HOTEL SECURITY

A Hotel is a Facility where people of different purposes go to meet varying needs. Hotels fall under the Hospitality Industry.

SERVICES IN HOTELS: The following services are rendered in Hotels

• Lodging and Accommodation
• Restaurants Services ( Foods & Beverages)
• Venue for Conferences, Meetings and Ceremonies
• Swimming Services for Guests and other Patrons

There are two key elements that must be found in Hotels that provide food and drinks in addition to lodging Services. They are Courtesy and services.

                                                            WHO IS A GUEST?

Any person who presents himself/herself to the Hotelier or his agent or Servant, request for accommodation and is received or accepted by the Hotelier is a Guest.

OTHER CATEGORIES OF PERSON ENTERING A HOTEL

• A visitor of a Guest
• An invited Guest to Management but not a Guest to the Hotel
• An Employee
• Contractors/ Supplier or their Representatives
• Trespassers or other undesirable persons.

PERSONS THAT MUST BE STOPPED FROM ENTERING THE HOTEL

The following persons must not be allowed into the Hotel Facility

• Prostitutes
• Intoxicated persons. The exception here is that if the intoxicated person is a Guest of the hotel, then he must be escorted to his room.
• Beggars
• Demented people
• Scavengers
• Minors
• Hawkers
• Any identified criminal

COMMON RISKS IN HOTEL ENVIRONMENT (THE RISK FACTOR)

1. Hotels as a public place are open to all persons 24/7 except for reserved areas e.g. the Swimming Pool and the Gym.
2. The nature of the business exposes Employees and others to food, drinks and sometimes cash.
3. Guests stay for longer periods on the premises while some return very late into the Hotel.
4. It is sometimes a target for terrorist activities against Tourists, Businessmen and Politicians.
5. Available facilities sometimes attract undesirable elements.
6. The presence of highly inflammable liquids and LP gas Installations on Site to serve the various segments of the Hotel facility.
7. Pilferage of valuable items.
8. Guests’ personal effects while in the Hotel.

ROLE OF HOTEL SECURITY

1. Protection of Hotel Property.
2. Protection of Guests and their Properties.
3. Internal Theft prevention.
4. External Theft prevention.
5. Access Control.

Lock and Key Control for Guests

AREAS OF EMPHASIS

• Lock and Key Control.
• Guest room security.
• Control of persons on premises.
• Perimeter Control.
• Assets protection (money on hand, guest assets, equipment).
• Emergency procedures.
• Security Records.

VULNERABLE AREAS

1. Crime against the Guest generates negative publicity and damages the reputation of the Hotel.
2. Protection of physical assets of towels, tableware, ashtrays, television, e.t.c

ACCESS CONTROL IN HOTELS

Access Control is the key of any Security Programme, thus Control will allow access to specific rooms, store, cabinet, open to the authorized person only. Access Control in Hotels is maintained through the following:

• Keys and Locks combinations/Cross Bars, Gates e.t.c
• Passwords
• Guest Cards
• Electronic Cards
• Parking Slips or Disks
• Employee ID Card
• Official documentation such as delivery notes.

Therefore the Security on duty should ensure the followings:

1. Know the exact category of persons and goods which may enter the property through the Access Point and what form of identification is required.
2. Know the exact category of persons and goods which must exit the property at that Point and what form of identification and authorization that are required.
3. Security must enforce the procedures at all times. No compromise. This is the most potent Point where loss prevention can be carried out.

GARBAGE RAKING SYSTEM

This is a method by which losses of property assets are controlled. We have garbage raking tables to recover food, glassware, dishes, flatware which are either intentionally placed in garbage or incidentally.

THE DO LIST BY SECURITY TO PREVENT LOSSES

1. Check deliveries against delivery notes and purchase orders to determine short supplies and underweight supplies.
2. Check all materials brought in to ascertain whether they were required by the hotel and vice versa.
3. Check regularly all garbage bins to prevent unauthorized removal of food, either raw or prepared and vice versa.
4. Ensure that all terminated Staff do not enter the Facility.
5. Check ID Photographs and compare with the holder to ensure correct identity.
6. No Staff vehicle must be allowed into the Back-of-the-house-area that is, loading /offloading area. If any is allowed, it must be searched before entry and exit from the area to prevent losses.