The hospitality industry is always under the threat of criminal activities due to its lucrative nature. This is why offering safety, comfort, and customer satisfaction are the most crucial things in the hospitality industry. This industry has to comply with various health and safety regulations. There are numerous factors that differentiate an excellent hotel facility from an average one.
Security System
When guests pick a hotel to stay in, they are rarely concerned about the security. However, high-end hotels consider the safety of their guests as a top concern. Typically, a hotel builds its reputation on the safety and comfort of its guests. A hotel owner needs to be prepared to deal with several risks including crime, fraud, and natural disasters.
Let’s make a note of the safety measures that are essential in the hospitality industry, in order to prevent and control accidental mishaps and deter criminals:
Video Surveillance Systems
Today, almost every high-end hotel has video monitoring devices installed in their premises. Still, there are some small units such as nature resorts or lodges that refrain from installing video surveillance systems. It’s actually a bad idea to not consider installing video monitoring systems just to save money. You don’t want the reputation of your hotel to go down just because you don’t have the right security systems installed. For instance, if some precious item of any of your guests goes missing, it’ll be really hard for the investigators to find the culprit. This will certainly lower the reputation of your hotel.
Alarm Systems
There are different types of alarm systems that can be equipped in hotels such as local alarms, contact alarms, and remote alarms.
Local alarms may serve as deterrents, as they are not hard-wired to a central monitoring location. An example of a local alarm system that is integrated with the panic hardware on a fire exit – when the exit door is opened, the circuit is broken and the alarm gets triggered.
Contact alarms are hard-wired to a central point. Most silent alarms are always hard-wired to a central point are usually equipped in cashier areas, storerooms, and other areas. The alarm is silently transmitted to the telephone room, a private security service provider, or the police department. The culprit won’t even realize and the on-premises personnel will be alerted.
Remote alarms typically rely on some sort of transmission. For example, the more elaborate radio waves, microwaves, and photoelectric light. Microwave detectors are active units designed to detect motion through the transmission and reception of electromagnetic energy.
Sprinkler Systems And Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Sprinkler systems are mandatory in establishments that are four-storeyed or higher. Sprinklers can, to an extent, control the outbreak of a fire with the help of which the security personnel can safely direct and lead the guests to safety.
Carbon monoxide is most dangerous gas generated in any combustion. It is generally produced as a by-product of a malfunctioning water heater, HVAC unit, kerosene heater, coal boiler, or any other petroleum unit. Its hazardous nature can cause deaths, hence, installing carbon monoxide detectors becomes imperative in hotels.
Types of Security Alarm Systems used in Hotels
There is a growing use of alarm systems in some hotels and motels. Alarm systems may sometimes be invaluable for the many entrances and emergency exits found through a hotel or motel and for perimeter control.
There should be a control center for all property alarms and the same should be properly located, Access to this room should be only permitted to authorized persons.
Alarm systems are mainly divided into three types:
- Local alarms.
- Contact alarms.
- Remote alarms.
Local Alarms:
Local alarms are those not hard-wired to a central monitoring location and may serve as deterrents. Examples is the local alarm that is integrated with the panic hardware on a fire exit. When the exit door is opened, the circuit is broken and the alarm sounds.
Contact Alarms:
Contact alarms systems are hard-wired to a central point. so the same can be monitored and appropriate action may be taken when the alarm goes off. Silent alarms are always hard-wired to a central point and may be considered for cashier areas, storerooms, and other areas. From such a point, the alarm can be silently transmitted to the telephone room, police department, or private security company; both the police and the on-premises security personnel can be alerted.
Example of a contact alarm sometimes used in cashier areas that is helpful during robberies involves using a money clip that cannot be removed from a cash register without tripping a silent alarm.
Remote Alarms:
Remote alarm systems typically relying some sort of transmission for example, the more elaborate microwaves, radio waves and photoelectric light.
Microwave detectors are active units which transmit and receive electromagnetic energy are designed to detect motion. Perimeter protection with microwaves is used in some properties due to its long range capabilities; its potential for stability, once adjusted; and its virtually tamper-proof characteristics.
This is best used in locations where unwanted movement should be detected.
Radio frequency (R F) fields trip an alarm when any intruder breaks the radio wave by moving into an R F field. As with the use of the microwave detector noted above, these systems are of greatest value in locations where there should be no motion.
This system is best used as an intruder alarm.
Photoelectric light beam is a filtered light beam passes between a sending and receiving unit; as is the case in R F field systems,any break in the beam sets off an alarm.
This system is generally used for outside perimeter control, especially in resort properties.
And Finally Fire Safety Alarms:
While the use of some alarm systems is usually optional, fire alarm systems are generally required by local fire and safety Laws.
Fire alarms is required to alert employees of fires or other emergency conditions. Because of this reason all hotels, motels and apartments must have a fire alarm system in proper operating condition which is tested at least every two months.
