Monthly Archives: July 2012

by | July 10, 2012 · 1:52 pm

Hospitality Industry Crime Risks: Alabama Hotel Employees Assist With Arrest Of Identity Theft Ring Operating In Guest Room

“…Investigators say when the officers entered the hotel room, there were stolen credit cards, computers, cameras, scanner and other items in plain sight…the group had been making fake identification and checks. They had also made Social Security cards and drivers licenses. Police say that many of the victims are businesses…”

Irondale Police say they have arrested and charged three people with multiple counts of identity theft after a hotel called them to evict a group of non-paying customers.

Victor Hedden, 46 of Phenix City, Raymon Hall, 29 of Columbus, Georgia, and Precious Clemons, 25 of Columbus, Georgia have been charged with possession of forged materials and trafficking in stolen ids.

The incident happened Saturday when employees with America’s Family Inn called to ask the police’s help to remove a group of people who hadn’t paid their hotel bill for several days.

For more:  http://www.myfoxal.com/story/18985033/unpaid-hotel-bill-leads-irondale-pd-to-identity-thieves

Comments Off on Hospitality Industry Crime Risks: Alabama Hotel Employees Assist With Arrest Of Identity Theft Ring Operating In Guest Room

Filed under Crime, Liability, Maintenance, Management And Ownership, Risk Management, Technology, Theft

Tagged as , , , , ,

by | July 9, 2012 · 4:01 pm

Hospitality Industry Security Risks: Husband Of Slain Woman Sues California Hotel In Wrongful Death Lawsuit; Claims Homeless People Were Known Threat To Guests

“…court documents say that hotel security were aware that homeless people and others had committed “assaults with deadly weapons, thefts, and other disturbances,” but “failed to take any security measures” to keep guests safe, the complaint alleges…”

The lawsuit claims that a homeless man or “uninvited third party” walked through an unsecured first-floor door and killed Finley’s wife while he was sleeping in the couple’s sixth-floor room.

A wrongful death lawsuit against the Biltmore Hotel moved forward on Monday when a man whose wife was found dead at the LA landmark during an audition for “America’s Got Talent” alleged the hotel destroyed evidence to cover up the slaying of his wife.

The body of his wife, Laura, was found in a stairwell at the famed downtown hotel on Oct. 23, 2010.

Hotel security failed to warn guests about security issues related to remodeling work being done on the first and second floors, court documents said.

Hotel security found Laura Finley’s body at the bottom of the first-floor staircase. The body of the 48-year-old woman was found with no top and wearing pants that were inside out. Her diamond rings were missing, court papers said.

For more:  http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Americas-Got-Talent-Audition-Death-Biltmore-Hotel-161855745.html

Comments Off on Hospitality Industry Security Risks: Husband Of Slain Woman Sues California Hotel In Wrongful Death Lawsuit; Claims Homeless People Were Known Threat To Guests

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

Tagged as , , , , ,

by | July 8, 2012 · 10:13 am

Hospitality Industry Property Risks: Thieves Steal Florida Restaurant's Air Conditioning Units During Night As Video Surveillance Documents Theft

“…the surveillance system was rolling as the thieves committed the crime, at around 11 p.m…one suspect can be seen on surveillance unscrewing the AC units. Some time later, a black truck is seen driving by the business…they stole the two air conditioning units, probably for the copper coils…”

Crooks remain at large after stealing the air conditioning units from a South Florida business. The thieves stole two AC units from CafeSolé, located at 711 NW 27 Ave. in Miami.

Delemar believes the truck was involved in the thefts, and said the crooks responsible did their homework. “They pretended that they were cleaning up, that they were some kind of gardening service or something,” said Delemar. “They went ahead and cased the place first, and then, about half an hour later, they showed up, and they took the two units.”

No AC means no business for the restaurant. “Naturally, this is going to affect my business, because I cannot open up with the heat. I don’t have air conditioning inside, so that does affect the business,” Delemar said. “It’s disruptive, it’s disheartening.”

