Monthly Archives: May 2012

by | May 22, 2012 · 6:12 am

Hospitality Industry Security Risks: Texas Hotel Guests Have Laptop And iPad Stolen From Room; GPS Tracking Feature Leads Police To Thieves

“…Police say hotel guests returned to their room to find their key card no longer worked. Once they had a new key, they discovered someone had stolen a laptop computer, wallet, a cell phone and the iPad from the room…”

Officers were able to track down an iPad stolen from a room at the Omni Bayfront Hotel to a home on the southside of town early Sunday morning.

The owner of the iPad used a tracking feature on the device to let officers know they could find the iPad at an address on High Meadow Drive. Police say when they arrived at the home they could see people inside and marijuana in plain view.

The people inside refused to answer the door for police at first, but someone inside did answer the victim’s phone when police called.

For more:  http://www.kristv.com/news/hotel-guests-help-track-down-theft-suspects/

Comments Off on Hospitality Industry Security Risks: Texas Hotel Guests Have Laptop And iPad Stolen From Room; GPS Tracking Feature Leads Police To Thieves

Filed under Crime, Guest Issues, Liability, Management And Ownership, Privacy, Technology, Theft

Tagged as , , , , , ,

by | May 21, 2012 · 6:19 am

Hospitality Industry Legal Risks: Texas Hotel Sued By Woman For "Negligence And Defamation" After Air Conditioning Unit In Room Causes Fire

 “…she lost her laptop, college course materials and “over 30 billable hours worth of work for freelance architecture jobs she was in the process of completing at the time the fire occurred.”

      She seeks damages for negligence and defamation.

A woman claims in court that she had to spend the night in a “fire-ravaged” hotel room among her charred personal belongings, while hotel employees spread false rumors that she had “tried to burn the hotel down.”      LaTanya Stevenson sued Hotel USA Partners LLC dba Crowne Plaza Austin, in Travis County Court.      Stevenson, a state worker, claims she attended a three-day regional administrative service conference at the Crowne Plaza in November 2011.      She says the hotel gave her a room where the air-conditioner was stuck on the coldest setting. Unable to budge the “black and nonresponsive” temperature controls, Stevenson says, she reported the problem to the front desk.

“When Ms. Stevenson was finally given an opportunity to speak to a member of the fire department, she learned from the fire marshal that the malfunctioning air conditioning unit, not her laptop was the root of the fire,” the complaint states. “She got back to her room to find all of her belongings either severely damaged by the water from the sprinkler system or charred by the flames, which emanated from the bad climate control unit.

For more:  http://www.courthousenews.com/2012/05/21/46648.htm

Comments Off on Hospitality Industry Legal Risks: Texas Hotel Sued By Woman For "Negligence And Defamation" After Air Conditioning Unit In Room Causes Fire

Filed under Fire, Guest Issues, Insurance, Liability, Maintenance, Management And Ownership, Risk Management

Tagged as , , , ,

by | May 19, 2012 · 7:11 am

Hospitality Industry Security Risks: Colorado Hotel Clerk "Doused With Lighter Fluid" By Robbery Suspect

A robber doused a hotel clerk with lighter fluid at around 1:30 a.m. Saturday and threatened to set the clerk on fire at the Clarion Hotel.

The hotel is in the 300 block of West Bijou Street. Police said the suspect entered the lobby and demanded cash.

He doused a hotel clerk with lighter fluid and threatened to set the clerk on fire. The robber grabbed money out of the cash drawer and fled on foot..

Police said they arrived shortly after and searched the area with K-9 units, but were not able to track him down.

For more:  http://www.krdo.com/news/31086470/detail.html

Comments Off on Hospitality Industry Security Risks: Colorado Hotel Clerk "Doused With Lighter Fluid" By Robbery Suspect

Filed under Crime, Labor Issues, Management And Ownership, Theft

Tagged as , , ,

by | May 18, 2012 · 10:12 am

Hospitality Industry Legal Risks: Dept. Of Justice Extends Deadline For ADA "Pool Lifts" Requirements Until Jan 31, 2013; "Fixed Lift" Requirements Still Apply To Pools & Spas Under Construction Or Being Altered

“…the Department of Justice (DOJ) last night announced a substantial postponement of the ADA compliance date for existing pools and spas with ADA requirements for accessible entries.  The new compliance date – January 31, 2013 – is more than an additional nine months beyond the original date of March 15, 2012…”

“The extension is fair and sensible and the lodging industry supports it,” said AH&LA President/CEO Joe McInerney.

AH&LA began its efforts immediately after DOJ first announced in a guidance dated January 31, 2012 that pool lifts used to provide accessible entries into existing pools and spas must be “fixed” unless not “readily achievable,” next to the pool/spa at all times when the facilities are open, and cannot be shared between two bodies of water even if they are in the same location.  DOJ subsequently clarified that that “fixed” means attached to the pool deck in some way.  This means that “portable” lifts brought out upon request would not be acceptable, raising new concerns among members about safety risks and costs posed by “fixed” lifts.   The hospitality and business community viewed this announcement to be a significant change from the pool lift requirements issued by DOJ in its September 15, 2010 final regulations and began its intensive campaign to both reverse these substantive changes and delay the compliance date.

