Six questions to make your hotel safer for guests

Enjoy the travel industry so much that you’ve decided to open your own hotel or guest house? That’s great, though there will be so much to consider in the early days. How will you make your hotel stand out from the competition? Who is your target audience going to be? Which techniques are you going to utilise to try and make a return on your investment? As well as all of this, you must plan how you are going to keep people who are staying at your hotel safe. With this in mind, read through these six questions and make sure you’re answering yes to them all… Do you have CCTV set up? Guests at your hotel will be reassured of their safety if they spot that you’ve installed security cameras around your establishment. However, just having a surveillance system in place isn’t enough. Be sure to constantly monitor your set-up, even if this means hiring a third-party company to do so. Certain systems also come with a voice command option, which means that if you spot any wrong-doing, you can quickly warn those involved to stop their actions. Is your online data protected? In the digital age, the physical safety of guests at your hotel is no longer enough. Hotels have become a prime target for cyber attacks. According to a report by PwC, the hospitality industry has the second-highest number of cybersecurity breaches, with most of the prominent hotels in the industry having fallen victim to breaches. You’ll reduce the risk of suffering a cybersecurity breach and heighten the security of all your files and information by regularly updating your IT systems. You should also be making sure that backing up your data becomes a habit, so you can eliminate the risk of losing it or having it irretrievably damaged. A recommended strategy is to use a cloud service daily, have weekly server backups, and follow these up with quarterly server backups and then yearly backups. Have passwords in place throughout your company? Just be sure to change them often and also make sure you change them any time a staff member leaves to avoid any breaches. Do you regularly check your electric supply? When you’re operating a hotel or guest house, it’s crucial to carry out a regular Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR). This is because, since your business is constantly running, your systems can be subject to wear, tear, corrosion and overloading. Such a report, which must be carried out by a qualified electrician, will ensure that the electrical appliances in each room are fit for purpose. Conduct these checks every so often. That way, you’ll be limiting the risk of electrical shocks, fires and accidents, and therefore reducing accidents in the workplace – something which is a legal requirement since the introduction of the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989. Do you regularly check your gas supply? You need to be checking your gas mains and appliances regularly too. The Gas Safety Regulations 1998 states that you must arrange annual gas safety checks for any appliances that are serving guest accommodation, even if it’s sited away from the guests’ rooms. Don’t forget to also take the time to train members of staff about how to use gas appliances correctly throughout your hotel. Show them how to carry our visual checks as well, so they can spot obvious faults. This could include any damaged pipework or connections. While any new installations must be carried out by someone who is Gas Safe-registered, anyone can change a LPG gas cylinder or hose once they are competent to do so. Installing carbon monoxide and dioxide alarms is another thing that must be on your to-do list when opening a hotel or guest house. These alarms can signify any fault and help you avoid any catastrophes. They should give an audible alarm when levels are dangerous and should be able to automatically shut off your gas system. Have you set up a clear emergency response plan? Everyone who works at your hotel needs to know how to act in the event they are caught up in an emergency. Regular meetings with law enforcement and emergency services should be scheduled so you have a good communication plan in place and can update it as and when required. In doing so, you can prepare your staff so that everyone is calm and knowledgeable in a worst-case scenario. Aneil Handa is the director of the hotel group Cairn. She stated: “We make sure all our staff have sufficient training to know how to act in an emergency. Communication is key as it’s clear we must be calm and composed in critical moments as this can help us make sure both our guests and staff members are as safe as possible and can help avoid possible catastrophes.” Does your staff wear a uniform? Corporate uniform really should be worn by all staff members at a hotel. Not only does it help your business look professional and smart, but it also gives your guests a clear view of who they can approach about a query, and who indeed is allowed in certain areas of the business. In guest areas, knowing who members of staff are is essential. This is because it shows that your company have guests’ safety at the forefront due to staff always patrolling the areas.