Security Part of Hotel Safety Expert Concerns as We Near 9/11

Hotel safety expert panelists and others at the recent Global Congress on Legal, Safety, & Security Solutions expressed a myriad of concerns in the wake of the 9/11 anniversary. Terrorism planning and preparedness should be at the height of planning given the recent spate of attacks in the Middle East and those affecting Al Quida operations in particular. Here are highlights of what these security experts addressed as well as a link to the full review: – “Terrorists are increasingly targeting hotels because of the worldwide attention such attacks receive, Durham said, so it’s important to have a plan in place. Marriott, for one, uses a multi-point crisis management program that is reviewed semiannually. When a crisis occurs at a Marriott property, security team members are automatically notified via phone and email and immediately hop onto a conference call to discuss the situation.” – “Preparedness should extend beyond a company’s executives, said Tom Whitlatch of Hospitality Risk Controls. Housekeepers, those employees who spend a considerable amount of time in hotel hallways and guestrooms, need to be trained to keep an eye out for suspicious behavior. Housekeepers, he said, should not be afraid to challenge people they see in hallways to show room keys. “We have to train them and get them to understand it’s OK to do that,” Whitlatch said.” Read more here on what this hotel safety expert and others had to say. On a related story of interest on what we have learned since the 9/11 attacks: – “In the 10 years since 9/11, hotels have had plenty of opportunities for learning experiences when it comes to terrorist strikes. During a session on Saturday at the first Global Congress on Legal, Safety, & Security Solutions in Travel in Houston, Orlob and Brad Bonnell, InterContinental Hotels Group’s director of global security, outlined some of the lessons learned.” Read more on what measures this hotel security expert recommends. What to see more on this subject? Check out this hotel operations expert blog on terrorism preparedness. Are you currently working with a hotel safety expert to create and implement an emergency preparedness plan for your hotel that includes acts of terrorism? Can you share some of these ideas and recommendations with our readers? We welcome your input…