| Of all the risks a hotelier faces, who would have ever | | | | Lodging Association has sent out advisories to their |
| considered the risk of a guest tampering with | | | | membership in an attempt to decrease a hotel’s |
| another guest’s room? Yet that’s exactly | | | | exposure to privacy violations. |
| what happened to ESPN’s Erin Andrews, who | | | | It’s a call to action for all hotel operations, large |
| was the victim of an alleged peeping tom – a | | | | and small. Hoteliers should have an adequate risk |
| man who reportedly stalked the woman in a most | | | | assessment performed on their operations to identify |
| unusual way. The case against the man states he | | | | weaknesses in materials or policies. Are current door |
| tampered with the peep hole in Ms. Andrews’ | | | | peep holes safe from tampering? Are there policies in |
| hotel door, then proceeded to watch her | | | | place that require guest approval for all adjacent |
| movements in her hotel room. | | | | room requests? If so, do all your employees adhere |
| What’s equally disturbing is the alleged | | | | strictly to those policies? |
| perpetrator’s actions prior to the incident and | | | | Risk assessments can help you determine any |
| the hotel’s response. According to police records, | | | | additional security measures or equipment to further |
| the man requested a room adjacent to the | | | | ensure guest safety. For instance, some hotels |
| victim’s room, a request the hotel chain honored. | | | | already use CCTV to monitor hallways on all floors. |
| That move has turned the industry upside down in | | | | Such monitoring can increase hotel security |
| an effort to redefine hotel policies and guest security | | | | substantially while lowering guest fears. |
| procedures. | | | | Your hotel’s security is as strong as your |
| In hindsight, it’s easy for any of us to find fault | | | | practicing of all the precautions and guest safety |
| with a policy that allows such room requests. But in | | | | policies. Assessments, and ensuring your employees |
| general, many hotels had no prior stopgap in place for | | | | follow to the letter all guest safety procedures, can |
| handling these requests. The American Hotel and | | | | protect not just your guests, but your reputation. |