American Hotel & Lodging Association President & CEO Chip Rogers released the following statement after Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs vetoed an important hotel employee safety bill - Arizona House Bill 2379
Hotels are opening and travelers are returning; Hotels must equip staff with employee safety devices to avoid potential safety risks
While the 5-Star Promise inspired the cooperation of over 24 hotel brands across the U.S, it also brought with it heightened legislative expectations amidst tight timelines. With so many hotel properties - over 18,000, to be exact - committed to the deployment of new safety standards (ESDs) by the end of 2020, the demand for panic buttons has reached a fever pitch.
Phocuswire reports that in today’s business environment, 94% of organizations that have implemented IoT solutions have seen a return on their IoT investments with benefits that include tracking assets in real-time, shorter wait times for customers, energy-efficient environments, and personalized experiences.
Great leaders operate in the present but focus on planning for the future. As technology evolves, things that were once deemed impossible are now part of everyday life and are changing the business world at lightning speed. The latest and most innovative tools from the beginning of this decade are now becoming outdated, making it challenging for organization to keep up with every technological change.
The concept of wearable technology, a few decades ago, might have seemed rather farfetched - at least, in the way that we now know it to exist. With studies predicting that 28.7 million Americans 18 and older will use a smartwatch next year, more than 8 million Americans aged 55 and older expected to use a wearable device, and the realization that 23 Apple watches are sold per minute, the demand for ultra-convenient, hands-free technology is undeniable.
While much of hotel technology often focuses on the guest experience, the industry now finds itself amidst a wide-spread push to invest in enhanced safety and protection for their employees.
Hospitality staff frequently find themselves subject to vulnerable circumstances due to the nature of their role - ranging from physical strain associated with labor and heightened risk of assault or harassment. While this risk was often publicly minimized in the past, it seems that we are finally rounding the corner to a hospitality landscape in which properties actively prioritize and protect staff safety and well-being. While much of this discussion - and corresponding legislation - has been directed towards hotels, we can’t neglect to include casino resorts and consider the unique risks their employees often face.
'The statistics are beyond concerning, and it's why I pushed for this necessary action to be undertaken by the City,' Miami Beach commissioner Kristen Rosen Gonzalez said in a news release.
It’s important to acknowledge that incidents of violence are a concern in an industry that serves so many in the general public. The best course of action is for hotel owners and managers to take a proactive approach to preventing violence by having a plan in place so security and law enforcement can respond quickly and effectively if a crime does happen at a hotel.