Tag Archives: California

by | August 19, 2014 · 9:30 am

Hospitality Industry Risk Management Update: “Water Line Bursts, Floods W Hotel”

“…San Diego Fire crews tried to help fix the flooding, but the damage done is more than the firefighters were prepared to handle.Water leak W Hotel Instead, an outside company that specializes in flooding cleanup was called in to deal with it…Guests rooms were not damaged in the flooding, hotel management told NBC 7. There was extensive damage to other areas of the hotel including some flooding into the lobby, they said…”

Guests are avoiding some major flooding after a big water line burst inside the W Hotel Monday night.

Water started leaking from the third floor, through the roof and down onto floors below around 8:15 p.m. inside the hotel at 421 W. B Street.

Joyce Baghtassarian was staying at the W Hotel on her trip to San Diego from Los Angeles. She was heading out the door to go to dinner when she noticed water flowing from the elevators.

For more: http://bit.ly/1rkkTGF

Comments Off on Hospitality Industry Risk Management Update: “Water Line Bursts, Floods W Hotel”

Filed under Hotel Industry, Insurance, Maintenance, Management And Ownership, Risk Management, Structural Damage

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

by | August 18, 2014 · 10:19 am

Hospitality Industry Technology Update: “Don’t be Alarmed by That Robot Delivering a Toothbrush to Your Hotel Room”

“We think this is such a huge opportunity to deliver better service to our customer.Botlr-in-Hallway-lr  The mundane task of running a razor behind the scenes goes away, you’ll see our associates more because they’ll be more front and center than they’ve ever been,” McGuinness said. “This is by no means replacing the human element of hospitality.”

The situation usually plays out like this. You’re unpacking in a hotel room and realize you forgot something. Rather than trek to whatever store might be near, you call the front desk and ask for a razor, toothpaste or whatever you need. The hotel then sends someone up with the delivery.

Except for the Aloft Hotel in Cupertino, Calif, which will begin using an R2D2-esque robot for such trips. Fittingly, Aloft’s parent company, Starwood Hotels, tests the latest technology at the Silicon Valley hotel. Guests can enter their rooms with a smartphone app and bypass the traditional check-in process at the front desk.

For more: http://wapo.st/1o63HNa

Comments Off on Hospitality Industry Technology Update: “Don’t be Alarmed by That Robot Delivering a Toothbrush to Your Hotel Room”

Filed under Hotel Industry, Management And Ownership, Technology

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

by | August 12, 2014 · 9:08 am

Hospitality Industry Conference Update: “2014 Northern California Hotel & Lodging Conference”

2014 Northern California Hotel & Lodging Conference

Petra’s Director of Risk Management, Todd Seiders, and Loss Control Manager, Marco Johnson, will be in attendance and giving presentations on “Current Hotel Security Issues & Updates” and “Best Housekeeping Practices”

For more information, or to register for the event, check out the conference website here: http://bit.ly/V8Mco5

Comments Off on Hospitality Industry Conference Update: “2014 Northern California Hotel & Lodging Conference”

Filed under Conferences, Hotel Industry, Management And Ownership, Risk Management, Training

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

by | July 24, 2014 · 9:30 am

Hospitality Industry Management Update: “Employee Sues Beverly Hills Hotel for Back Wages”

“…Leloup was required to work until midnight providing special room service requestsHotel for the sultan and cleaning his suites, the suit states. Leloup had no time to return home during the visits and slept in his car, the suit states…”

A Beverly Hills Hotel employee who alleges he was required to work more than 15 hours a day like a “glorified slave” during visits by the historic establishment’s owner, the Sultan of Brunei, is suing for back wages.

Paul Leloup filed the lawsuit Monday in Los Angeles Superior Court, claiming he is owed more than $60,000 in unpaid wages and penalties. A representative for the hotel could not be immediately reached.

For more: http://bit.ly/1pfaF6c

2 Comments

Filed under Employee Practices, Hotel Employees, Hotel Industry, Management And Ownership, Risk Management

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

by | July 14, 2014 · 9:33 am

Hospitality Industry Legal Update: “Smoke Alarm Laws Taking Effect”

“…The biggest change, which took effect July 1, 20140225165058_87769requires all new battery-operated smoke alarms sold in California to be built with a nonremovable 10-year battery. Existing smoke detectors don’t have to be replaced until they reach the end of their 10-year lifespan or start malfunctioning…”

New smoke detector laws, including a change that took effect July 1, are intended to keep working alarms in rental properties and homes in Tracy and throughout California.

State Senate Bills 1394 and 745 are phasing in rules for installation and types of smoke alarms during the next two years.

For more: http://bit.ly/1qYv68S

Comments Off on Hospitality Industry Legal Update: “Smoke Alarm Laws Taking Effect”

Filed under Fire, Hotel Industry, Maintenance, Management And Ownership, Risk Management, Technology

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

by | June 5, 2014 · 8:17 am

Hospitality Industry Legal Update: “Grass Valley Hotel Bust Results in 15 Arrests”

“…Through that investigation 15 people were arrested on variety of charges,grass valley including suspicion possession of controlled substances and firearms. Police believe the suspects were using the rooms to take drugs…Police confiscated methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, firearms and ammunition. A hidden trap door under the carpet in one room led to a storage room…”

Grass Valley police arrested 15 people on various drug and gun charges at a hotel.

