Much has been said lately about hotel room security and the technology used to keep our guests safe and secure while under our care. The topic has been on the news, posted online, argued about in court and, in at least one case, had the potential to become a national security issue. So, as my first in a regular monthly series column, I decided to do a bit of research and find out how hotel room security compares to typical security at a guest's home.

In doing so, I went online and found that the average time it takes to pick a home lock is between 5 and 30 seconds, which I thought was pretty fast! Anyone with a credit card that will work can buy a nice set of lock picks that vary from $5 to $300. (Although one website insisted that I agree not to use them in an illegal manner.) Further research uncovered something called a bump key that you can either make (search "bump key" on YouTube and you'll find a "how-to" video with more than two million views) or easily purchase online. It will purportedly open about 90 percent of home locks. With statistics like this, a home lock does not seem to be very useful.

During my career, I have probably spent between 3,000 and 5,000 nights sleeping in hotel rooms. Typically, there are security personnel on duty, cameras, emergency lighting and quite a few other things in place that make me feel quite secure. While I have never had a dangerous experience in a hotel, I have had my home burglarized. So, for me, I feel as secure at hotels as I do at my house.

As members of the hospitality industry, our goal is to offer a great experience. We advertise great food, service, comfortable accommodations, value and cutting-edge technology. Our competitive edge also requires us to work harder because it sets us apart from the "home" experience. Another resource that we can provide our guests is a subtle reminder that hotels are primarily public places and that they should exercise some caution. During staff training or daily meetings, remind bellman to tell guests to use the security latch when inside the room, or reminding them to keep their room number confidential. These are great ways to help keep your property safe.

Technology is a great tool to have but it still takes a human touch to maximize it. At least so far!

About HFTP

Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®), established in 1952, is a hospitality nonprofit association headquartered in Austin, Texas USA with offices in the EU and Middle East. HFTP is recognized as the spokes group for the finance and technology segments of the hospitality industry with an international network of members and stakeholders. HFTP uniquely understands the industry's pressing issues, and assists its stakeholders in finding solutions to their challenges more efficiently than any organization. HFTP offers expert networks, educational resources, career development programs, research, leadership opportunities and conferences and events. HFTP produces international events throughout the year, including the world's largest hospitality technology tradeshow and conference brand: HITEC. In addition, it oversees the hospitality-specific Pineapplesearch.com® and the Uniform System of Accounts for the Lodging Industry (USALI). For more information about HFTP, visit www.hftp.org. For the latest news, visit the HFTP News page at news.hftp.org and the HFTP Connect blog at blog.hftp.org.

Frank Wolfe
+1 (512) 249-5333
HFTP

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