For more:  http://www.ahla.com/pressrelease.aspx?id=34522&hq_e=el&hq_m=1729871&hq_l=1&hq_v=e98908d08d

Comments Off on Hospitality Industry Legal Risks: Dept. Of Justice Extends Deadline For ADA "Pool Lifts" Requirements Until Jan 31, 2013; "Fixed Lift" Requirements Still Apply To Pools & Spas Under Construction Or Being Altered

Filed under Guest Issues, Health, Insurance, Legislation, Liability, Maintenance, Management And Ownership, Pool And Spa, Risk Management

Tagged as , , , ,

by | · 6:23 am

Hospitality Industry Guest Risks: Police Arrest Massachussetts Hotel Guest For "Disturbing The Peace" After Refusing To Cease Loud Noises In Room

“…hotel security personnel stated that they had received multiple complaints relative to loud and unsettling noises coming from one of the rooms in the hotel…”

“…When told the hotel had a right to disinvite guests for bad behavior and excessive noise, the individual continued to verbally disrespect and disparage the officers. Officers arrested (man) and charged him with Disturbing the Peace…”

Officers responded to a call for a person or persons producing excessive amounts of noise at 1 Avenue de Lafayette (Hyatt Hotel). Security personnel further stated that occupants of the room were asked to put an end to the loud noises or face the prospect of being asked to leave the hotel.

Despite repeated warnings, the occupants continued to generate disturbing noises. When told they, the occupants, had to leave, the occupants told hotel security they weren’t going anywhere. Officers proceeded to the room to break the bad news to the occupants.

Upon entering the room, officers observed several empty beer and wine bottles strewn about the room. While officers were in the middle of providing an explanation as to the occupants had to leave, one individual in particular began yelling and complaining about his rights.

For more:  http://www.bpdnews.com/2012/05/17/checking-into-a-hotel-is-one-thing-being-asked-to-check-out-for-bad-behavior-is-another/

Comments Off on Hospitality Industry Guest Risks: Police Arrest Massachussetts Hotel Guest For "Disturbing The Peace" After Refusing To Cease Loud Noises In Room

Filed under Crime, Guest Issues, Labor Issues, Management And Ownership, Privacy

Tagged as , , , ,

by | May 17, 2012 · 6:38 am

Hospitality Industry Legal Risks: Nevada Hotel Sued For "Pregnancy Discrimination" By Room Service Sales Employee; Additional "Class-Action" Allegations For Unpaid Wages

In the same filing to sue the hotel for unspecified damages for pregnancy discrimination, Megia also made class-action allegations for unpaid wages on behalf of the hotel’s employees.

“…employees were not permitted to wear their uniforms outside work and had to pick up and drop off their uniforms before and after their shifts, often leading to additional overtime for which they were not paid, the suit claimed…”

Melodee Megia, a former employee at The Cosmopolitan Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, claims she was told she was fired from her job for saying “bye bye” on the telephone instead of “goodbye” while eight-months pregnant.

She has filed a lawsuit against the hotel for pregnancy discrimination and a class-action suit for workers’ wages, saying employees were not paid for the time they had to wait for and change into their uniforms on a daily basis.

Megia worked at the hotel from November 2010 until September 2011, when she said she was fired “based on her pregnancy,” according to court papers filed with the Clark County District Court in Nevada last week.

Megia was a “room service sales” employee answering the telephone when hotel guests called for room service, occasionally assisting in room delivery, her lawyers said.

For more:  http://abcnews.go.com/Business/fired-las-vegas-hotel-worker-sues-pregnancy-discrimination/story?id=16361237

Comments Off on Hospitality Industry Legal Risks: Nevada Hotel Sued For "Pregnancy Discrimination" By Room Service Sales Employee; Additional "Class-Action" Allegations For Unpaid Wages

Filed under Employment Practices Liability, Labor Issues, Liability, Management And Ownership, Risk Management

Tagged as , , , , ,

by | May 16, 2012 · 6:08 am

Hospitality Industry Legal Risks: Woman Sues Illinois Hotel Over Bartender's "Sexual Assault"; Convicted Employee Allegedly Obtained Room Key From Front Desk

“…The lawsuit contends Dabrowski on Oct. 27 spiked the woman’s drink with a “date rape” drug. He allegedly obtained the key to her room from the front desk and then sexually assaulted her as she lay unconscious on her bed in the hotel..”

A Naperville man accused in a federal lawsuit of sexually assaulting a female guest of the Hilton Lisle/Naperville hotel has been convicted of a misdemeanor charge of trespassing in the woman’s room.

