Category Archives: Maintenance

May 19, 2013 · 7:27 am

Hospitality Industry Property Risks: Ohio Restaurant Fire Caused By “Outside Propane Smoker Being Too Close To Wall”; Building A “Complete Loss” Estimated At $300,000

“…the fire chief (stated that) a restaurant cook was outside smoking prime rib when a propane fire got too close to the building…The building was Restaurant Firebuilt to code (but) it’s just the nature of the beast…they had a lot of fire moving fast, and it was hard to get to because it was under the roof, and the roof keeps water out like it is supposed to…firefighters said the building is a complete loss, about $300,000…”

A fire in North Ridgeville destroyed a local restaurant Saturday. It happened around 3 p.m. at the Black Dog Pub and Eatery on Sugar Ridge Road. Because of the disaster, the building couldn’t be saved. Crews had to demolish it. Crews with the North Ridgeville Fire Department said it was an accidental fire.

The owner of the restaurant, who didn’t want to be identified, was heartbroken as she looked on while several different agencies sprayed down the building.

“She just put a lot of money into the floors. She just remodeled the place you know. She was doing really good on business. Everything was going great,” said Xevier Neider, who was a chef at Black Dog. “It’s sad that she did a lot here, for it to just go up like that.”

For more:  http://fox8.com/2013/05/18/local-restaurant-catches-fire-with-patrons-inside/

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May 10, 2013 · 6:44 am

Hospitality Industry Risk Solutions: Hotel Housekeeping Carts Are Now Smaller Leading To Increased Room Security, Less Employee Injuries And Reduction In Amenity And Towel Theft

 ”Items are not exposed to people walking through hallways so theft of amenity items or towels is greatly reduced…there’s a safety issue, too…Housekeeping staff would park the larger carts outside and keep the door open while they cleaned…not so with the Hotel Housekeeping Safety & Securitysmaller version…the guest comes back and sees the door wide open (and would) think anyone can get in the room…”

“Linen closets (are now) situated closer to the rooms for easy access, eliminating the need for the larger carts. The housekeeping staff has been more productive with the smaller carts because they can move around more quickly, he says. They’re also less prone to injury as the larger carts were heavy to push around…”

Big, rolling housekeeping carts are disappearing from many hotel hallways, just like the floral polyester linens they used to carry. Hotels say they’re replacing cumbersome carts with smaller ones sometimes akin to golf caddie bags out? of necessity, in addition to convenience and even appearance.

Among those saying goodbye to the hall-blocking carts: The Staybridge Suites Times Square in New York, The Ritz-Carlton in Charlotte and the Renaissance Charlotte SouthPark Hotel.

Hotel general managers say there are a number of reasons why smaller is better.

  • Hotels don’t use duvets and bulky linens anymore, so there’s no need for large carts, they say. Plus, storage space is at a premium, and smaller carts don’t take up much space.
  • The bags are small enough to take into the room and leave the hallways clear and safe. They also don’t nick the walls of elevators and corridors like the large carts did.
  • But more important, the guests prefer them, says Rich Hotter, general manager of the Staybridge Suites Times Square.

For more:  http://www.usatoday.com/story/hotelcheckin/2013/05/10/hotels-housekeeping-carts/2146993/

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May 9, 2013 · 6:15 am

Hospitality Industry Property Risks: Texas Hotel Undergoing Renovations Suffers Fire Damage As “Hot Temperatures, Matresses Fuel Blaze”

Hotel Fire Investigation“…workers said they think mattresses might have fueled the blaze, but Dallas  Fire officials said they do not have an official cause of the fire…the fire was escalated to three alarms due to the size of the building and the hot and humid temperature inside…the renovated building was set to open as a new hotel in August 2013…”

A building being renovated into a new Homewood Suites was damaged after a  three alarm fire midday Wednesday. Officials with the hotel chain told FOX4 workers were installing dry wall and  flooring when the fire broke out on the fifth floor of the nine story building  shortly before noon.

