Whether you own a hotel or resort, apartment or condos, restaurants and bars, or anything else in the hospitality industry, there’s a lot on your plate on a daily basis. You have to think about a lot of things – is your staff treating the guests appropriately, are rooms being turned over in a thorough and timely fashion, is the hotel WiFi strong and safe – the list goes on.
In addition to all of these concerns, you also have to consider the safety of your guests as well as your staff and property. Hiring security officers to monitor your building is not enough, especially if the hotel is spread over a large area. Even under the watchful eye of security personnel and other staff members, it’s nearly impossible to monitor every area at once.
This is where security cameras or video surveillance comes in. A security system comprised of indoor and outdoor cameras, motion detectors, and interconnected alarms can protect your business interests, and allow your guests to feel safe and secure while on your property.
How Security Cameras Can Benefit Your Hotel
Placing security cameras strategically in the following areas of your hotel has several benefits:
- Delivery entrances
- Parking lots
- Lobbies
- Outdoor corridors
- Kitchens
- Bar areas
- Restaurants
- Meeting areas
- Gyms
- Pools
- Stockrooms
- Hallways
First of all, visible video surveillance in public areas, like the hallway and the parking lot, gives your guests peace of mind. It lets them know that you value their security, which goes a long way in enhancing the customer experience. Surveillance of restricted areas – like stockrooms and offices – will also help ensure that unauthorized staff members and guests are kept out.
Secondly, it allows you to keep an eye on your employees to make sure they are providing quality service at all times. You can also look out for any potential employee theft.
But monitoring your guests and employees is not the only benefit of installing a camera security system. If you’re considering getting video surveillance for your hotel, here are 5 highly-convincing reasons to take the plunge:
Catch Security Threats and Criminals, Both Onsite and Offsite
A security camera records footage inside your hotel building as well as around the premises. Good quality cameras are able to record 24/7. Plus, many cameras today come with built-in motion detection sensors that activate the entire security system at the slightest movement.
Strategically placed cameras – whether Internet Protocol (IP) or Analog (like CCTV) – are instrumental for stakeholders in the hospitality industry to reduce risk and help prevent crime.
One of the many factors that influence tourists’ decisions on which hotel to stay at during their visit, is the extent of criminal activity in and around a particular hotel. And it’s a well-known “secret” that the hotel industry is extremely susceptible to criminal activities against hotel guests.
In the recent past, news broke that more than $100,000 worth of jewelry was stolen when burglars held a few people at gunpoint at a hotel in downtown Los Angeles. There was another instance where multiple guests staying at a luxury hotel in Atlanta had their belongings stolen while they were sound asleep in their rooms.
What do you think these guests might have said about their experiences in their Yelp or Tripadvisor reviews? Nothing good, that’s for sure.
High-quality surveillance cameras can reduce this risk to a significant degree by defending your property, inside and outside its walls. You will be able to spot intruders, vandals, and thieves easily, as well as any crime committed by your employees or guests. Human ability only goes so far. If you want maximum security, it’s time to install a 24/7 monitoring security camera system rather than rely on security guards alone and/or faith in other people.
Preserve Your Hotel’s Supply Chain
Many hotels and motels have struggled with preserving their business continuity in the post-pandemic world, with supply chain disruptions being the biggest challenge. A disruption in your hotel’s supply chain means your day-to-day operations will suffer; imagine not getting towels, soap dispensers, bed sheets, kitchen supplies, and a thousand other things on time.
But what does your supply chain have to do with security cameras? Video surveillance can help you ensure the supplies and goods that arrive at your hotel are in good condition, detecting damaged or open boxes and providing automated detection of any issues in logistics. Cameras can also alert your staff of incoming shipments and any potential blockages for inbound/outbound vehicles that could delay delivery schedules.
Avoid or Settle Lawsuits Before They Are Even Filed
Footage from surveillance cameras can act as critical evidence in legal situations. For example, in incidents involving employee or guest violence on-premises, witnesses may have multiple accounts. But video evidence will help you disprove false claims and substantiate the truth.
Keep in mind that footage from HD security cameras is a complex matter when it comes to the law, especially when it’s the footage of you surveilling your employees. You have to balance your business interests with your employees’ expectations of privacy.
Reduce Insurance Payments
Some new hotel entrepreneurs or managers may not know this, but showing your insurance company that your property is under constant video surveillance can help lower your insurance premiums.
