The Hindu Business Line : ‘Hotels need to work on guest-friendly security measures’

Mr Shankar Bidari, Commissioner of Police, Bangalore city, interacting with representatives of various hotels and restaurants at a press conference organised by the Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Associations of India, in the city on Saturday.

Our Bureau

Bangalore, Dec. 6 It is tough times for hotels across the country. Tough times also signal the need for innovation to keep the business going.

The Mumbai terror attacks have accentuated the need for tighter security at hotel premises to ensure the safety of guests and employees. Thus, hotel managements are putting up enough and more security measures, and also making sure they are not annoying their guests.

“There is a need to use security as a competitive advantage,” says Mr Anand Rao, General Manager, ITC’s The Windsor, Bangalore. “This is the time when we need to use security measures as a differentiating strategy,” to woo guests to hotels, he said.

For example, deals for corporates could be built around value-added security services, Mr Rao said. Due to dipping occupancy levels, there is a greater need to look at things differently now than ever, he said.

With the period from mid-December to mid-January being a lean period for most hotels, this is time to innovate in terms of packages offered too, such as spa packages, and better banqueting rates to tap the domestic market more. Special rates are offered to guests, and also special packages for the season.

At the Leela Palace, Bangalore, the tariff would be around Rs 10,500 (which is around Rs 16,000 normally) till January 10, 2009. The Lalit Ashok, Bangalore, would have a special Christmas package at Rs 11,500, which includes a special Christmas meal for two, 10 per cent discount on laundry, 15 per cent discount on food and spa, and free airport transfer; for New Year, the special rate would be Rs 13,500, inclusive of special New Year programme for two, airport transfer, breakfast, 10 per cent off on laundry, 15 per cent discount on spa, and food and beverages.

Security concerns

Mr Shankar Bidari, Commissioner of Police, Bangalore, during a press conference organised by the Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Associations of India, said that arms would be provided to hotels if they want them.

“Work out your requirements, and we will give you licences to the fullest extent of your requirement within 10 days from the date of expression of your requirement,” he assured them. “We would also help you in procuring these arms, and also train your security staff in handling them,” said Mr Bidari.

The police is well equipped to deal with “problems that are specific to law and order; but incidents like the one in Mumbai are military in nature,” he said, adding that there is a need now to “militarise” a section of the police force to handle such situations.

Guidelines, protocol

Mr Bidari also told hoteliers that there was no cause for panic and anxiety since all necessary measures have been taken. He said that a brochure containing necessary guidelines and protocol for the hotel industry would be given to top executives of the industry on December 11, at a meeting scheduled between the industry’s top executives and police officials.

Some guidelines would be: ensuring inspection by door frame metal detectors and hand-held metal detectors; passing all hand-held and other baggage through X-ray machines; getting sniffer dogs to check hollow pipes, dustbins, flower pots and baggage sent to rooms; handing over hotel’s layout plan to the general manager and nominated persons to ensure it is available at short notice; police verification of temporary workers and contract workers; installing iron grills at the service gates, and so on.

More Stories on : Security | Hotels | Promotions & Offers | Terrorism

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‘Hotels need to work on guest-friendly security measures’