Technology’s role in protecting guests and staff
By Rakhi Voria
In hospitality, trust is everything. Guests don’t simply reserve a room – they rely on hotels to protect their safety, their belongings, and the people they travel with.
That’s why safety must be more than a policy; it has to be woven into every part of the guest experience. The goal is for travelers to feel secure without ever needing to think about it. Achieving that level of confidence requires the right technology to make safety seamless and reliable.
While this may feel daunting, technology offers practical solutions that can significantly improve hotel security. By deploying cutting-edge tools, hotels can address a wide range of risks more effectively.
1. Protecting Guest Property
Vehicle theft and break-ins are some of the most visible and disruptive crimes on hotel property. While traditional security strategies provide general coverage, they often lack the detail needed to effectively deter or resolve incidents.
Today, advanced solutions such as intelligent video and license plate recognition (LPR) technology give hotels the ability to connect vehicles to specific events, gather actionable evidence more efficiently, and discourage repeat offenders.
In addition to visual monitoring, audio detection technology can play a critical role in safeguarding parking lots. These systems can identify threats in real time – such as the sound of shattering glass – and immediately alert security staff or local law enforcement. By enabling faster responses, hotels can stop incidents in progress and prevent further damage.
2. Safeguarding Reputation
Safety doesn’t just protect assets; it protects the brand. A visible commitment to security can be a powerful differentiator, reassuring guests that their well-being is always top of mind. In competitive markets, a reputation for strong safety measures can be the deciding factor when travelers choose where to stay.
Equally important is how those measures are implemented. Hotel operators know that security must be balanced with comfort and hospitality. Modern safety technologies can be framed as non-invasive, proactive, and privacy-conscious – tools that safeguard guests without making them feel like they’re in a fortress. By showing that protection and guest experience go hand in hand, hotels can strengthen their reputation and gain trust.
3. Addressing Human Trafficking
Hotels are uniquely positioned to play a role in addressing human trafficking. With advanced technology, properties can identify vehicles connected to alerts such as missing persons or AMBER Alerts. Real-time insights empower staff and law enforcement to intervene faster, turning hotels into critical partners in community protection.
But to be truly effective, these efforts can’t live in silos. Many hotels already operate with fragmented systems: Cameras from one vendor, access control from another, and radios that don’t connect to either. The future lies in integrated safety platforms, where tools “talk” to each other, creating a seamless ecosystem. When systems are connected, security teams can act on alerts immediately, coordinate responses more efficiently, and ensure nothing slips through the cracks.
Expanding Security Perimeters with Technology
Technology doesn’t replace people; it extends their reach. By building intelligent perimeters around their properties, hotels can shift from reactive incident management to proactive risk prevention.
LPR and intelligent video systems give hotels visibility into every vehicle that enters or exits the property. Instead of relying on staff to notice suspicious activity, these tools automatically flag vehicles of interest and notify the right people in real time.
For example, if a stolen vehicle drives onto the property, an LPR alert can be triggered immediately. Security staff or management can then notify law enforcement, monitor the vehicle’s movements, or take preventative steps before a theft, break-in, or confrontation occurs. The result is a shift from reactive investigation to proactive intervention.
Strong relationships with local agencies are critical to keeping hotels safe. Modern security technology makes those partnerships more effective by allowing hotels to share relevant footage or alerts directly with law enforcement through secure, controlled channels.
Instead of waiting until after an incident occurs, hotels can provide proactive notifications. For example, when a flagged vehicle associated with a crime or missing person enters the property, an early warning gives law enforcement a chance to respond quickly, reducing the likelihood of escalation and strengthening the hotel’s role as a trusted community partner.
Hotels are 24/7 businesses, but staffing resources are limited. Technology eases the strain by providing coverage without constant human monitoring, freeing staff to focus on guest service with confidence that security is always active.
On large properties like resorts or convention centers, drones and autonomous monitoring can extend the reach of security teams without ballooning costs, acting as a true force multiplier. And with lean teams across the hotel industry, modern tools help staff cover more ground, respond faster, and spend less time chasing incidents. The result: Efficient, effective security that enhances the guest experience.
Security as Strategy
The future of hotel security isn’t static. Just as threats evolve, so must the tools and strategies to address them. Scalable technology solutions allow hotels to expand coverage and adapt as risks shift, without costly overhauls. What’s most important is recognizing that security is no longer just a compliance requirement or operational necessity. Done well, it becomes:
- A guest experience enhancer: Guests feel safer and more at ease.
- A competitive differentiator: Safety-conscious travelers gravitate toward secure properties.
- A community contribution: Hotels become partners in broader public safety efforts.
Hospitality has always been about making people feel at home. In today’s environment, that means far more than providing comfort. By embracing technology thoughtfully, hotels can protect guests, empower staff, and strengthen community trust.
The future of hotel security isn’t defined by the tools themselves, but by how they’re applied to protect people. In an industry built on trust, choosing the right innovations may be one of the most important investments a hotel can make.
Rakhi Voria is the vice president of commercial sales at Flock Safety, a public safety technology company focused on eliminating crime and building thriving communities. She and her team help businesses and communities harness technology to create safer environments, including partnering with hospitality leaders to deploy innovative security solutions that protect both guests and staff.
Image: alice_photo/stock.adobe.com
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