply of gas instantly.
Your Personnel
Conduct drug testing and criminal record checks during the recruitment process. Once the candidate has been hired, then you should illustrate what controls you have in place. Knowing that surveillance mechanisms have already been set up will deter employees from committing opportune crimes.
Although it could be appealing to merge tasks, cut staff, and save money on wages, property managers might end up paying the price in the long term. Make sure at least two individuals sign off on crucial procedures, such as carrying cash bags. Additionally, property managers could use independent, off-site inspectors to avoid hiring more staff.
Employee Dress Code
Perhaps obvious, but wearing staff attire is a crucial security precaution. It not only makes your company appear polished and sophisticated, but it also makes it apparent to your visitors who they may ask questions of and also who is permitted in which parts of the premises.
Knowing who the staff members are in the guest areas is critical. That's because the staff's constant patrolling of the locations demonstrates that your business places a high priority on the welfare of its clients.
Watch Out for Social Engineering
Cyberattacks do not always happen online. The risk of physical and social infiltration of hotel systems is high. Employees need to be aware of network access, passwords, as well as the security systems of computers.
The beginning of many huge hacking operations could involve a pers tricking an employee into revealing a password. Passwords should be changed every 3 months. Employees need to also keep an eye on the physical entry points to the computer servers on the property. Conduct frequent patrols to check for intruders in staff-only parts of the premises.
Online Data Security
Physical safety is only one aspect of security. Cyberattacks are increasingly focusing on hotels. You could minimize online cybersecurity risks and safeguard the security of records and folders by staying abreast with your platforms and constantly updating them. Making data backups a routine can help you rule out the possibility of losing or irreparably damaging your files.
Daily use of a cloud storage service is advised, followed by weekly system backups, quarterly system backups, and finally annual backups. Password encryption for your company's devices is just as crucial as it would be for your phone. To prevent breaches, reset your passwords frequently and ensure they are changed whenever a member of staff leaves.
Sync Up the IT and Security Divisions
Do not put a barrier between your business's information technology (IT) and security teams. Given how important cybersecurity is to both sectors, the two need to join forces.
Clearly define the relationship between the two departments; they ought to be aware of where one team's responsibilities end and the second begins. Some hotels put the two divisions under a single budget and manager to strengthen their cooperation. Additionally, there should be regular security briefings between the two divisions, perhaps even once every week.
Recruit Experienced Security Personnel
Many times, hotel owners decide to work with private security firms to help keep their clients, staff, and properties safe. Security officers that have received thorough training will be fully aware of your security risks. They are adept at identifying criminal activity before it occurs and dealing authoritatively with suspicious people.
What are the Advantages of Boosting Security Measures for Luxury Hotels?
A hotel must make a large investment in equipment installation and employee training. The advantages are enormous, though, and extend not only to the hoteliers but also to the travel agencies, business clients, and the MICE industry.
First of all, a hotel that maintains a high degree of security gives clients peace of mind. Customers who can unwind and feel relaxed will feel protected, which will increase their likelihood of becoming devoted customers and recommending your services to others.
Therefore, increasing security is a strategy to cultivate customers' confidence in the hotel and provide the flawless service sought in luxury hotels. Travel companies and agencies will also pick reputable and secured hotel facilities for several reasons. These businesses show that they are capable of changing to meet the demands of visitors, who are increasingly concerned about security. Choosing partners who adhere to strict security requirements, on a more fundamental level, guarantees a higher level of security.
Firms and travel companies occasionally find themselves legally directly implicated in the case of an accident due to the duty of reasonable care they have to their customers. They, therefore, have a strong incentive to engage with accommodation facilities to implement the appropriate risk-reduction measures.
A hotel that exhibits a high level of safety will stand out from the competition. Travel organizations and agencies will choose hotels that devote their resources to security as part of their due diligence and duty of reasonable care over hotels that don't.
Making investments in a hotel's security might give hotels a competitive advantage in the industry. Along with the hotel's setting, amenities, and infrastructure, safety and security are distinguishing elements in the overall luxury hotel industry. Security is now included when calculating ROI (return on investment). Sales are likely to go up as a result, as vendors and corporate partners will become more eager to work with reputable and secure businesses
Hotel owners should spend some time reviewing their present security measures as the peak travel months come up. It is important to check employee training guides to ensure they possess the most recent details on hotel safety procedures. Last but not least, think about working with a security guard firm to get trained and experienced professionals who are adept at keeping your customers and business safe.
Find a Luxury Hotel Security Firm Near Me
Even though it should be a prime focus for hotel management, very few have the experience or understanding to safeguard their establishments. You won't be able to reverse the damage when a crime occurs in the hotel, or if a guest is hurt on the premises you are responsible.
Don't jeopardize the security of your visitors, staff, or property. Hire a skilled hotel security team to free up some of your time so you can concentrate on other important tasks, such as keeping your guests satisfied. If you are looking to boost security measures for your hotels in Los Angeles, get in touch with Green Knight Security today at 844-457-8326.
