Hotel safety is increasingly becoming an issue as the hospitality industry, traditionally associated with warmth and camaraderie, is seeing a rise in threats and harassment towards its workers. This is particularly concerning for inexperienced staff, who find sometimes themselves working alone, making them especially vulnerable. Lone workers make up over one-fifth of the workforce in North America and research shows 68% of organizations have experienced a lone worker incident in the past three years. It’s crucial to look at mitigating these risks.
Every establishment should prioritize hotel safety for its staff, and by implementing solutions, such as smart badges, can protect their employees, foster empowerment and ensure a safer working environment. Smart badges not only offer security and real-time location tracking but can also reduce costs and streamline operations.
Here are some strategies in hotel safety to consider:
Extensive Training:
By implementing a program of training, all staff should be able to identify potential conflicts and know de-escalation techniques. All training should be regularly reviewed and updated and ensure staff know how to follow established emergency response protocols in scenarios that cannot be diffused.
Report Incidents:
Management should ensure there are clear procedures for reporting incidents, accidents and suspicious activities and staff should be encouraged to report them, in an environment of open communication without fear or intimidation. By ensuring there is a robust system in place, reports can be regularly analyzed, which offers insights into how or where incidents occur.
Leverage Technology:
Enhancing security with measures such as CCTV cameras, controlled access and panic buttons in rooms, can also help. Installing automatic check-in kiosks or hotel digital concierges, streamlines operations and leaves hotel staff to focus on other activities, saving time and money.
Industry Support:
Wearing a smart badge for hotel safety may also be mandatory in many cases and hoteliers must comply. In New Jersey, it is the legal requirement for hotels with over 100 rooms to provide panic devices for employees who have to work alone while in Washington State, all hotels and motels must supply them to lone workers. Other cities and states have similar requirements. The American Hotel and Lodging (AHLA) recommends the use of smart badges for staff, as part of its 5-Star Promise, aimed at strengthening safety for hospitality workers and guests. This has enabled an estimated 1.5 million hotel staff to perform duties more securely.
By prioritizing hotel safety through smart technology and effective protocols, hoteliers can foster a safer environment for both staff and guests. Taking preventative measures enhances staff security, reduces risks and improves staff morale and a confident, safe workforce is simply a hotel’s best asset.
Learn more here how Nomadix can help you.
Josh York brings over 15 years of experience in the hospitality industry to his role as Senior Manager, Nomadix Cloud Development