As an added security measure and an effort to make employees feel safe while working, the American Hotel and Lodging Association, along with some of their major hotel members, announced plans to provide all employees in direct contact with guests, a panic button.
The devices are to be used if an employee feels in danger of being assaulted or harassed. Using GPS tracking, hotel security will be alerted to the employee's exact location once the button has been pressed.
By 2020, the AHLA and their big-chain hotel members-Hilton, IHG, Marriott and Wyndham-will have provided the safety devices to thousands of hotel employees working in newer, wifi-enabled buildings.
Along with the devices, the hotels also have plans of implementing mandatory anti-sexual harassment policies. In addition, they'll train and educate on how to identify and report sexual harassment.
Katherine Lugar, President and CEO of AHLA said, "Protecting our employees-as well as the millions of guests who stay in American hotel rooms each day-is critically important to our industry."
"We are working toward deployment of the devices at both managed and franchised hotels in the United States and Canada through 2020 and we continue to explore safety technology solutions globally. We believe that everyone should feel safe and secure while fulfilling their work responsibilities," said Arne Sorenson, President and CEO of Marriott International.
Although sexual assault has always been a worldwide issue, it's recently been given more attention in the wake of the #MeToo movement. More companies and businesses are taking notice to everyday things happening in the world and are trying to do their part in preventing it.
In Las Vegas, MGM Resorts Entertainment and Caesars Entertainment will soon provide cocktail waitresses and housekeepers with a panic button.
In Chicago, a law has already been passed that states hotel staff members must be given a portable panic button while cleaning, inspecting or re-stocking supplies in guestrooms or restrooms by themselves.
New York City, Washington D.C. and Seattle all have similar laws already in place. According to Travel and Leisure, AccorHotels, Four Seasons, Best Western, and Red Roof Inn are also included in the initiative.
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