Hotels.

Safety and security is a growing concern among travellers throughout the world. One only has to look at the negative impact on hotel bookings, following a highly publicised tourist attack. Crime and burglary can greatly damage the hard earned reputation of a hotel.

Highly visible security officers are a great crime deterrent. Nothing instils more confidence in a hotel guest than a capable doorman who greets and makes eye contact with them as they enter the property.

Most hotel burglars work during the day, and often alone. Access control systems, good building design, strong locks and doors as well as alert hotel staff can often deter burglars. In large Metropolitan hotels, extra attention needs to be paid to guest luggage, bags and briefcases casually left on the lobby floor.

The ground floor lobby presents a major opportunity to deter crime, especially in high-rise hotels. The best security designs will normally be included as part of the interior design of the hotel ensuring that areas such as the Front Desk and Concierge are positioned to view critical access points i.e. front and side entrances of the hotel and elevator banks.

Hotel room invasion robbers work more often at night when rooms are more likely to be occupied and less staff is on duty. Hotel room invaders usually target the occupant and room location and not necessarily the hotel.

S2G implement the following hotel security measures:

• Fire prevention
• Health and safety
• Building checks
• Theft prevention
• Daily incident reports
• Lost and found services
• Alarm and CCTV monitoring
• ID card production
• Information services to visitors
• Point of contact for building maintenance
• Enforce management rules

Initially travellers will select a property that satisfies their criteria and balance of location, price, business facilities and food service. However, after visiting the property, it is the security features that might well determine the continued loyalty of a guest.