Tag Archives: Risk Management

by | April 14, 2014 · 8:27 am

Hospitality Industry Security Update: “Hotel Security for the Traveler”

“…There are three questions to ask for selecting a secure hotel: Are there electronic door locks? Is there good key control? And is there a fire alarm and water sprinkler system? Image Generally, the only way to find this out is calling the hotel directly. The number one security issue is controlling who has access to a guest’s hotel room…“

The sad truth is that criminals target travelers, especially in and around hotels. The abundance of literature on the topic of hotel security does not seem to have deterred criminals from using hotels as a target of their trade. An informal survey of hotel security staff reveals old patterns of crime repeated and new tricks (or new variations of old tricks) continue as before. There are, however, some practices which can reduce your risk of being the target of crime or other hazards in a hotel.

For more: http://businessdayonline.com/2014/04/hotel-security-for-the-traveler/#.U0v56q1dXnw

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Hospitality Industry Conference Update” Southern California Hotel and Lodging Conference”

Hospitality Industry Conference Update

Come check out Petra’s own Director of Risk Management, Todd Seiders, and Loss Control Manager, Marco Johnson, at the Southern California Hotel and Lodging Conference.

For more: http://www.calodging.com/events/2014-southern-california-hotel-lodging-conference/

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by | April 11, 2014 · 8:33 am
by | April 10, 2014 · 8:38 am

Hospitality Industry Risk Management Update: “Two Arrested at Flagstaff Hotel on Prostitution Charges”

“…When the officer asked where the woman got the money, she said it came from the men she sleeps with. The woman, who said she had just moved to Arizona from California, Image told the officer she became a prostitute a few weeks earlier because a friend told her it was a good way to make money. She said she placed an ad on Craigslist and charged the men who responded to it between $100 and $150 to have sex with her…”

An 18-year-old woman and a 60-year-old man were arrested on prostitution charges at a Flagstaff hotel this week.

According to the police reports, two officers responded to the Quality Inn at 2500 E. Lucky Lane around 7 p.m. Monday after someone called Crimestop to report that several different men had been coming and going from a young woman’s room.

Officers knocked on the woman’s hotel room door and a man with disheveled and partially unbuttoned clothing walked out. He shouted, “It’s the cops” as he tried to walk away but was stopped by one of the officers.

For more: http://azdailysun.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/two-arrested-at-flagstaff-hotel-on-prostitution-charges/article_c972d69c-c073-11e3-bbe6-0019bb2963f4.html

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by | April 8, 2014 · 8:08 am

Hospitality Industry Risk Management Update: “5 Factors to Consider When Courting Spring Breakers”

“…Local ordinances and zoning laws could affect your business. ‘There comes a point when residents, business owners, and politicians no longer want those students there, and theyImage will start passing laws like in Daytona Beach or Fort Lauderdale to curb or even eliminate behavior,’ Laurie says. ‘Students will then go to a place where those rules don’t exist.’…”

From March through mid April, hundreds of thousands of college students flock to warmer climates for a weeklong escape from the winter doldrums and pressures of academic life. And while this time of year can bring a spike in hotel occupancy to popular vacation destinations across the country, the traditional spring break party does come with its fair share of challenges and risks for owners. John Laurie, director of the destination marketing and tourism practice at Bond Public Relations and Brand Strategy in New Orleans, shares five factors to consider when determining whether to court the next generation of spring breakers.

For more: http://www.lodgingmagazine.com/5-factors-to-consider-when-courting-spring-breakers/

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by | April 7, 2014 · 8:20 am

Hospitality Industry Safety Update: “Rancho Mirage Hotel Evacuated Due to Gas Line Rupture”

“…Someone in the area reported the smell of natural gas and the building’s 24 units were evacuated and police, fire and the Gas Co. were all called, she said. Image The damage was done to an approximately 1-inch line, she said. The gas was shut off and once the area was deemed safe, the nearly 65 people evacuated to another area of the 360-acre resort were allowed back into their units…”

RANCHO MIRAGE – A natural gas line has been repaired and an evacuation order lifted at Westin Hills Golf Resort and Spa hotel at 71-333 Dinah Shore Drive.

Something hit the meter at time share building number 45 which broke the line, said Deborah McGarry, spokeswoman for Southern California Gas Co.

For more: http://www.desertsun.com/story/news/local/2014/04/06/westin-hills-golf-resort-spa-rancho-mirage-gas-line-rupture/7389275/

 

 

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by | April 3, 2014 · 8:58 am

Hospitality Industry Technology Update: “How to Protect Your Online Presence”

“…Starkov suggests that franchisees put pressure on the brands to gain access to their own listings so they can better manage their online reputation. Image ‘If there is no ownership of the listing and no responses from the property, even the positive reviews don’t sound credible,’ he says. ‘And negative reviews without a response sends a signal that the hotel doesn’t care’…”

In January, spammers hijacked official website links for thousands of hotels listed within Google+ Local, rerouting visitors to third-party booking services. Since these listings feed results into Google Search, Maps, and Hotel Finder, Google worked quickly and quietly behind the scenes to correct the links. And despite the irritation of this hack, there are key takeaways for hoteliers that can help them protect their online presence.