Construction workers were in the building at the time and were evacuated. The  fire was put out by 12:30 p.m.

Fire officials said they believe the fire was accidental.

Management for the hotel told FOX4 they believe they will be able to make  repairs and still open on schedule.

Read more: http://www.myfoxdfw.com/story/22195836/fire-guts-part-of-downtown-dallas-building#ixzz2SnqpzXUa

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May 2, 2013 · 5:28 am

Hospitality Industry Property Risks: Michigan Restaurant Electrical Fire Caused By “Kitchen Materials Improperly Stored”; Heat Causes Pipes To Burst And Extensive Water Damage

“…the cause was improper storage of materials from the kitchen in an area not intended for storage…the heat caused pipes to burst, so there is Restaurant Firewater and smoke damage to the entire building…Normally the cleanup contractors can get things cleaned up if they can get in there right away, but the major issue will be damage to the electrical system…”

An early morning electrical fire has closed Culver’s restaurant on 9th street for at least a few weeks, general manager Jennie Atteberry said Tuesday morning. Texas Township fire chief Mike Corfman said his department was dispatched at 4:32 a.m. Tuesday when a delivery man noticed a haze at the  restaurant and  called 911.

When firefighters arrived they found heavy smoke coming from the utility room, he said.

It took only 10 minutes to put out the fire, which was contained to the utility room. There were no injuries in the fire.

For more:  http://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2013/04/electrical_fire_closes_culvert.html

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April 29, 2013 · 7:23 am

Hospitality Industry Technology Solutions: A “Hotel Technology” Checklist For Improved Guest Safety, Security And Convenience

Hotel Technology SolutionsThe following are from the “DO’s and DON’TS of Hotel Technology v5″ for improved safety, security and convenience of hotel and resort operations:

  • Have universal power sockets with USB power sockets easily available for guest-use in public areas, especially Lobby Lounges, Dining areas, Club Lounges and Poolside – also have international adaptors handy
  • Have a smartphone compliant version of your hotel data file available for download on your website at the same time make sure your website is mobile compliant
  • Check all the peep holes on guest room doors to make sure they are secure and the right way round
  • Mount irons on wall brackets in closets instead of placing them on the floor or shelves
  • Clearly display broadband charges, if your hotel has any and have a sign-on page if your Government so requires it
  • Have an emergency torch/flashlight in the guest room
  • Have a person or system to monitor social networking sites for mentions about your hotel and respond appropriately and in a timely manner
  • Monitor what is written about your Hotel on Social networking sites like Trip Advisor
  • Put a notice on your HSIA sign-up screen that your government may block access to certain websites and internet services if they apply to you. Have your IT People know how to workaround this if the Guest asks
  • Make sure the electronic door lock on the guest room door closes quickly when the door shuts
  • Add CCTV cameras inside your Data Center – one that is directed to the server racks and the other, to the entrance door
  • Use electronic locks on your Server racks – not just metal keys
  • Use a bio-metric reader or PIN pad for staff entrance/egress that is linked to the Time and Attendance/Payroll System
  • Make sure your room safe is bolted down to a floor or wall and cannot be easily removed
  • Monitor the TV volume in the guest room so that it can go down very low and not too high. Some guests like to leave the TV on all night but at a very low background volume
  • Have a very low nightlight in the bathroom/toiletConsider using Motion/Presence [PIR] detectors rather than key cards to control energy in-room
  • Check from time to time in-the-floor power sockets – the metal type which are supposed to lift up when the clip if flicked – most often they stick after a while having been covered with floor polish and dust
  • Consider having a secure place where Guests can deposit their valuables and gadgets at the poolside or beach if they want to take a dip in the pool or use the sauna
  • Test your [magnetic] key cards to see if they de-magnetize when placed next to a mobile phone – often they do and is a great inconvenience to the guest as well as an operational chore
  • Have your IT team join such organizations as HFTP and HTNG so that they keep up to date with Hotel Technology – you should also sponsor them as well as have them attend various Conferences and Exhibitions
  • Regularly check and install Service Packs and software upgrades

