User Rating: / 0
PoorBest 

I have been asking myself this question the past few days, “Was it my approach or is there just not enough concern?” 

You see, I have been developing a training program that covers women safety when traveling as I have been a solo traveler on many occasions and have come upon a number of situations that had a potential to place a solo traveler in harms way, but more specific a female traveler.  Then there is the fact that time and again we see where women continue to be victimized.  Most recently are the high profile assault cases of women hotel workers. 

A week ago I telephoned a vice-president of a hotel company that owns and operates about 100 luxury hotels and resorts in Maine and across the United States and Canada.  I asked if there would be a time when I could speak with him about some thoughts I had about ways to improve safety for women travelers checking in and staying in hotels.  The response I received was unsettling.

I was immediately told that they have been in business for 40 years and have no security issues.  He did not provide any further comment except – to say “okay.”  All I could say was “okay” back and thanked him for taking the time to speak with me.  So back to my question again – was it my approach or is there not enough concern?

In looking into this issue this is what I found:

A Google search of hotel safety issues results in pages and pages of events that involve safety and security events that have taken place at hotels, resorts, and cruise ships. However, in reading some of the cases reported, there is the fact that guest are concentrating on having a good time and often let their guard down.  Therefore, I am not pointing a finger of blame, but there still remains the fact that there is an expectation by guest [and workers] that they are going to be safe.    

The Human Rights Watch organization posted an article June 23, 2011 titled: "A Victory for Domestic Worker,” in which it addressed the fact that nannies, housekeepers, and caregivers are “some of the most exploited workers in the world.”  The victory is a new international treaty adopted to protect domestic workers, passed in part by the Human Rights Watch research and advocacy.  Read the full story at:  (http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2011/06/23/victory-domestic-workers). 

CBS News did a story in 2009 to highlight the fact that when hotels are cutting cost, hotel security is the first to go.  http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/05/27/travel/main5043786.shtml

A study done by Cathy Enz, Professor of Innovation and Dynamic Management and executive director of Cornell's Center for Hospitality Research, found that certain hotels, notably airport hotels, have continuously revised and upgraded their security arrangements. Additional studies supported this finding that the newer the hotel the better the security.  On the other hand, some types of lodging, such as B&Bs and resorts, seem to have made fewer provisions for enhancing guest safety. http://www.hotelschool.cornell.edu/research/chr/news/press/20020913-safety.html

Judi Brownell, Professor, Cornell School of Hotel Administration found that women travelers look for the overall feature of hotels, not specific features.  The study found that women “want to feel secure, comfortable, empowered, and valued.”  When hotel managers were questioned about their perspective of what women business travelers wanted, they responded safety as a top concern. Specifically, “covered parking, secure locks, well-lit hallways, and thoughtful room locations.” http://www.hotelschool.cornell.edu/research/chr/news/press/prdetails.html?id=803

So to sum all this up, it appears that the answer to my question is yes and no.  Safety is on the mind of many managers and enhancements in security appear to have been made in hotels in some locations, but – yes there is a but, there are still hotels and resorts that need to improve on their safety and security for both guest and staff.