ISSUES
Safe and Sound: H O T E L S A F E T Y C O N S I D E R AT I O N S By Sarah Suydam
so they can complete their jobs. With hotel employee t urnover, former employees may st ill have access to the hotel, including guest rooms,” Bowers said. “Simply ask the hotel how often their master keys are rekeyed. A respectable propert y should change them at least ever y six months.” Bowers notes t he major it y of hotel sa fet y issues happen in the park ing lot, so it’s smart to ask if the area where a motorcoach unloads is well lit, and if there are functioning securit y cameras both inside and outside of the propert y. “Upon check ing in, ask if the propert y has a current
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and an active shooter plan. You may also ask how often they practice those plans,” Bowers advised.
W h i le t ravel i s a l l about hav i ng f u n a nd ma k i ng
If those measures are in place and a hotel practices
memories that last a lifetime, safet y is always paramount
t hem a n nu a l l y, Bower s s ay s you’l l g a i n a bet ter
on t he road . W hen it c ome s to s ele c t i ng s u it able
understanding of how much t he proper t y priorit izes
accommodations, there are a variet y of different steps to
overall guest safet y.
take, tips to keep in mind and red f lags to note.
“A sk sta f f i f t hey ’ve been t ra i ned on t hei r hotel’s
For i nsig ht, we t apped t he ex per t ise of M ichael J
emergenc y response plan, including for evacuat ion,”
Bowers, President & CEO of Travel Safet y Solutions, LLC,
he sa id, add i ng t hat i f st a f f a re con f used by t h is
who has decades of ex per ience suppor t i ng t he sa fet y
quest ion or say t hey ’ve never been t ra ined, contact
needs of student tour operators and travel organizations.
hotel management and notif y them of the issue. “Ever y
First and foremost, do your due diligence and conduct
sta f f member shou ld be able to a nswer ‘yes’ to t his
thorough research (reading rev iews from other travelers,
quest ion. A nd if not, you should consider a different
considering hotel location and look ing up crime rates for
hotel in the future.”
that particular neighborhood, etc.). Bowers emphasizes
It’s also worth hav ing a discussion w ith your group
the importance of speak ing directly w ith hotel staff and
about where you’ll specif ically meet up in case of an
management about their safet y protocols. “Hotel master keys a re of ten prov ided to employees
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f ire a nd evacuat ion pla n, a cr isis ma nagement pla n
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