Articles Tagged with Georgia Hotel Shooting

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Hotel and motel guests have a right to feel safe and secure while on the premises. By law, Georgia hotel owners have a responsibility to protect their guests from violent crime, sexual assault, and foreseeable harm. Should a hotel owner fail to provide adequate security or safety measures to protect their guests, they may be held civilly liable for any injuries or wrongful deaths which occur as a consequence.

Hotel Crime Prevention

Violent hotel crimes may occur inside the hotel, in the hotel parking lot, or on hotel grounds. Implementing proper safety and security measures in all of these areas may help protect guests from injury and deter crime, such as rape, robbery and assault. Hotel security measures may include:

  • Bright lighting on hotel grounds, in hotel parking lots, and in all hotel common areas.
  • Access controls to property and rooms, including guest screening, fencing, gated-entry, ID-controlled entry, deadbolts, steel frame doors, and guest room door viewers.
  • Adequate staffing and surveillance cameras to monitor hotel, parking lots, grounds, amenities, and guest entrances.
  • Liaise with local law enforcement to maintain awareness of community crime and implement additional security precautions, as needed.
  • Continuous maintenance, updating and replacement of all security features.

Additionally, should the hotel have a history of crime, either on property or nearby, the owner and manager should work with local law enforcement to introduce additional security precautions to help prevent future crime.

Victims of Hotel Assault or Injury: What Are My Legal Options for Justice and Compensation?

As each case and property is unique, victims of hotel crime should speak with an experienced security negligence firm as soon as possible to ensure all evidence, such as surveillance footage or broken lighting, is preserved and their best interests are protected.

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HotelOpenDoorBusiness and leisure travelers frequently check reviews, amenities, and location prior to booking a hotel. However, most hotel guests neglect to research security measures prior to their stay. These tools are not typically highlighted on a hotel website or at check-in, both to keep such information out of potential criminal hands and to avoid alarming guests. Hotel owners want to put their guests at ease and a lengthy list of safety and security features may cause concern. As such, property owners and managers undertake the enormous responsibility of overseeing the safety and security of all guests and visitors to their hotel.

Hotel guests have a right to feel safe and secure on property and it is the responsibility of the hotel owner and management to protect all those enjoying the property from any foreseeable harm. Allied Universal, a hotel security service provider, urges hoteliers to implement the following security solutions:

Maintain Security Minded Customer Service

Front desk staff and valets are trained to embody a customer first, customer service model. While maintaining friendly, responsive interactions with customers is crucial, it is also important to vigilantly follow all security protocols.

Key Card Access Review

With a few pieces of hardware and minor programming, it is possible for a criminal to gain undetectable entree to millions of key card protected hotel rooms….Hoteliers should remind all guests of the security safeguards they offer and remind guests to use their lock bars and chains and dead bolts when retiring for the evening. Room safes or securing valuables at the front desk should also be recommended if available. 

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Hotel Key CardHotel Security: What Questions Should I Ask Before Check-In?

Hotel guests have a right to feel safe and secure while staying on property. However, Travel + Leisure magazine reports, while hotel security is “one of the industry’s most important issues,” it is also one of the “least discussed.” As such, they urge business and leisure travelers to ask questions prior to booking their hotel.

John C. Fannin, CEO of SafePlace Corporation, outlines questions guests should ask prior to making a reservation:

  • Does the hotel employ round-the-clock security personnel? “A hotel can have closed-circuit TV,” he says, “but if there’s no one to respond, it’s not a comprehensive security program.”
  • Does the hotel require all guests to present a government-issued photo ID, driver’s license, or passport when registering?
  • Does the hotel restrict access to guest-room floors to those staying there?If so, how is this enforced?
  • Has the staff received security and emergency-management training?

Read the full article at Travel + Leisure.

Victims of Hotel Security Negligence: What Are My Legal Options for Justice and Compensation?

As each case and property is unique, victims of hotel crime should speak with an experienced security negligence firm as soon as possible to ensure all evidence, such as surveillance footage or broken lighting, is preserved and their best interests are protected.

Continue reading →