For hotels, security is a need and a priority on which it is highly risky not to invest. The loss of prestige for a hotel involved in any sort of security incident is a damage from which it can be difficult to recover, especially today, in the time of specialized social networks (Travel and Tourism) and of online reviews.
Risks are manifold, from identity theft to cyber crime, from missed security audits, sometimes involving the fire-fighting area, to excessively easy access by strangers or abusive introduction of objects.
There are several effective “technological allies” we can have to combat the dangers described above, starting with high-resolution video surveillance systems integrated with video Analytics software, and up to the new frontier of biometrics applied to access control (also for the staff). Specific attention should be paid to fire prevention, emergency exits and the protection of guests in the rooms, in general, with all possible technologies, from physical technologies, such as a safe, to electronic solutions, such as cards and decryption systems.
Thanks to technological evolution, security can be easily combined with comfort and also with luxury and aesthetics, for the satisfaction of the owners and the pleasure of guests.
Virtually every hotel today delivers an electronic key to its guests to activate and access every service, from the opening of the room door to its lighting, from activating the air conditioning system (HVAC) to TV, access to restricted areas such as spas, swimming pools, and gyms, and to on demand TV.
Cards are also used to pay, so that every service used will be charged to the final bill for the room. This also allows the staff to see everything from their PCs or any other terminal connected to the network and take action, for instance, to optimize work by tidying up a room when the guests are not in, for a more efficient hotel management.
Energy efficiency can also be achieved with the automatic switching off of the air conditioning system and lighting when the card is removed from its reader upon the guest leaving the room.
Another example of functional optimization is the increasing use of audio entertainment systems in hotels. These can also be used in danger situations, being integrated with the various smoke detection and evacuation systems, and interacting with the video surveillance system not only to be informed of what is going on, but also to see and possibly record any event in real time (everything obviously in compliance with the applicable privacy legislation). Finally, technology allows for the implementation of all those predictive maintenance actions that include checking sensors and other devices before they are blocked, for instance, by a simple low battery, for the full advantage of regular operation and a good management of the hotel.
We can truly maintain that integrating different security, comfort and entertainment systems allows hotels to obtain reliable and accurate information on which to base timely action, thus ensuring significant benefits for the customers and the administration of the hotel.