For more:  http://www.hospitalitynet.org/news/global/154000320/4060454.html

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April 28, 2013 · 3:29 pm

Hospitality Industry Property Risks: Texas Restaurant Is A “Total Loss” After Kitchen Fire Destroys Building; “Old Structure” Was Not Insured

“…No one was injured but the Yum Yums building was a total loss…it was not insured. Fire officials believe the fire sparked in Restaurant Firethe restaurant’s kitchen downstairs, but the exact cause is unknown. The structure is unsafe for fire investigators to go inside, so the department will not be able to determine an exact cause…”

Three people were uninjured following an early morning fire at a downtown Jacksonville restaurant Sunday. At 12:12 a.m., a man who lived in an apartment above Yum Yums Restaurant and Bakery, in the 200 block of South Main Street, woke up to an explosion sound and ran downstairs, said Jacksonville Fire Chief Paul White.

The structure fire was located about a block from the fire station, and firefighters arrived on scene at 12:13 a.m., White said. There was fire at the back of the building and heavy smoke in the front when firefighters arrived, he said. Flames were soon shooting from the roof and out windows.

The fire quickly consumed the old structure, making it unsafe for crews to be the inside the building. Five ladder trucks from numerous departments were on scene to help, White said.

“It was a big fire, and the ladder trucks saved the day,” White said. “It as too dangerous to go inside so it was basically a defensive fire. (firefighters) basically put a lot of water on it.”

For more:  http://www.tylerpaper.com/article/20130428/NEWS01/130429754

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April 27, 2013 · 6:25 am

Hospitality Industry Safety Solutions: “Hotel Pool Safety Inspection Checklist Mobile App” Represents Latest Mobile Technology For Hotel Managers (Video)

The Pool and Spa Inspection Operators app provides detailed checklists that can be completed on a mobile device for the following areas: signs, safety features, chemicals, water clarity and general pool conditions, water circulation, pool facilities and general operation. This app also offers customization for pool or aquatic centers needs.

For more: http://www.gocanvas.com/mobile-forms-apps/8311-Hotel-Pool-Safety-Self-Inspection-Checklist-

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April 25, 2013 · 7:43 am

Hospitality Industry Safety Solutions: Hotel Management Must Regularly “Test Emergency Power Supply System Generators With Load” To Ensure Guest Safety During Power Outage And Loss

“…the most important maintenance issue for emergency power supply systems is the requirement to regularly test the generators with load. Most often it becomes inconvenient to perform the test due to interruptions to delivering guest services. In order that proper testing of the Hotel Emergency Power Systemsemergency power distribution system doesn’t negatively impact hotel operations, modern technology enables a design engineer to develop an automatic power transfer system that provides a seamless transfer between the municipal utility supply and the generator system…”

Proper maintenance includes, but is not limited to, fuel filtration to reduce the possibility of contaminants, battery maintenance and replacement to ensure a successful generator start every time, and periodic load testing to reduce the possibility of failure.

Emergency generators are installed in hotels to prevent hazards associated with loss of municipal electric power supplies. The reliability of electric power supplies for Fire and Life Safety systems is critical. In a hotel, the automatic power transfer switches that transfer the electricity source to the emergency generator, must be timed to provide electric power to fire and life safety loads within 10 seconds and to standby loads within 60 seconds of loss of municipal power supply. The life safety loads include:

  • Illumination of exits from a hotel building leading to an assembly point
  • Emergency exit signs
  • Alarm and alerting systems such as the fire alarm system
  • Controlled emergency communication systems
  • Emergency generator-set room lighting
  • Fire suppression systems
  • Smoke management systems

An emergency power source cannot perform successfully unless each system component functions properly. While attention is often given to protecting the engine-generator set, components such as the fuel system, the age of the fuel (if using a fossil fuel product) and the emergency power transfer panels may not have the same degree of care. As a result, the emergency power source may fail.