Read more: http://www.wsvn.com/news/articles/local/21007939691030/crooks-steal-ac-units-from-miami-restaurant/#ixzz203VFKKoz

Comments Off on Hospitality Industry Property Risks: Thieves Steal Florida Restaurant's Air Conditioning Units During Night As Video Surveillance Documents Theft

Filed under Crime, Insurance, Maintenance, Management And Ownership, Theft

Tagged as , , , , ,

by | July 7, 2012 · 6:59 am

Hospitality Industry Legal Risks: Washington Hotel Owners Agree To Pay $365,000 To Settle EEOC Harassment Lawsuit

Among other incidents cited in the EEOC statement, the general manager threw a stapler at one employee, and told another she was nothing but a welfare mother and should abort her pregnancy.

Two hotel groups have agreed to pay $365,000 to settle a harassment lawsuit brought by the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in connection with the alleged actions of a general manager who worked for two hotels in the state of Washington.

According to a statement issued by the EEOC on Thursday, the unidentified general manager of the Best Western Evergreen Inn in Federal Way, Wash., and the Best Western Tacoma Dome in Tacoma, Wash., “persistently harassed and denigrated women, including those who were minorities and had strong religious beliefs, in violation of the federal law.” Court papers identify the general manager as Syed Ahmed.

The EEOC said female employees were subjected to the constant use of racial slurs and derogatory sex-based and racial comments.

For more:  http://www.businessinsurance.com/article/20120706/NEWS07/120709937?tags=%7C70%7C75%7C303

2 Comments

Filed under Claims, Labor Issues, Liability, Management And Ownership, Risk Management, Training

Tagged as , , , ,

by | July 6, 2012 · 6:56 am

Hospitality Industry Crime Risks: Florida Motels To Work With Police To Identify And Avoid Meth Lab Operations In Guest Rooms

At the end of the month … police will have a training program to educate hotels on how to identify potential meth dealers looking for a temporary base to cook. In the last three months there have been three drug lab busts in two Motel 6 locations in Jacksonville.

The problem of meth labs in local motel rooms seems to be growing, but there is a renewed focus on stopping the spread.

Fred Pozin, General Manager of the Ramada in Mandarin, tells WOKV they work directly with the Sheriff’s Office to try and seek out the users.

For more:  http://www.wokv.com/weblogs/morning-news-recap/2012/jul/06/stopping-mobile-meth-labs/

Comments Off on Hospitality Industry Crime Risks: Florida Motels To Work With Police To Identify And Avoid Meth Lab Operations In Guest Rooms

Filed under Crime, Guest Issues, Liability, Maintenance, Management And Ownership, Risk Management, Training

Tagged as , , , , ,

by | July 5, 2012 · 6:14 am

Hospitality Industry Employment Risks: South Carolina Hotel Settles Sexual Harassment And Retaliation Lawsuit With EEOC For $90,000

“… from at least August 2007 until January 2009, the hotel’s male general manager subjected the women to sexual comments, sexual advances and unwelcome touching. When Tamara Byrd reported the sexual harassment to the defendants’ corporate office, the defendants failed to properly investigate or stop the harassment. The general manager then discharged Byrd. The EEOC contends that Byrd’s discharge was because she refused the general manager’s unwelcome sexual advances and in retaliation for her complaints of sexual harassment to the corporate office…”

The operators and management company of a Holiday Inn Express in Simpsonville, S. C., will pay $90,000 to settle a sexual harassment and retaliation lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the agency announced Monday.

The agency had charged that the defendants, Imperial Investments Greenville, Inc. and Imperial Investments Group, Inc., violated federal law by subjecting several female employees to a sexually hostile work environment at the hotel. The lawsuit further charged that one woman was unlawfully fired in retaliation for complaining about the sexual harassment. Such alleged actions violate Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 which prohibits sex discrimination, including sexual harassment, and retaliation.

According to the EEOC’s suit, the defendants maintained a sexually hostile working environment for Tamara Byrd, Pamela Kral, and Billie Jones. More specifically, the complaint alleged thatIn addition to $90,000 in monetary damages to be split among the harassment victims.

For more:  http://thejobmouse.com/2012/07/05/simpsonville-hotel-to-pay-90000-to-women-subjected-to-sexual-comments-propositions-and-touching-by-male-supervisor/

Comments Off on Hospitality Industry Employment Risks: South Carolina Hotel Settles Sexual Harassment And Retaliation Lawsuit With EEOC For $90,000

Filed under Insurance, Labor Issues, Liability, Management And Ownership, Risk Management, Training

Tagged as , , , ,

by | July 4, 2012 · 1:23 am

Hospitiality Industry Security Risks: Ohio Hotel Employees Accused Of Raping Two Women Guests In Hotel Room

The 44- and 45-year-old women reported being raped by both men after returning to their room from a party. The indictment states that the women were vaginally raped while they were impaired and unable to resist or consent.

