Hotels May Be Targets Of Next Attacks

NEW ORLEANS— “Someone in this room is going to have a problem with their hotel.” That was the message from Carl Winston, director of the new hospitality and tourism management program at San Diego State University. Winston, speaking at the AH&LA’s Multiunit Lodging Operators & Owners Forum this week, noted that he would not have much good news for attendees during his seminar on safety and security. Winston said he had informally polled attendees at the conference, who accounted for approximately 1,000 hotels. “Since 9/11 some of you have cut your budgets, others have increased them, and some of you are just taking a wait and see attitude,” said Winston. With Vice President Cheney within the past few days having warned that another terrorist attack on the United States may be pending, “hotels are very likely to be targets. “Terrorists tend to target noncombatants, people on vacation, people riding on buses,” said Winston. There is a myriad of issues for hotels to be concerned about when it comes to terrorism and security, said Winston. “Does anyone have a policy that tells you what to tell your airport bus drivers if they are hijacked? I haven’t found one,” he said. In this new 9/11 world, some hotels are actually making their heads of security part of their selling team when it comes to pitching meeting planners on property tours, said Winston. As for the rising cost of insurance after the attacks, some audience members reported they are receiving letters from their carriers saying they will not be getting coverage once their policies are up. After some work, some hoteliers reported they are able to get terrorism insurance on a limited and expensive basis. Coverage for bioterrorism is being excluded, said one member. Other security issues of concern for hotels include hackers and viruses in computer systems, employee violence and identity theft. Audience members meanwhile told Winston that a big issue for them is that of guestrooms being used as drug labs, a practice once considered unusual, which has now become a common problem. To combat the many different problems a hotel can face, property security officials should meet with others in their capacity in their area, to share problems and to know what to be on the lookout for. Hotel security should also be visible, with appropriate uniforms so that there is no question that safety is being monitored, said Winston.