For example if the engine-generator set in a hotel is installed on the roof to avoid being flooded, but the automatic power transfer system and emergency power panels are located in the basement, then in the event of a flood the system is likely to fail, regardless of the reliability of the engine-generator.

Hotel developers spend an enormous amount of money on emergency power supply systems so they are assured that in the event of an emergency, the hotel will have the power required to ensure the safety of their guests and associates.

For more:  http://www.hospitalitynet.org/column/global/154000392/4060426.html

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April 24, 2013 · 6:55 am

Hospitality Industry Property Risks: Illinois Restaurant Limits Floodwater Damage Through Installation Of “Special Flood Prevention Equipment”; $700,000 Cleanup Costs In 2008 Lowered To Under $1000 In 2013

“…special flood prevention equipment (was installed) at the McDonald’s after the 2008 flooding; including shutoff valves for the sewer lines, and Restaurant Flood Risksrubberized door dams… only about a half an inch seepage (from this flood) in the building through penetrations in pipes, and stuff like that, unlike 2008, (when there was) 27 inches…(the owner estimated there was) as much as $700,000 on cleanup from the 2008 flood, but only several hundred dollars this year…”

Two eateries next door to each other in northwest suburban River Grove were in very different stages of cleanup on Tuesday, as flood waters from the Des Plaines River slowly receded. WBBM Newsradio’s Bernie Tafoya reports, next door at the famous Gene and Jude’s Red Hot Stand, a big flood cleanup was underway on Tuesday. Workers were seen donning respirators while cleaning up inside on Tuesday, and tossing out flood-damaged debris, while the McDonald’s next door was getting ready to open for business.

It’s not that the flooding wasn’t as bad at the McDonald’s, it was the result inside the two restaurants.

“It’s money well-invested,” Karayanes said.

For more:  http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2013/04/23/a-tale-of-two-restaurants-flood-damage-varies-depending-on-preparations/

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April 23, 2013 · 8:33 am

Hospitality Industry Technology Solutions: Hotel Guests Are Increasingly “Comfortable With Transition To Digital Services”; The Increasing Benefits Of “Cost Savings And Inventory Management”

“…most guests, especially younger ones who are used to having information at their fingertips, were comfortable with the Hotel Technology Solutionstransition to digital… Some hotels, especially luxury brands, are more likely to keep both the staff interaction and the technology offeringsHotels are also using technology to save money and manage inventory. Workers used to have to count sheets, towels, robes and table linens by hand on the way out of the hotel to the laundry and on the way back in, to try to avoid theft. Some hotels now stitch in small radio frequency ID tags, which transmit radio waves, so that when a cart of laundry passes by a sensor, the number of items inside is displayed. The method saves time in counting items and has decreased theft…”

Hotels around the world are using technology in new ways, with the goal of speeding up or personalizing more services for guests. David-Michel Davies, president of the Webby Media Group, said he visited Internet companies around the world each year for the Webby Awards, which honor excellence on the Internet. He said he had found that hotels were using technology as a substitute for human hospitality.

Instead of the staff at the front desk offering advice on where to go for dinner, guests may be lent an iPad loaded with maps and suggestions for local restaurants and sightseeing. A hand-held device in the room might control the television, blinds and temperature, replacing the role of the bellman who would describe how the features in the room work when he dropped off a guest’s luggage. “Hotels are transforming service into a digital concept,” Mr. Davies said.

Barbara Kahn, who studies consumer decision-making as director of the Jay H. Baker Retailing Center at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, said most guests, especially younger ones who are used to having information at their fingertips, were comfortable with the transition to digital. Some hotels, especially luxury brands, are more likely to keep both the staff interaction and the technology offerings, she said.

Some technology offerings extend beyond the hotel’s walls. The Park Hyatt Tokyo rents guests a pocket-size mobile Wi-Fi connector to use with an iPhone, iPad, BlackBerry or laptop to make international calls and get Internet access wherever they go during their stay.

For more:  http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/23/business/electronic-smarts-at-hotels-attract-guests.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

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