The arrests occurred on May 30 after police learned that people were staying at the Holiday Lodge on East Main Street who were not registered. Police suspected they were involved in narcotics.

For more: http://bit.ly/1kNa4mA

Comments Off on Hospitality Industry Legal Update: “Grass Valley Hotel Bust Results in 15 Arrests”

Filed under Crime, Guest Issues, Hotel Industry, Liability, Management And Ownership, Risk Management

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

by | June 3, 2014 · 8:42 am

Hospitality Industry Scam Alert: “CH&LA Email Scam Alert”

CH&LA Alert

 

Hello Petra Friends

A new e-mail “scam” has developed across California, with some of our hotels in Kansas and Michigan also receiving the email.

California Hotels may NOT refuse to rent minors rooms based on their age only.  Refusing to rent to minors may be legal and appropriate in other States than California, so check with your local hotel Hotel & Lodging Association for more details.

Please click the image above to read the full alert as well as download a printable copy. 

Any questions? Call Petra Risk Solutions at (800) 466-8961

 

Comments Off on Hospitality Industry Scam Alert: “CH&LA Email Scam Alert”

Filed under Guest Issues, Hotel Industry, Liability, Management And Ownership, Risk Management

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

by | May 13, 2014 · 8:18 am

Hospitality Industry Legal Update: “Lawsuit Seeks to Invalidate Massive Hotel Subsidy”

“…The suit claims that Kring illegally received $7,250 in contributions from entities and people connected to O’Connell, including Anaheim Park Place Inn, Orangewood, LLC, Image Stovall’s Inn, LLC and members of the Support Our Anaheim Resort (SOAR) advisory board, among others…”

A $158 million hotel tax subsidy — one that triggered a contentious Anaheim City Council split and a wave of political activism — is once again the target of a lawsuit that, if successful, could invalidate the deal.

For more: http://bit.ly/1spS9XL

Comments Off on Hospitality Industry Legal Update: “Lawsuit Seeks to Invalidate Massive Hotel Subsidy”

Filed under Crime, Hotel Industry, Legislation, Management And Ownership

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

by | January 14, 2014 · 8:47 am

Hospitality Industry Employee Update: “L.A. May Hike Minimum Wage for Hotel Workers to Highest in U.S.”

Image

“Hotel owners and their representatives say a $15 minimum would trigger higher room rates and worker layoffs, as managements struggle to keep costs under control. The owners argue it’s unfair to take a piecemeal approach to pay rules — singling out a few industries or geographic areas.”

Labor leaders hope a proposal that would dramatically raise the minimum wage in Los Angeles for workers at large hotels to roughly $15 an hour will be a step toward pay hikes for other industries.

Members of the City Council expected to propose that large hotels pay their workers $15.37 an hour – more than double the national minimum of $7.25 an hour and push far above California’s rate of $8.

Union leaders want the increase to apply at hotels with 100 rooms or more, saying such a hike would lift housekeepers, busboys and maintenance workers out of poverty and inject much-needed cash into a  languorous local economy.

For more: http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-la-minimum-wage-hike-hotel-workers-20140114,0,2611025.story#axzz2qOCybJiD

Comments Off on Hospitality Industry Employee Update: “L.A. May Hike Minimum Wage for Hotel Workers to Highest in U.S.”

Filed under Employee Benefits, Labor Issues, Management And Ownership, Uncategorized

Tagged as , , , , , ,

by | January 10, 2014 · 8:12 am

Hospitality Industry Legal Risks: “Costa Mesa to Slap Hotels With Fines For Too Many Police Calls”

“…Under the ordinance approved Tuesday, motels and hotels could incur fines of hundreds of dollars if they generate above an average 0.4 calls per room per month for recurring “nuisance activities.” Those activities were defined as including persistent noise, gang-related crime,Image illegal use of a firearm, disturbing the peace, illegal use or sale of fireworks, drug possession or sale, underage drinking and loud parties. Violent felonies are also covered…”

Costa Mesa hotels will have to pay a fine if they attract an “excessive” amount of police attention under a new law aimed at properties run by what one City Council member referred to as “slumlords.”

Under the ordinance approved Tuesday, motels and hotels could incur fines of hundreds of dollars if they generate above an average 0.4 calls per room per month for recurring “nuisance activities.” Those activities were defined as including persistent noise, gang-related crime, illegal use of a firearm, disturbing the peace, illegal use or sale of fireworks, drug possession or sale, underage drinking and loud parties. Violent felonies are also covered.

Reporting domestic violence and summoning fire or ambulance services, however, are not considered nuisance activities under the ordinance, the Daily Pilot reported.

For more: http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-costa-mesa-hotels-fines-police-calls-20140109,0,1005916.story#axzz2q0jOZxiH

Comments Off on Hospitality Industry Legal Risks: “Costa Mesa to Slap Hotels With Fines For Too Many Police Calls”

Filed under Crime, Guest Issues, Maintenance, Management And Ownership, Uncategorized

Tagged as , , , , , , ,