Jayson D. Dabrowski, a former bartender at the hotel, has been ordered to serve seven days in the Sheriff’s Work Alternative Program, or SWAP, according to records on file in DuPage County Circuit Court in Wheaton. Dabrowski has also been placed on two years of court supervision, records indicated.

The woman, a resident of Virginia, is seeking more than $75,000 in damages. Her lawsuit is not expected to come to trial for at least a year.

For more: http://napervillesun.suntimes.com/news/12554670-418/man-accused-of-lisle-hotel-sex-attack-found-guilty-of-trespassing.html

Comments Off on Hospitality Industry Legal Risks: Woman Sues Illinois Hotel Over Bartender's "Sexual Assault"; Convicted Employee Allegedly Obtained Room Key From Front Desk

Filed under Crime, Guest Issues, Insurance, Labor Issues, Liability, Management And Ownership, Risk Management

Tagged as , , , ,

by | May 15, 2012 · 7:36 am

Hospitality Industry Restaurant Safety: California Restaurant Playground Areas Face New "Sanitation And Safety Requirements Under State Assembly Bill; Must Post Inspection And Cleaning Plans

Under the bill, sponsored by Democrat Michael Allen of Santa Rosa, restaurants would be required to post signs informing customers that food is not allowed on play structures and to provide adults who ask copies of their playground inspection and cleaning plans.

Fast-food restaurants in California could face new sanitation and safety requirements for the playgrounds they install to attract children. The Assembly on Monday approved a bill that would expand food safety laws to cover the indoor and outdoor playgrounds.

Allen says the bill was promoted by research showing that restaurant playgrounds can be breeding grounds for illness-causing bacteria and are not always well-maintained.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2012/05/14/state/n151405D10.DTL#ixzz1ux75aeHF

Comments Off on Hospitality Industry Restaurant Safety: California Restaurant Playground Areas Face New "Sanitation And Safety Requirements Under State Assembly Bill; Must Post Inspection And Cleaning Plans

Filed under Food Illnesses, Guest Issues, Health, Injuries, Legislation, Management And Ownership, Risk Management

Tagged as , , , , ,

by | May 14, 2012 · 6:16 am

Hospitality Industry Theft Risks: North Carolina Hotel Employee Arrested For "Embezzling" More Than $16,000 From Hotel Deposits And Petty Cash

More than $12,000 came from cash deposits not being made; $2,132 from petty cash and falsified receipts; $1,756 from miscellaneous revenue; and $336 in overdraft fees as a result of deposits not being made.

A 57-year-old woman embezzled more than $16,000 from a Gastonia hotel in about three weeks, according to an arrest warrant. Judy Adaline Steele of Cullowhee in western North Carolina took the money from the Knights Inn at 1400 E. Franklin Blvd. between Dec. 23 and Jan. 11, according to the warrant.

She also occupied two rooms at the hotel, resulting in an additional $3,000 damage, according to the report.

Sri Krupa told police he had withheld Steele’s final two paychecks totaling $1,377 because of the theft. Steele was booked into Gaston County Jail under a $25,000 bond on a charge of embezzlement.

Read more: http://www.gastongazette.com/articles/deposits-71072-gastonia-hotel.html#ixzz1uqvwUS8U

Comments Off on Hospitality Industry Theft Risks: North Carolina Hotel Employee Arrested For "Embezzling" More Than $16,000 From Hotel Deposits And Petty Cash

Filed under Crime, Insurance, Labor Issues, Liability, Management And Ownership, Theft

Tagged as , , ,

by | May 13, 2012 · 6:51 am

Hospitality Industry Legal Risks: Florida Hotel Nightclub Sued For "Racial Discrimination" When Security Guards Refuse To Allow Four Women Inside

Florida civil rights and criminal law attorney David Kubiliun is representing four South Florida women who claim they were not allowed to attend an upscale party the Arkadia Lounge inside Miami Beach’s famous Fountainebleau Hotel because of their race. Kubiliun says a man claiming to be the club’s promoter sent text messages to the women supporting their racial discrimination claims.

Kubiliun claimed it all began when Liz Lopez, Nancy Pierrot, Katuschca Jubuisson and Kat Bing, who are of African-American and Hispanic heritages, said promoter Rodrick Dudley invited them to the nightclub on Saturday, March 17 to celebrate a birthday. Kubiliun said when the group arrived, the club’s doormen would not allow them to enter.

“One security guard told one of the ladies that he didn’t think they were getting in because they are black and they would have to wait,” said Kubiliun. “The women who were well-dressed professionals said they didn’t see any other African-Americans enter the nightclub the entire time the aggravated group stood by in the lobby.”

For more:  http://www.eurweb.com/2012/05/south-florida-women-claim-racial-discrimination-at-fontainebleau-hotel-nightclub/

Comments Off on Hospitality Industry Legal Risks: Florida Hotel Nightclub Sued For "Racial Discrimination" When Security Guards Refuse To Allow Four Women Inside

Filed under Guest Issues, Labor Issues, Management And Ownership, Risk Management

Tagged as , , , ,