When guests check into hotels, they expect to be taken care of and this means keeping both them and their property safe and secure. There are numerous options when staying away from home including hotels, B&Bs, rentals, and motels among others. Hotels want to keep their clients and want to attract new guests, but the pandemic not only closed hotels for a time and introduced new safety needs, but has often left them understaffed in the aftermath.
Today’s hotel guests are also wanting more than just a bed for the night and a bathroom. They want above all to feel secure away from home and this includes their physical safety, health safety, and property protection. It’s no surprise that subscriptions to services like VPN for phones and laptops have been on the rise. In hotels too, things have changed.
When hotels reopened after the pandemic, contactless service became the norm with new technology such as robots delivering room service, QR codes, and texting. Hospitality apps became popular as a response to a need for contactless services.
Security is at the forefront of the guest experience particularly when considering that many hotels are now connected to convention centers, a variety of amenities, banquet halls, and even airports. With an increase in amenities and services, guests need a seamless hotel experience, so security strategies and platforms need to pair with increased opportunities and services to ensure protection.
Hotel managements need to adapt quickly to new trends in traveling and guest expectations and needs. Security is a priority for everyone.
Cloud-Based Hotel Security
With understaffing still a challenge for the hotel industry, cloud-based security strategies not only are cost-effective but permit hotels to offer a high level of security with fewer employees. A smaller number of employees makes it difficult to control all areas within hotel premises, but new technology makes monitoring the entire hotel structure possible.
Smart Hotel Rooms
Smart rooms use more than one technology so that guests can customize their environment to their preferences. Temperature control, automated lighting, sound systems, booking treatments, ordering food, and virtual assistants are among the many benefits that smart rooms provide guests with.
Hotels use commercial door lock systems that support digital credentials, key cards, or fobs to add convenience and security. If a key card or fob is lost, it can be immediately removed from the system and replaced.
Access Control
Controlling who enters a hotel, amenities, or parking areas is a hotel’s first line of defense in protecting guests and their belongings. New cloud-based access control systems can guarantee security when admitting visitors to hotel rooms, fitness centers and spas, pools, and other amenities so that only authorized guests can enter.
They can also limit access to administrative offices or storerooms, and they can offer automated check-ins and check-outs. Some hotels may also introduce biometrics with facial recognition affording a personal, confidential, and secure method for identity verification.
Monitoring a cloud-based security system is also facilitated through remote management. Security personnel can monitor access from any point within a structure as long as there is an internet connection. This also permits security teams to address threats or problems immediately and alert law enforcement if necessary.
AI-Powered Video Security
Artificial intelligence software paired with CCTV and video monitoring can detect suspicious objects and activities and provide alerts to law enforcement or emergency first responders should a need arise. Thanks to the integration of advanced analytics, potential threats are identified before an incident takes place permitting security personnel to intervene in real time.
AI-powered video monitoring also can supervise guests and employees ensuring that everyone follows the rules. AI can also alert hotel staff if a situation requires attention.
Cybersecurity and Data Protection
Cyberattacks can ruin a hotel. Hundreds if not thousands of guests will provide hotels with personal information during a year. Hotels must take their cybersecurity seriously. The Financial Times cites the hotel industry as the third most targeted industry by hackers.
Data needs to be protected from criminals that may attempt to steal personal and financial information or manipulate it. New technology can protect sensitive data storage and use from ransomware attacks, or DDoS attacks that can create havoc in operational processes and worst-case scenarios, be exceptionally costly causing significant financial losses.
Cybersecurity breaches can also cost a hotel its reputation, with negative publicity, and a loss of reservations and customers. Moreover, an SSL certificate can help a lot in data protection. When customers share their details on a hotel website, it can be protected with an SSL certificate. A low-priced or cheap SSL certificate is enough to secure the site.
Antivirus software, firewalls, and encryption are important security tools that hotels across the globe are enacting to protect customer and hotel data. Hotels are also educating staff on best practices, recognizing suspicious emails, links, and phishing, using strong passwords, and MFA-multi-factor authentication.
Contactless Payment
Contactless payment eliminates wallets, cash, credit cards, and PINs in public. Hotel guests can pay bills rapidly and easily transform the guest experience. This technology not only offers guests a sense of control and security when paying.
Final Thoughts
Hotel hospitality requires a seamless yet personalized experience for guests. New security technology is an essential component in a warm, efficient, tailored, and safe experience that will keep your guests returning and spreading the word.
