Safety First: Ways to Protect Hotel Guests and Property

Many fancy hotels boast swanky features like Michelin-starred restaurants or penthouse suites with skyline views — yet none of that matters if hotel guests don’t feel safe. Especially in the era of COVID-19, guests value their safety and security when venturing out from the shelter of their homes to stay in hotels.

Safety tips in the pandemic era

To keep guests safe from infection, all common areas where people gather should be reconsidered to make sure they are following CDC guidelines for safety. Though not all hotels require a proof of vaccination, they typically follow all the rules and safety procedures published by federal, state, and local officials. In deciding what areas to keep open, hotel operators consider whether the area is properly ventilated and has a layout that makes it easy for guests to maintain the recommended six feet of social distance.

• Create an environment where physical distancing is easy, with seating areas spread out more. Keep areas well-ventilated.

• Have in place a set of disinfectant procedures hotel staff refer to in rooms and common areas, with special attention to high traffic areas.

• Personal tensions may result from the stress of the pandemic. Have staff train in ways to promote a safe and hospitable environment.

Reduce the risk of slips and trips

Hotel operators should scrutinize certain areas to reduce the risk of accidents like slips and falls. To keep your hotel safe, it’s best to expend resources and focus on areas statistically proven to be the riskiest, such as: bathtubs, showers, lobbies, pools, sidewalks and parking lots. With appropriate technological upgrades to slippery surfaces, risk of injuries at hotels can be radically reduced.

Let’s take, for instance, the area with the statistically highest risk of accidents: the bathroom. Wet areas like bathrooms are the most slippery, especially when guests use moisturizing materials such as glycerin soaps and hydrating conditioners. They also have many hard and sharp surfaces. To reduce the risk of accidents:

• Use a slip resistant coating on the surface of bathtubs or showers.

• Install handrails in the shower.

• Keep the bathtub height relatively low, to make stepping out of the tub safer.

Second to bathrooms in slip injuries are lobbies. Lobbies are the first impression of the hotel, so hotel designers often choose a shiny stone floor. However, hotels that use anti-slip flooring in lobbies and other high-traffic common areas don’t necessarily need to sacrifice aesthetics for safety.

Reducing risk to hotel property damage

Risks to hotel property are likely to be linked to patron safety. For example, regular reports on your electrical system not only prevent catastrophes like fires that can severely damage property but also keep guests from great danger. Gas and electricity safety measures should always be in place — especially, given that hotels use a lot of electrical power and that puts a strain on electrical supply systems and they can wear down and corrode.  Also, make sure gas detectors and audible alarms are installed consistently throughout the hotel. Use only detector systems that can automatically shut off the gas when levels are dangerous. Training relevant staff on power operations along with maintaining regular safety checks is critical to keeping your hotel property secure.  

Prepare for emergencies

To prepare for emergencies, hotel operators and key employees should meet with local law enforcement officials and first responders to have a plan in place. Staff should know what to do in the event of an emergency so that they can move quickly and calmly. One basic safety tip is to have hotel staff wear uniforms that makes it obvious they are affiliated with the hotel — that way, if there is any safety issue or emergency a guest can easily identify and alert hotel staff.

Though the hospitality business has unique risks, your safety needs have been anticipated and addressed in our Hotel Primary program (comprised of General Liability and Property coverage).

Need additional coverage? Bundle with our Umbrella and Cyber Liability programs to have ultimate peace of mind.