Hotels and security

August 22 2003

ok, so I didn't get around to blogging about Exchange, Mitch Kapor, and viruses....it'll wait until Monday, I think.
One topic that I wanted to get going for weekend discussion is that of hotel security.  In my travels, I've stayed in many, many, many hotels.  Some have been ultra-luxurious, ultra-hip, historical, or just loaded with character.  Of course, a few have been less-than-ideal, too.  The one thing that almost every hotel has had in common, though, is a lot of door security.  Peepholes.  Strong, impressive deadbolt locks on the door.  In some cases, two or three locking devices are present.  The doors are almost always set to lock automatically, too.
Since most of these locking devices only work when you are actually inside the room, I was just wondering, what is the point, really?  Are (or were) hotel room invasions a common occurance?  Do hotel staff routinely ignore "do not disturb" signs?  Do hotel guests actually open their room doors without looking in the peephole or asking "who is it"?  How risky are all these locks if you need to leave the room in an emergency?
Now I just know that Mike Werner will have a story or two to share on this topic, but I am not talking about some of the honestly scary places he's been to.  I'm talking about hotels like the Renaissance in Paris La Defense, where you have to use your room key just to activate the elevator (ah, here we have a minor counterpoint -- I was told quite honestly that the hotel does this to prevent prostitutes from soliciting at guests' doors.  Really).  Are we looking mainly at a placebo effect, something that makes guests feel safer, but isn't really necessary?
All these questions, I'm sure there must be interesting answers.

Ed Brill | Highland Park, IL USA Category:  Travel  Add/View Comments [10]

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  1. 1  Andrew Pollack http://www.thenorth.com/apblog | 8/23/2003 12:17:14 AM

    Ed,

    The locks are there for when you're inside. When you're not, its just stuff. Anything valuable should be in the safe (often provided in the room).

    The deadbolt and latch are for your safety. Really, the latch is for if the power fails. The bolt that you through usually most of its work by preventing the keycard from working. That keeps the maid from walking in on you, and other guests.

    I've actually arrived late at night to a hotel -- and a very nice one -- been given a key, opened the room, and found it occupied. Fortunately for all concerned, it was just stuff -- the guest was out -- so I just went back to the desk and the humbly gave me a new room. It happens more than they'd like to admit.

  1. 2  Richard Schwartz http://smokey.rhs.com/web/blog/rhs.nsf | 8/23/2003 12:42:53 AM

    There was a lawsuit quite a few years ago, after a rape (of a celebrity... I don't recall who it was) in a hotel room. Security measures in hotels went up dramatically following that.

    What I find annoying, however, is that the front desk people are often a security hole big enough to drive a truck through. I've occasionally locked my magnetic card key in my room, and gone to the desk to get a new one. In the majority of cases, I have not been asked for any identification before a new key to my room was handed over. When I'm in a playful mood, after the clerk gives me the key I ask "How do you know I'm me?", but really it's no laughing matter. There was one hotel, part of the Worst Western chain, I believe, where my wife was denied something trivial (like maybe a towel for the pool) at the front desk because she had neither key nor ID, but hours later I was given a new key by a clerk who had never seen me before and who didn't ask for ID.

    -rich

  1. 3  Libby http://www.notesgirl.com | 8/23/2003 9:19:49 AM

    It's possible this is an urban myth, because I got it from second-hand sources, but I did hear about some of the hotels in NYC who essentially had to make people sleep on the streets because all their security was electronic, and so they either couldn't get people into the rooms or couldn't vouch for their security once they did....

  1. 4  Mike Werner http://blogs.motorbiker.org | 8/24/2003 4:10:05 AM

    You should try the Concorde Lafaeyette on Place Maillot. Go through the lobby and you'll see discrete hookers, go in to the elevator and there's probably one in ot, and finally when you go to your room you'll see one or two on the floor. They look to see if you're alone, give you a minute or two to stelle in, and then knock on your door. Gives a whole new meaning to "room service".

    Note: This was 15 years ago when I used to travel to Paris. Don't know if it's still like this....

  1. 5  Wild Bill  | 8/24/2003 6:43:45 AM

  1. 6  Ed Brill  | 8/24/2003 7:56:15 AM

    Here's what the "Hotel amenities and facilities" list on IBM's intranet says... must have forgotten one, unless that 24 hour room service listing...

    Hotel Amenities and Facilities

    Facilities :

    AIR CONDITIONED GUEST ROOMS

    AIR CONDITIONED PUBLIC AREAS

    ALL NEWS TV CHANNEL

    BUSINESS CENTER

    COCKTAIL LOUNGE/BAR

    CONCIERGE

    ELEVATOR/LIFT

    EXECUTIVE/CLUB OR OTHER ROOMS AVAILABLE

    GUEST ROOMS FOR PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED (1)

    HEALTH FITNESS CENTER OFF SITE: FEE

    INDOOR POOL

    IN-ROOM HAIR DRYER

    LAUNDRY/VALET

    MEETING FACILITIES (26) From 10 To 4000

    MINI-BAR IN ALL ROOMS

    PARKING FACILITIES

    PUBLIC AREAS FOR PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED/

    RESTAURANT(S) (4)

    ROOM SERVICE From 00:00 To 24:00

    SAFE DEPOSIT BOXES AVAILABLE

    TROUSER PRESS

  1. 7  Mike Werner http://blogs.motorbiker.org | 8/24/2003 11:09:57 AM

    Nope it is indeed there. 24 hour room service ! Tip is extra !!

  1. 8  Carl  | 8/25/2003 9:18:06 AM

    "SAFE DEPOSIT BOXES AVAILABLE"

    enough said.