A Hampton Inn security guard and a valet are accused of raping two women May 13 in the women’s hotel room. Solomon Baba, 23, of Cleveland, and Kevin Kozieracki, 37, of Middleburg Heights, are charged with rape, kidnapping and burglary.

Baba, the valet, is being held on a $100,000 bond, while Kozieracki, is being held on a $250,000 bond. They are due back in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court for a hearing Thursday.

For more:  http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2012/07/hampton_inn_security_guard_and.html

Comments Off on Hospitiality Industry Security Risks: Ohio Hotel Employees Accused Of Raping Two Women Guests In Hotel Room

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

Tagged as , , , ,

by | July 3, 2012 · 6:28 am

Hospitality Industry Property Risks: Washington Restaurant Damaged By Early Morning Grease Fire Which Spread Into Vents

“…The restaurant wasn’t open yet…but they likely were getting food ready for their lunch buffet when the fire broke out…Crews had to cut holes in the roof and also attacked the fire from inside…”

A grease fire that spread into the vents of a Kennewick restaurant prompted a large call-out of fire crews Saturday morning.

The building already had been evacuated when the first crews got on scene, but firefighters did do a sweep inside to make sure everyone was out, said Kennewick Fire Capt. Linc Swenson.

Ten units from the Kennewick, Richland and Pasco fire departments and Benton Fire District 1 were dispatched to the restaurant.

Fire crews, however, were able to get the fire contained within 10 minutes, Swenson said. It took another 10 minutes before they were sure flames hadn’t spread into the attic. “It went out with a little bit of water and quite a bit of tenacity,” Swenson said.

The biggest challenge was getting onto the roof, because of the way it’s designed and the power lines on one side of the building, he said. Fire crews were on scene for about two hours. There were no injuries. Most of the damage inside the restaurant was in the kitchen, Swenson aid.

Read more here: http://www.thenewstribune.com/2012/07/01/2202089/kennewick-restaurant-damaged-by.html#storylink=cpy

Comments Off on Hospitality Industry Property Risks: Washington Restaurant Damaged By Early Morning Grease Fire Which Spread Into Vents

Filed under Fire, Insurance, Liability, Maintenance, Risk Management

Tagged as , , , , ,

by | July 2, 2012 · 7:38 am

Hospitality Industry Employment Risks: Indiana Restaurants Fined For Child Labor Law Violations Involving Break Regulations

If a minor age 14-17 works six or more hours in a shift, an employer is required to give the minor one or two breaks totaling at least 30 minutes. Hour violations occur when a minor works past the legally defined deadline for the minor’s age.

In most cases, minors may not work during school hours, from 7:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m., on school days. While 16- and 17-year-olds may work during school hours with written permission from the school, there is no such exemption for 14- and 15-year-olds.

Five East Central Indiana restaurants have been fined within the past year for repeat violations of child labor laws.

The Ponderosa Steakhouse in Portland received the biggest penalty, $2,200, after its third violation in a year of break regulations involving minors.The restaurant also was fined $400 for hour violations involving two minors.

Modern child labor laws serve a dual purpose based on their roots in compulsory education, according to the Indiana Department of Labor. The first is to make certain that young people pursue education, and the second is to protect young workers from suffering injury, illness or death in the workplace.

One East Central Indiana employer received a warning for employing a minor in a hazardous/prohibited occupation following a workplace fatality.

The labor department gives employers an opportunity to protest violations within 30 days of being notified of a fine. Several restaurants received warnings for employing minors during school hours but were not fined because it was a first offense.

For more:  http://www.thestarpress.com/article/20120702/NEWS01/307020015

Comments Off on Hospitality Industry Employment Risks: Indiana Restaurants Fined For Child Labor Law Violations Involving Break Regulations

Filed under Labor Issues, Liability, Maintenance, Management And Ownership, Risk Management, Training

Tagged as , , , , ,