The parent companies of large hotel chains provide safety and security solutions for 15% of hotels and similar facilities in Italy. But what about the rest? It is remarkable how often plain common sense is ignored and basic standards flouted. Financial loss caused by I such conduct is common enough, but now that we have entered a period in which businesses have to deal daily with customers who can broadcast their feelings at the click of a mouse, reputational damage is just as serious a risk.
And yet, at least 30% of systemic risks such as theft, privacy breaches and damage to property can now be prevented. A ready solution is at hand for hotels, spa resorts, conference centres and tourist accommodation providers, which simply need to follow four key rules. These rules are always and everywhere valid, regardless of the complexity, geographical location, purpose or function of the place of hospitality.
- Spend wisely and no more than necessary
The first common-sense rule is as simple as it is obvious. A key stage in the design of a control and risk management system is the initial selection of the most suitable solution – but which one is right?
In the hospitality industry, the solution must respond to three requirements:
- it must meet mandatory security standards;
- it must be as unobtrusive as possible for the guests;
- it must fit in as much as possible with the infrastructure.
The right configuration makes it easier for employees to operate the security system, which saves on unnecessary costs, and ensures scalability so that the system can be progressively expanded at a later date.
- Clustering areas for planning purposes
A hotel or similar structure will have multiple different entrance and exit points and will need to control and observe multiple different types of visitors. One of the most common mistakes made in security planning in the hospitality sector is to treat the premises as if they were a single unit, whereas they are actually made up of different zones, each with its particular needs and each therefore requiring specific solutions. The essence of a truly efficacious system of control and monitoring is “clustering”, a technique whereby access permissions to certain areas (entrances and exits) are assigned to certain groups of people.
For hotels and the like, these areas are easy to identify. They are, starting from the outer perimeter:
- parking spaces for employees and guests;
- loading areas and delivery bays for hotel-restaurant-catering supplies;
- visitor entrances;
- service stairways;
and, moving inside:
- common spaces and foyers for guest registration;
- work areas reserved for staff;
- leisure areas that are open also to non-guests such as spas and restaurants;
- areas for shops and services;
and, finally, the guests’ rooms, whose overriding function is to provide a peaceful environment.
- Avoid system redundancies
Far too many control systems are awash with redundancies, as if installing an excessive number of cameras might somehow enhance their efficacy. In fact, what makes a system the best possible is the amount of care that goes into the preliminary assessment of the risk factors. A preliminary assessment is the only way of getting two essential aspects right: the number of devices that need to be installed, and the number of functions that each device should be able to perform (usually, only a few).
This is where the professional experience of the security system firm is so important. It can be very costly to change a pre-existing system, both financially and in terms of the disturbance to guests.
- Automate and integrate
Building automation today offers the hospitality industry a great opportunity to achieve two important goals: to improve their services and reduce their expenses. Examples abound, ranging from the automation and remote control of vehicle access points, parking zones and guest areas to the automated management of rooms and lighting. When building automation, IoT, business intelligence and data analysis are effectively combined, the result is a self-sustaining ecosystem in which technology becomes a tool for enhancing management skills, no matter what the business.