The importance of Security in Hotels

Hospitality

The importance of Security in Hotels

For a hotel, it takes years to build a good reputation, but only 5 minutes to give yourself a bad one. One security mishap, is enough to instil fear in your potential customers. If you seriously consider this fact, you would definitely take measures to improve your hotel’s security.

Safe lodging and the reputation of a hotel are the 2 key ingredients to a successful hotel, whether it be a single hotel, or a hotel chain.  It is the duty of hotels and other hospitality establishments to provide the necessary protection and maintenance of assets, including human, physical and intangible assets.

When your guests check in they are thinking about their sightseeing plans, or business meetings: security should most definitely not be on their mind. It is your responsibility to worry about the security of your guests.

In today’s social media obsessed world, bad news and negative sentiments spread like wildfire. In the US, a security flaw was revealed by a security researcher and software developer in one of the most common hotel door locks. The lock-hacking technique was widely exposed on social media and news outlets. Following this, many hotel room break-ins were reported, and were made using this lock-hacking technique. Despite the lock company releasing a fix for the flaw, hotels that had not taken the necessary preventative action left their guest vulnerable.

Hotel Security Tips

  • CCTV: Having CCTV in any public building is imperative, no more so though than in your hotel. Installing a CCTV system does not need to mean that you need an employee to sit and monitor activity. The latest technology in CCTV software is able to alert you of any unusual activity. Technology means that a third-party company can monitor your CCTV cameras remotely.
  • Update Locks: Modern locks can track who goes in and out of rooms, this serves as a deterrent to potential thieves. Automatic deadbolts and systems that eliminate the need for master keys.
  • Safety Meets: Scheduling a regular meeting with your employees is a good way for security concerns to be discussed and addressed. Making employees aware of what can be deemed as suspicious behaviour and how to report and deal with a security breach, is an easy way to keep your hotel safe.
  • Evaluate and Improve: Security breaches must be addressed immediately to make sure they cannot reoccur. Making a weekly checklist for staff to ensure common areas are kept clean, safe and well-lit is also very important.

Thorne Access and Security offers design, installation, maintenance and monitoring of professional certified intruder alarm systems, CCTV systems, access control systems and door intercom systems.   With 12 years in service, Thorne has built a strong reputation in the North of England, even positioning themselves as a National Security Inspectorate (NSI) approved security system installer.

Thorne was approached by multi-award winning The Woodland Spa to update their security systems. With over 600 people visiting their leisure facilities each week, The Woodland Spa was looking to install a controlled access system, allowing flexible seamless access to the different areas within the spa: the hotel, leisure, restaurant and bar and spa.

Thorne recommended a networked Progeny Access Control System. Each department (Hotel, Leisure, Spa, Restaurant) has its own access with the use of computer controlled Mifare cards. This allows all staff to be allocated the specific access they require and it can all be controlled from one control point. A Samsung IP solution was recommended to provide the clarity that was required. The system is networked to allow users to access images via client software on the local network.

The Woodland Spa has trusted Thorne’s security expertise, turning to them for their security needs for over 10 years. To read more about Thorne’s installation at the Woodland Spa, click here.

To see how Thorne Access and Security can help your business or hotel’s security, visit www.Thorne.uk.com .