According to Khwaja Saifuddin, Senior Director - South Asia, Middle East and Africa, WD, “An increase in the number of inbound and domestic tourists in India has led the hospitality industry to grow and prosper at a rapid pace. Reports suggest that the Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) in India exceeded 7.7 million in calendar year 2014. The importance of this staggering figure can be gauged from the fact that these FTAs generated more than USD 19 billion in Foreign Exchange Earnings. Hence, it is extremely important to ensure that hotels and guesthouses are able to provide a secure stay to their patrons. Terrorist attacks and crimes have definitely led the hotels to adopt surveillance measures at an encouraging rate. However, at the same time it is important to note that a lot of these measures have been adopted by larger hotel chains or hotels with sizeable capacities. However, even the smallest of hotels, guest houses and facilities that are often availed by budget tourists should be able to secure their premises. It is only then that we can call India’s hospitality industry truly safe and secure.”
According to Manoj Khadkikar, Head, Channels Group and Solutions, Zicom Electronic Security systems, “Although nobody can ensure fool-proof safety and security even in developed countries hotels across India have beefed up their security systems to meet any eventuality, in the aftermath of 26//11 /2008. Guests see and experience the up gradation of security levels in all areas such as lobbies, restaurants, swimming pools, banquet halls, business centers, stairways etc. Hence today’s guests feel a lot more safe and secure because of the genuine realization on the part of hoteliers to take no chance in ensuring the safety and security of their customers. Customers also feel satisfied that the hotels are looking after their safety when the hotel spend considerable amount on the security front. Even the genuine customers have to go through stringent security protocol.”
May 2015
According to Ashwin Amarapur, “Safety and Security plays a very critical role in Hospitality sector, - even more critical compared to other industries. A glitch in security system of a hotel may have equal consequence in terms of human and property loss, however, the impact is more far-reaching as such incidences are discussed internationally. The 26/11 terror strikes are remembered more for the attacks in the two Mumbai hotels even though there were ten other attacks during those four dreadful days.”
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He further added, “At the wake of increased terrorist infestation and multitude of terror tactics involving suicide bombings and clandestine armed teams’ infiltrations, traditional security design may not be able to tackle unforeseen scenarios. 40
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Hotel security in India is much tighter today. A visit to the Taj Mahal Hotel will make you conscious that the hotel has become a fortress. The 26/11 terrorist attack when 166 people were killed in the twin attacks on the Taj Mahal Hotel and Trident Oberoi in Mumbai, have changed the perception of the hospitality sector regarding their vulnerability to such attacks and security incidents. The 26/11 incident did push them to look more carefully at the security aspects in the design.
Ashish P. Dhakan, CEO & MD, Prama Hikvision
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“Hotel itself means nurturing guests without missing the opportunity of greeting them. Recent terror attacks on large hotels have created the need of hi-tech security systems in this sector. Hotel industry has expanded with implementation of new inventions which have raised expectation of customers, in turn have increased the level of industry standards. Brand image of hotels depend on how customers are treated and how the security and safety issues are addressed. Huge investments are involved in hotels therefore safety, security of resources and customers is very essential,” observed Jimmy Bhavsar, Sr. Marketing Engineer, Time-Attendance and Access Control Solutions, Matrix Comsec.
Security systems should be strengthened by integrating IT and newer security technologies with it. With time, of course, safety & security has witnessed more and more automation, with IP cameras and network video surveillance being a minimum standard now-a-days. Hospitality sector has invariably implemented them. However, true automation doesn’t mean mere machines – to be handled by men behind them. That has become the premise for video analytics to take surveillance to new heights and greater levels of automation.”