For more: http://www.lodgingmagazine.com/how-to-protect-your-online-presence/

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by | March 31, 2014 · 9:10 am

Hospitality Industry Guest Issues: “Operator Of ‘Mobile ID Theft Lab’ Sentenced To Prison For Bank Fraud And Aggravated Identity Theft”

“…In asking for a lengthy prison sentence, prosecutors noted that Suryan’s operation not only enriched him, but also helped thieves and burglars profit from the information they stole.  Suryan ‘served as a lynchpin of identity theft activity in Snohomish County in the latter half of 2012;Image the forgery service provided by the defendant helped incentivize countless break-ins of mailboxes, homes, and vehicles by criminals searching for victim data…”

The man who forged multiple ID documents and financial documents for mail thieves in Snohomish County was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 65 months in prison, five years of supervised release and $59,177 in restitution, announced U.S. Attorney Jenny A. Durkan.  MICHAEL JOHN SURYAN, 54, formerly of Everett, Washington was arrested in January 2013, in a Shoreline, Washington motel where he had set up a mobile identity manufacturing operation.

Using documents his co-schemers stole from burglaries, mail thefts and car prowls, SURYAN manufactured fake IDs, and forged checks with the co-schemers listed as the payees.  A search of the room revealed more than 50 fake Washington State driver’s licenses, handwritten notes listing the names, addresses and personal information (including dates of birth, social security numbers, driver’s license numbers, and credit card or checking account information) for numerous victims.

For more: http://www.justice.gov/usao/waw/press/2014/March/suryan.html

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by | March 27, 2014 · 9:11 am

Hospitality Industry Technology Update: “Managing by Text: Using Tech in Back of House”

“…For many hotels, it starts on the guest services side. For example, guests who need assistance can send a text that will be routed directly to the appropriate department, such as engineering or roomservice.Image This simple interaction already removes a traditional element of hotel operations—the front desk—from the equation. From there is a progression for hoteliers to use similar methods to communicate internally among staffers…”

Hoteliers are increasingly using electronic formats such as text, email and FaceTime for back-of-house communications, and are finding the strategy is both highly effective and cost-efficient. Just like in the front of the house, where guests increasingly rely on phones and handhelds while traveling, mobile devices are now becoming critical for back-of-house operations, according to sources.

With cellphones essentially ubiquitous and younger staffers particularly reliant on them, many hoteliers are smartly tapping into this technology base to replace outdated procedures, reshaping everything from staff meetings to service calls.

For more: https://www.hotelnewsnow.com/Article/13408/Managing-by-text-Using-tech-in-back-of-house

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by | March 26, 2014 · 8:19 am

Hospitality Industry News Update: “Deadly Hotel Fire Raising Safety Concerns in New Jersey”

“…One woman, who stayed at Mariners Cove days before the fire, says the motel had battery-operated smoke detectors, but fire victims say they never went off.  ‘That’s the thing, they were battery-powered fire alarms. Once they get hot and they melt, they are not going to work,’ said Tammy Tilton…”

The deadly motel fire in Point Pleasant, New Jersey is raising safety concerns at other motels in the area.

Activity has died down at the scene, but the probe continues into Friday morning’s deadly fire at the Mariners Cove Motor Inn in Point Pleasant Beach.

The blaze killed four people, including 66-year-old Albert Sutton, formerly of Mount Laurel.

Based on surveillance footage pulled from the rubble and restored by computer experts at the Ocean County prosecutor’s office, detectives have determined the cause of the fire was careless smoking.

For more: http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news/local&id=9479643

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by | March 25, 2014 · 8:35 am

Hospitality Industry Legal Update: “Bed Bug Lawsuits: Reducing Your Clients’ Risk”

“…Your clients, of course, are responsible for their own actions, or lack of action, when dealing with bed bugs. But there are actions you can take to help your clients avoid these kinds of deviations, minimize their risk of lawsuits, and reduce their liability if a lawsuit is ultimately filed. Of course, by doing so, you also reduce your own liability and risk from any bed bug litigation. But you must be proactive…”

Until they experience a bed bug crisis first hand, property managers usually can’t comprehend the full impact on their property. Most fail to appreciate just how difficult it is to control bed bugs once they have spread and become established.

That’s why property managers often address bed bug complaints with the same casual approach as complaints about cockroaches or ants. They typically do not respond aggressively, at the first sign of trouble, and before the bed bugs become entrenched and spread to other areas of the building. And property managers often resist investing the time, money and effort necessary to control a bed bug outbreak. That puts both of you at risk of a lawsuit.

For more: http://www.pctonline.com/pct0314-bed-bug-lawsuits.aspx

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