Hotels in the Spotlight After Mass Shooting in Vegas
Hotel hospitality is all about welcoming guests and being a refuge while ensuring privacy, comfort, and safety. But how does the hospitality industry tread that line between not overstepping guests’ privacy and keeping them safe? After the mass shooting at the Route 91 Harvest Festival in Las Vegas, public safety is in the spotlight, including at hotels.
In response to the attack, Mandalay Bay and other MGM resorts stepped up their security measures, according to a Business Insider report, by implementing metal detectors and X-ray machines. These visible security checkpoints boost customers’ confidence in the short-term but are unlikely to be mandated in the long-term, according to Kate Taylor’s Business Insider report. Why? Hotels with upwards of 5,000 rooms need to move people quickly, not subject them to wait in line to get screened every time they enter the hotel.
Countries that have been affected by terror attacks abroad already have these types of screening procedures in their hotels. In India, hotels like Marriott routinely use X-rays to scan guests and luggage. Other countries in Africa and the Middle East have stricter security measures. The US may follow suit in light of the shooting in Las Vegas that senselessly claimed the lives of 58 concertgoers.
However, in a recent Billboard article, Dave Brooks steers away from the focus on beefing up hotel security. Instead, he addresses the need for greater security at music venues or other events where large crowds gather. Solutions include SWAT sharpshooters on-site, the creation of “safety zones” in the form of barriers or railings to shelter behind, and educating people on how to respond to an emergency.
Our hearts break for the family and friends who lost loved ones on Oct. 1 in Las Vegas, and our thoughts go out to everyone affected by this tragedy.
