security and the lodging industry [compatibility mode]

Security and the Lodging Industry

Saturday, January 19, 2013 AHLA: Security and Loss Prevention Slide 1 /36

Scope

• A Growing Concern.• Developing the security program.• Setting up the security program.• The elements of security training.• The elements of security training.• Security and the Law.• Legal Definitions.• Case studies.


The Growing Concern

• Rise in the Crime Rate.• Growing number of Lawsuits.• What has become a legal duty of

establishments.establishments.• The requirement of a security program.


Elements of a Security Program

•Doors, locks, key control, access control

•Guestroom security

• Control of persons on premises

• Perimeter and grounds control

• Protection of assets

•Emergency procedures


Elements of a Security Program

•Communications

• Security records

• Staff security procedures

• In addition a property’s design and layout can greatly affect its security program.

• For Lodging establishments


The Need for effective management

• To create conscious awareness.• Keep all informed of crime and its rise in

society.• To keep all involved in the changing needs • To keep all involved in the changing needs

of property.• Draft and review of policy matter duly

approved by the legal department.• Recognition of security as a management

tool.Saturday, January 19, 2013 AHLA: Security and Loss Prevention Slide 6 /36

Areas of Vulnerability….1

• The extent in the increase of crime because of changes in the culture, economy and lifestyle.

• Crimes against guest can be damaging to • Crimes against guest can be damaging to reputation of the establishment.

• Designing a security program should be taking the image of the guest in mind and the property’s image.

• Another area is finance.Saturday, January 19, 2013 AHLA: Security and Loss Prevention Slide 7 /36


a. Offering credit to the credit unworthy.b. Use of fraudulent credit cards.c. Personal checks.d. Travelers checks.d. Travelers checks.e. Bad debts with travel agents and

companies.



• Although these incidents of Financial and movable property losses are less visible to the public they cause internal losses and may fall into the category of irrecoverable may fall into the category of irrecoverable debts.



• Protection of physical assets.• Losses of flatware, Linen, ashtrays are

common.• But stealing of color TV sets is often a • But stealing of color TV sets is often a

major loss.• Employee theft or Employee assisted theft

is one major area.


Security requirements

• The crime rate has been on a steady decline in the USA since the late 1990’s.

• The growth of the industry in many forms has brought numerous challenges.brought numerous challenges.

• No two establishments have the same security requirements.

• There is no fixed standard as the norms of the US National security standards are not feasible for a varied industry.


Basis for Setting up the Security Program

• Evaluating many factors in Security requirements.

• Depending on the event occurrences and their repetitive nature.their repetitive nature.

• Financial and asset losses incurred in theft.• Budgets allotted for a program.• Working relationships with local law

enforcement agencies.


The Importance of Law enforcement liaison…1

• First hand information is provided by the local law enforcement agencies on the types of crimes and names are divulged, summarized records of offenders are summarized records of offenders are available.

• Community crime watch provides information.



• Publicize the incident. • Within the hospitality sector and other

establishment without revealing names.• Its better to consult the legal department • Its better to consult the legal department

before taking such a step of negative publicity.

• Send a file of names of employees and SS #’s to the authorities for a background check.



• Many fast food restaurants offer police discounts on food and beverage.

• Advantage of the liaison will also overcome the problem of reporting the overcome the problem of reporting the incident directly to the police.

• The efficiency between the law enforcement agencies and Private security personnel.


Security Staffing

• To Hire full time or Part time.• Local off duty police personnel.• Assign responsibility to Resident Manager,

Chief Engineer or Human resource Chief Engineer or Human resource director.

• Contract Security.• In-House Security.• Off duty police.


Security Staffing: Contract Security Companies

•Screened, tested, and trained personnel

• Consulting services

a. Surveys on hotel security requirementsa. Surveys on hotel security requirements

b. Debugging sweeps.

c. Data processing security

d.Contingency planning: bomb threats & Disaster management including natural.


Security Staffing: Contract Security Companies

•Decision checklist

•Guard training programs

•Previous lodging experience

•State certification, if applicable•State certification, if applicable

•Property inspection frequency

•Staffing for large-scale emergency

•Daily incident reporting to management

•Liability and workers’ compensation issues


Disadvantages of Contract security

• The guards being over friendly to the employee.

• Rotation of guards every six months could be an expensive proposition.be an expensive proposition.

• Repeated training for guards in the new premises could be time consuming.


