Having been in the publishing business almost 20 years with several publications, you can imagine I have received lots of story suggestions. In fact, one of my former publishers used to tell me to make sure at least a couple of times a year we break the rules and do something different to ‘stop the reader’ and make them take notice. I like to think that this issue and its special feature on hotel security—particularly with what I would acknowledge is an ‘unconventional’ cover—does just that.
But this is about far more than show business or just stopping the reader. This is about a call to action for an industry that now more than ever is particularly susceptible to a potential terrorist attack here in the U.S. We at HOTEL BUSINESS® are by no means trying to be doomsayers and predict a deadly attack but we do have an obligation as the leading industry publication to address this tenuous issue.
While some observers might say it is in the best interest of the publication to remain positive on the industry at large and to steer clear of potential landmine issues like this, that’s just never been our modus operandi. Having said that, no one would be happier than the collective Hotel Business staff if this turns out to be a ‘non-issue.’ However, the reality is there is some cause for concern.
For example, a few short months ago it was widely reported that terrorist groups had been in engaged in discussions about poisoning salad bars and hotel buffets at various U.S. hotels and restaurants over a specifically designated weekend. While nothing more specific ever materialized, Department of Homeland Security officials were concerned enough to deem it a “credible threat.”
In fact, earlier this year President Obama signed a new food safety bill into law, which calls for tighter inspection and control of imported food, which now makes up the lion’s share of the U.S. food supply. It may seem like a relatively small measure, but it serves to point out that we as an industry can take nothing for granted.
After all, as a hotel owner or operator your guests are taking for granted that your property is safe and you have an obligation to make sure that is the case, at least to the best of your ability. There is no way to guarantee your hotel won’t be targeted but there are a surprising number of steps you can take to make it less vulnerable. (See cover story, p. 12)
We all watch from the relative comfort of our family rooms as revolutions and riots are broadcast live from the Middle East and Northern Africa and we assume we are insulated from it, but that’s precisely the thinking that made us vulnerable as a nation on 9/11.
In hindsight, when analyzing the horrific attacks of that day there are myriad red flags that were missed along the way by just about all levels of employees. Now is the chance to make sure those red flags are caught if, God forbid, your property does become a target.
I recognize this industry is only recently beginning to at least partially recover from what has been a difficult couple of years by all accounts. But the losses heretofore have been largely financial in nature. The reality is if a terrorist attack were to be successfully pulled off at one of our nation’s hotels and result in fatalities, there would be NO recovery.