In-room Security
When it comes to guest rooms, safes are now a minimum requirement, not a welcome addition.

“It is very important to make the guest more confident about the safety of his valuable belongings and/or cash — as he is the only one who can access the safe in his room with his own code,” explains Radisson’s Alrawashdeh.

“The safe box in the guest’s room is the only place which cannot be accessed by anyone except the guest himself, and that is why the safe box plays a big role in assuring guests that there is limited access for the safe itself and following certain hotel policy and procedures in accessing the safe in case of emergencies,” he adds.

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“Safes in hotel rooms are a necessity,” agrees Mövenpick’s Pelser. “They provide the guest peace of mind that his valuables are secured while he is out of the room. I encourage all guests to use the facility rather than leaving valuable items unattended in the room.”

And it’s not just in-room gadgets making hotels safer. Aloft Hotels recently introduced its Smart Check-In programme, which uses advanced RFID technology VingCard in order to make check-in quicker and more secure.

Through the new programme, select Starwood Preferred Guest members who choose to participate receive an enhanced SPG/Aloft-branded RFID keycard. On the day of a stay, a text message is sent to the guest’s mobile device that indicates their room number at the property.

On arrival, guests can go straight to their room, where their encrypted SPG/Aloft-enabled keycard will unlock the door.

“The Smart Check-In programme, which we have begun rolling out across the Aloft brand, is specifically designed to meet the changing needs of today’s busy, tech-savvy travellers,” explains Brian McGuinness, senior vice president of specialty select brands for Starwood.

“Based on the positive feedback we have received from guests using the system so far, the ability to bypass the front desk is expected to become a valuable new amenity for guests at Aloft.

As the hotel industry continues to adopt more innovative self-service solutions, VingCard’s RFID technology is providing a way to not only increase the efficiency of the check-in process, but provides added convenience for our guests,” he adds.

“Starwood and its Aloft brand are on the leading edge of hotel technology, and we at VingCard are thrilled to help them make the future of hotel check-in a reality,” says George Winker, vice president of sales for Assa Abloy Hospitality in North America.

Technology such as this will continue to develop and hotels would be wise to follow the
trends and invest in those security systems and services — from products to people — that protect, reassure and comfort their guests.

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Top security tips from the people in the know
• A good hotel’s concern for guest safety reaches beyond the front entrance. The hotel’s concierge should advise on the dos and don’ts in various destinations around the world.
• Encourage guests to store valuables in hotel safes rather than carrying them around or leaving them on display in the room.
• Travellers have responsibilities too — they must arm themselves with information about the destination prior to travelling there.
• Travellers should carry only what is essential for excursions and leave passports and credit cards in the safe. Advise them to take enough cash for the day and lock up the rest.