Security Staffing:In-House Security Staff

Greater control over security officers

• More focused training

• Quality of personnel hotels priority• Quality of personnel hotels priority

• More effective integration with other hoteldepartments

• Career paths can reduce security officer turnover


Off Duty Police

• Typical feature of many US. Corporations and Casinos.

• Superior training of Vigilance, watch and ward.ward.

• Training in reacting in emergencies, knowledge of law.

• Connection with law enforcement authorities.• Better foresight in crime prevention.


Personnel Practices

• Security concerns must be addressed during selection.

• Personnel screening and importance of asset protection must be stressed.asset protection must be stressed.

• Insurance companies should be contacted to find out more about the employee.

• Scheduling of security should be given prime importance.


Supervision

• The Security director appointed in larger properties almost has the same responsibilities as a Resident manager, assistant manager, Chief engineer or assistant manager, Chief engineer or HRM.

• Should include a member of the management or executive planning committee for greater cooperation.


The elements of security training

• Structured orientation needed for existing and new security including off duty police officers.

• Similarly orientation should be given to • Similarly orientation should be given to employees as well.

• Limits of use of force or intervention to be highlighted.

• Limits of authority for Police, Guards and citizens to be cleared.



• Training depends on facilities needs which would generally be based upon:

1. Protection of guests.2. The general public.2. The general public.3. Assets of guests and employees.4. Protection of property.• Emergency management should also be

a key differentiator in the training.Saturday, January 19, 2013 AHLA: Security and Loss Prevention Slide 25 /36


• Training documents like the Health safety and security manual should always be present.

• Discuss the latest development in security • Discuss the latest development in security training and technology.

• Preventive measures and corrective action taken by other organizations as record:

• Techniques such as Incident and Investigation reports, Patrol techniques, access control.



• Other methods such as fire prevention, alarm systems and communication systems.

• The security training must comprise of • The security training must comprise of action oriented skills around theoretical training of technological operation of systems.


Advantages and disadvantages of Security training

• Comprehensive evidence in law suits.• Attrition and change of positions makes

training expensive.• Using experienced employees who don’t • Using experienced employees who don’t

need training and compared against experienced employees with unwillingness to learn.

• Using peer training may prove effective especially the on the job type.



• Employees resist training when they get to know that the trainers are poorly prepared.

• Poor preparation.• Poor preparation.• Lack of training experience.• Communication skills.• Lack of articulation.• Deficient in skills.• Ineffective in appraisal and follow-up.Saturday, January 19, 2013 AHLA: Security and Loss Prevention Slide 29 /36


• Time and money consumption an Investment.• Proper training reduces attrition.• The training should be apportioned “On a

need to know basis” which means that the need to know basis” which means that the employees should not be bogged down with an overload.

• Security standards and procedures should be handed down specific to employees.


Case of Victims against Vacation Village & Burns

1. I million in damages paid by Vacation Village to Victims.

2. Vacation village also sued burns for failure to provide trained security.to provide trained security.

3. Burns had provided untrained, unsupervised security officers for the 44 acre complex.

4. One morning 4 armed using a master key got into a rooms and committed atrocities on the residents.


Case of Victims against Vacation Village & Burns

• Burns security defended itself by saying that Vacation Village had not changed its locks and the master key was missing.

• And Vacation village had a bad attitude • And Vacation village had a bad attitude towards their security.

• And that they had warned Vacation village of the same while discussions were repeatedly refused.

Terminology

• Tort Law.• False arrest.• False Prosecution• Larceny.

• Tortious acts.• Citizens arrest.• Statutory arrest.• Felony.• Larceny.

• Perjury.• Malicious Persecution.• Defamation.• Slander.

• Use of force.

• Felony.• Commission of

misdemeanor.• Search.• Interrogation.• Miranda warnings


Terminology

• Proximate cause• Legal Cause• Compensatory damages• Plaintiff.

• Appellant• Appellee• Foresee ability.• Respondent.

• Trial court.• Summary Judgment.• Directed Verdict.• Punitive damages.• N.O.V.

• Respondent.


Questions ��

CommentsSaturday, January 19, 2013 AHLA: Security and Loss Prevention Slide 35 /36

Direct Reference

• Security and Loss Prevention Management

• 2nd Edition• American Hotel and Lodging Educational • American Hotel and Lodging Educational

institute.• Ellis, Raymond. C Jr.• Stipaunk. David. M


security and the lodging industry [compatibility mode]

Documents

security staffing

security programdoors

recognition of security

inhouse security

loss prevention slide

elements of security

hotel security requirementsb

amajor loss