experience

20 Safety and Security Tips For Hotel Guests

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20 Safety and Security Tips For Hotel Guests

Hotel is known for leisure and pleasure. It is a place where people run to when there is need for home away from home, exciting experience, relaxation, fun, corporate meetings, conferences, seminars, etc.  Everything about it revolves around exciting and exclusive experience. The industry has been enjoying very wide patronage across globe due to increasing need for people to move around, take time out, and experience a place away from regular work or home environment; sometimes it offers a combination of business and pleasure. Hotels sell excitement and experience open to anyone who can afford it; this presents peculiar challenges to ensure safety and security of guests. Challenge of maintaining improved guests experience and ensuring adequate protection for guests and assets at same time. Operators have demand to ensure integration of safety into hotel ambience. Guests and others visit hotels with various motives. Travelers, fun seekers, business people, criminals, hawkers, barons, gangs and organized underworld groups, etc. patronize hotels for one purpose or the other. The hotel must meet their expectations, else next call may not be possible. Good hotel security system will promote the vision and the mission of the business and still guarantee less security incident. The sure way to go about this is through deterrence-oriented policy and standard rooted on robust security infrastructure, personnel training and guest awareness. This article is guest-centric. It is written for hotel guests. It places the responsibility on the guest to ensure practice of recommended tips to minimize risk of safety and security incident while lodging. As a security or safety manager who has responsibility to proffer risk advisory to employees that seek accommodation in hotel this piece is a ready assistance. Every hotel guest should see themselves as personal chief security officer to self. Reason for this; in some part of the world some people operate a death row under the guise of hotel. As such, instead of selling leisure and experience, they sell pain and calamity to innocent visitors who would never think that such lodge is license to death. Some types of safety and security threats guests may be exposed to in hotel include: Food & drink poisoning Drug & substance abuse Property damage Property theft Pilfering Ritual killing Kidnapping Fire or arson Cyber attack Sexual assault Assassination Pool drowning Armed robbery Physical Assault Excessive indulgence See below 20 Safety and Security Tips To Practice When Lodging in Hotel Research the hotel ahead scheduled lodge, and check online reviews. Do quick mental assessment of the premise and the Front Office Look out for outdoor and indoor CCTV cameras. Ensure the name in public view is the same with name on receipt or transactional document. Nameless hotel has higher risk, variation in name is a clue to safety risk. Share hotel name and location with a trusted person. Note, google map or other digital tool can be used to gather this information. Check strength of the door and the lock. Check door peephole and have it covered from inside. Check all covered or hidden areas in the room; such as under bed, behind curtain, covered roof or floor, bathroom, closet, mini bar, locker/save, adjacent door (if any) etc. Locate nearest emergency exit and check to be sure it is functional. Put off all lights in the room, use your phone camera to scan for hidden cameras (note, this does not work in all phones). Ensure panic alarm device is provided in the room. Ensure Front Office and Security intercom contacts are provided. – if possible, get contact of nearby local Police. Know your room number. Never open door to strange or unexpected knocks. Keep room door partially opened during scheduled or emergency housekeeping. Avoid room on clumsy floor or area. Secure your valuables in locked pack e.g., room locker, your luggage, etc. Do not always trust free public network. Avoid sharing confidential information when using it. Maintain situational awareness at all times. Contact external source for assistance when unfolding incident seems out of hand. Hotels promise experience in form of leisure, glamor, excitement and taste. However; lurking within this cosmetics may be security threats lethal enough to cost life. Always exercise some self-help practices some of which have been highlighted on this piece. Wishing you safe and exciting experience in advance of any hotel lodge. ALSO READ: Traveling with kids: Family Travel Tips for Parents

Solo Travels

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solo travels

Do you know what a highly underrated guilty pleasure is? Traveling solo! You see, not everyone enjoys the concept of crowded cars, loud noises, talking over each other, and not being able to hear yourself think. Yes, some people enjoy their alone time while reconnecting with the little whispers and sometimes annoying voices in their heads. Traveling in itself is an act of defiance. I mean, you voluntarily leave your comfort zone to go around the world and see other people and places. What else could be as audacious as that? Solo travel, as it’s called, occurs when a person decides to go on trips by themselves without friends, family, or any companion. This kind of travel can be either short or long-term, and a solo traveler can be of any age, gender, and class. The greatest part is that you get to do what you want when you want. For some people, enjoying a solo trip comes naturally, while others have to work on how to travel alone, so let’s get into the experience of traveling alone. Here are a few things you can do to ensure a great solo adventure: 1. Envision the kind of trip you want Passions matter a lot on any solo travel trip because they streamline the kind of trip you want and intend to have. If you are a lover of art, create an itinerary that revolves around enjoying the beautiful concept of art. You should also include going to artistic places where you can fully explore your interests. And if you have other interests, you can do the same and have a great time on your trip. 2. Gather knowledge Knowledge is power. Familiarize yourself with the place you’re taking a trip to and the people you’ll be meeting on your trip. Review the past experiences of people who have gone there, check out travel guides, and visit websites about this place. This is because being well-prepared ensures you’re ready for whatever and whoever you encounter during your travels. 3. Learn to chat with strangers When you’re traveling to new places where you don’t know anyone, talking to locals or other travelers can help you learn a lot. It’s like getting insider tips about the best things to see and do. Plus, chatting with people you meet along the way makes your solo trip more fun and interesting. It’s a way to make friends, feel more comfortable, and get to know the places you’re visiting. So, don’t be shy—strike up a conversation and see where it takes you! ALSO READ: REINVENTION 4. Be patient Patience isn’t just a good quality; it’s like a guide for solo travelers exploring new places. Whether you’re dining alone or trying to understand a different language, patience is like a common language that makes the journey smoother. It helps you stay calm and figure things out, even when you’re faced with challenges or uncertainties. So, no matter where you go, remember to bring along plenty of patience; it’s the key to a successful solo adventure! As you explore the world on your own terms, remember that the journey is not just about the destinations. It’s also about initiating conversations, building relationships, and dealing with surprises along the way.