Depending on your insurance company, they may offer discounts based on safety upgrades to a building, such as the installation of impact-resistant roofing. And since a professional monitoring system with indoor cameras and outdoor cameras reduces the risk of burglary, some insurance companies may offer a discount on their premiums. (Make sure to double-check with your provider if they offer a discount and what surveillance system is needed)
Deliver Superior Guest Experience
While guest safety is of paramount importance in a hotel, it need not come at the cost of the guest experience. Both can go hand in hand when discreetly placed security cameras are used on the premises. When reliable and advanced security systems are in place, it gets easier to deliver a more satisfying experience and a thoroughly enjoyable stay to the guests.
Security cameras are undoubtedly far less intrusive than hiring well-equipped security guards. Guests do not get distracted or feel concerned when security cameras are quietly doing the job to assist in their protection. Moreover, surveillance systems are significantly more cost-effective than hiring an elaborate security team.
When guests know that the hotel is committed to their security and protection and has invested in state-of-the-art video security, it demonstrates the hotel management’s dedication to guest safety and high-quality guest experience. Camera surveillance systems using the latest technology and other security measures help strengthen the level of customer trust that some hotels that do not have these systems may not be able to achieve.
Choose the Right CCTV Camera System for Your Hotel Security
CCTV cameras are the most popular type of video surveillance system, but it might be tricky to choose the right one for your building. There is a wide range of IC Realtime CCTV cameras on the market, with varying features and functions. Here are a few:
Forms
Bullet CCTV Cameras
These are the most commonly found cameras in business establishments, identified by their long, cylindrical shape. If you want to record quality pictures and videos, and also send out a clear message to passersby that your hotel premises are under surveillance, bullet cameras are an excellent option.
Dome CCTV Cameras
You may have seen these cameras sit in a dome-shaped casing, which is where they get their name from. This dome shape is resistant to touch and tampering so vandals can’t interfere with the camera easily. They have an unobtrusive design, which means they are easy to fit almost everywhere.
The biggest advantage of dome CCTV design is that passersby can’t determine which direction the camera is facing. Some models are equipped with a speed feature that allows you to move the camera and zoom in, tilt or pan around. Ideal for both outdoor and indoor use, these cameras can be placed in a strategic location on the ceiling to cover all angles of any room.
Turret Cameras
If you’re looking for a reliable and affordable camera surveillance system, turret cameras are an excellent option. Thanks to their flexible design, they can be installed in a variety of locations – either indoors or outdoors. And because they’re so compact, they’re less likely to attract attention than larger camera types. These cameras transmit images to a viewing device or recorder, making them ideal for security purposes, and are a great choice for businesses in the hospitality industry.
Technology
Network/IP CCTV Cameras
Internet Protocol (IP) or network CCTV cameras share live footage across the internet so you can easily access the recording from anywhere. To make the online feed reliable, the bandwidth of the video is compressed. Archive recording is stored on secure software or network video recorders (NVRs) for later access.
If you are often away from the hotel or don’t visit the site much, an IP CCTV camera will allow you to still keep an eye on everything from your smartphone or laptop.
High-Definition Advanced Video System CCTV Cameras
If you want stronger surveillance for your hotel, they allow you to zoom in on details and capture crystal-clear pictures, which is why they are commonly used in banks and casinos. Depending on your budget, you can choose models delivering resolutions from 1080p to 12mp. You will never have to worry about distorted or grainy recording in case you need the footage for a legal situation or criminal investigation.
Camera Intelligence
Fire Detection
As a hotelier, keeping your guests safe is a big part of the job. Installing cameras with fire detection can be used to constantly monitor specified areas in real-time. If a fire is detected based on the video footage, an alarm image will be sent to an administrator. They will then be able to confirm if this is a real emergency.
Perimeter Protection
Having an extra layer of security around the perimeters of a hotel will help ensure guest safety and experience. One of the most important aspects of perimeter security is having reliable cameras that can operate under all conditions. This includes being able to see clearly at night and in bad weather, as well as overcoming any visual obstructions.
Need a CCTV Security System For Your Hotel, Motel, or Multi-Dwelling Property? Hotel Internet Services is Here to Help
Camera surveillance systems offer numerous benefits over traditional security measures, along with opportunities to improve the effectiveness of your operations and even save money in the long run.
At Hotel Internet Services, we have over two decades of experience in helping the hospitality industry across the US as well as Canada and Mexico with all their security needs. Our expert professionals can come to your property and help you choose a complete security system to meet your building’s exact needs. We specialize in customized solutions for hotels of every size.
Whether you need a wireless security system, outdoor security camera system, battery-powered security camera system, or the latest surveillance technology with smart features, we have got you covered. Our technicians can install and support a variety of wireless and wired surveillance systems. To learn more, please call us at 855-999-8110 or write to us online.