Hotel Owners: Secure Your Hotels With These Five Essential Tips

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If you own a hotel, you need to create an atmosphere where your guests feel safe but also where your offices and common areas are safe from both guest vandalism and outside threats. To help you achieve the right balance, take a look at these tips:

1. Avoid card readers with DC ports

Most hotels have switched from locks with keys to locks with magnetic cards. If you are putting in new card-based locks, consider avoiding ones with visible DC ports. Although the threat is not currently widespread, hackers have found ways to open these locks using a plug that goes into the DC port and some open-source software.

2. Invest in high quality key cards

Unfortunately, key cards are not foolproof either. In one study, cards with magnetic strips carried next to cell phones were demagnetised within three hours. This effect can also happen when magnetised key cards are placed on top of hotel TVs.

If your guests' key cards are demagnetised, it means they have to go to the front desk and ask for a new key card. That wastes their time and energy and also wastes valuable staff payroll hours. Avoid this trend by investing in as high-quality key cards as you can find. To help offset their cost, reduce the number of lost key cards by giving guests a small refund for returning them or consider charging for extra keys.

3. Add internal locks

Regardless of what type of lock you use on the outside of each hotel room door, install extra locks on the inside of the doors. Chain locks, dead bolts or other similar options give guests a sense of security in their own rooms. That helps with your image, your brand and guest satisfaction.

4. Use metal plates to protect your doors from lock damage

Keep in mind, however, that guests often use some of these locks to prop open their doors while they go to another room or run to the lobby for ice. This can damage the door as the lock rubs against its side. Luckily, you can protect your door by adding a metal plate on the edge of the door where those locks are likely to rub.

5. Find a good emergency locksmith

In addition to the issues discussed above, locks are critical to hotels in other aspects as well. For example, you may have a safe where guests can put expensive items, you may have timed locks on the doors of common spaces such as pools or you may have special locks on your office doors.

If any of these locks break, you need the help of an emergency locksmith like Hunter Locksmith Services. Similarly, these professionals can help you if you need to get into a room and have lost the keys or codes to that lock. They can also help in emergencies where a criminal has barricaded him or herself in one of your guests rooms and you need to get the door open.

To ensure your hotel's security, make sure you have an emergency locksmith who you know and trust so that you can always get the help you need when you need it.

 

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16 September 2015

Five Star Security: Options For Locks, Keys And Safes

As the manager of a five-star hotel, I face many interesting challenges. There's never a dull moment! One of my biggest problems is security. I spend a lot of time obtaining quality keys, locks and safes and ensuring they are well-maintained. There's nothing worse than a tired guest and a broken lock at 3 am! Over the years, I have trialled many different types of locks and safes. I also keep up with the latest technology in this area. I am therefore quite the expert when it comes to advising family and friends about the best systems for their homes and businesses. Given that so many people ask me for advice, I figured that there may be others who are overwhelmed by the plethora of options out there. This blog may give you some ideas and help you make good decisions in your search for superior locks and safes.