Even after the vaccine rollout has been completed and restrictions have been lifted, the hospitality industry is expected to have difficult months, even years, ahead as the wider tourism industry recovers from the devastating – and ongoing – impacts of the pandemic.
At Magenta Security, we have been proud to protect various hotels, holiday parks and luxury retreats over the years, and we are currently helping our clients in the hospitality sector stay secure while they recover from lost business and operate safely during the pandemic.
Security is one of the most important elements of a successful hospitality business. Guests expect themselves and their belongings to be safe, and that feeling of safety is crucial to providing a relaxing, even pampering, stay.
While we could discuss the benefits of security technologies such as CCTV, access control and NFC, it’s security guards who contribute the most to the experience of a guest at a hotel, B&B or holiday park.
When we provide security guards for hospitality clients, their people skills are just as important as their ability to identify and deter threats. They should be friendly, attentive and knowledgeable, able to help guests in any way they can.
Hiring a security guard to provide security alone is a waste of their potential. In addition to their standard duties of guarding doors and performing site patrols, many security guards double as front of house staff, welcoming and escorting guests and serving as a point of contact.
Consider how a security guard will reflect on your brand and the experience you provide to your guests. There’s a high chance that a security guard will be the first person who your guests encounter when they stay at your premises.
At Magenta Security, we provide additional hospitality training to many of our security guards in order to perfect that all-important first impression for our clients.
It is not unusual for hospitality businesses, especially in the high-end hotel sector, to require their front of house managers to carry SIA and CCTV licenses. The skill set for licensed and trained security guards makes them ideal for a range of hospitality duties and should be key players in any post-lockdown recovery plan.
Enhanced hygiene protocols are still mandatory for hospitality businesses and their design and enforcement can be included within a security package, as we often prefer to do at Magenta Security in order to guarantee compliance and safety on the sites in which our staff work.
Health and safety (coronavirus-related or not) goes hand in hand with security, so bundling them together under one provider can be more efficient and lower cost than seeking separate services. We have provided many COVID-19 risk assessments as well as designing and delivering COVID-safe procedures, along with all required equipment.
Another security concern related to the pandemic are the guests themselves. After more than a year of social isolation and the associated boredom and stress, there is a chance that tensions will run high once people are plunged back into social situations, especially with strangers.
While it has not been studied to our knowledge, there has been widespread anecdotal reports of increased and unusual aggressive behaviour in post-lockdown social situations. We must remember that, while there is light at the end of the tunnel for the coronavirus pandemic in this country, the mental health impact will be felt for some time.
A licensed and trained security guard will be experienced in conflict resolution and de-escalation, and may save your guests from embarrassment or worse should tensions run high or someone over-indulges.
More than ever, it is vital that security guards have a permanent presence in areas where alcohol is served and where there are heightened health and safety risks, such as pools and children’s play areas.
After all, hospitality is all about looking after each other. A team of cool-headed, attentive and well-mannered security guards won’t just look after your guests, they’ll look after your business, too.
Magenta Security provide award winning security services throughout the UK. We are in the top 5% of ACS approved contractors and were the first security company in Europe to be awarded ISO 14001 for our environmental management systems.
