As you saw on tonight's show, we've investigated the poor security at hotels and why you, your family and your possessions just aren’t safe. Concierges hand out keys without ID and housekeepers are given access to your valuables.
Below are statements we have received from the following hotels in response to our investigation:
Holiday Inn
RE claims presented by NINE Network’s A Current Affair of breaches in hotel security at Holiday Inn Brisbane
All Holiday Inn hotels have strict policies for hotel security and guest safety. These policies meet or exceed the requirements of operational health and safety laws and regulations, and international hotel security benchmarks.
We have taken immediate steps to investigate the footage taken by A Current Affair and the program’s claims, and are reviewing all security protocols.
The comfort, safety and wellbeing of our guests are our priority, and we treat any suggestion of lapses in security standards with the utmost seriousness. Any issues identified in the course of our investigation will be swiftly addressed.
Sebel Suites
The hotel has strict policies and procedures regarding guest identification when requesting a key card, this breach in our security guidelines is unacceptable and we have taken immediate action to address the issue. The staff in question have been disciplined and will undergo immediate re-training. We have issued a notice to all hotel staff of this serious breach in security and lapse in our policies and procedures, and reminded every staff member of their responsibilities. Additional training is being undertaken to avoid any future staff complacency. We take the safety of our guests, our staff and our reputation very seriously and we will take whatever steps are necessary to avoid this happening again.
General Manger
The Sebel Suites Brisbane
21 October 2009
Accor Hotels
21 October 2009
Thank you for the opportunity to respond to your enquiries regarding hotel security at the Novotel Brisbane.
Hotels are public places and individuals may naturally feel less secure than when they are in their home environment. At Novotel, we believe that it is important for us as hoteliers to focus on the security concerns of our guests, and it is of paramount importance to hotel management.
Security represents an important area of recognition for the Novotel Brisbane and in addition to modern standards of hotel security as required by law being constantly revised, we also take the initiative to regularly re-examine and prioritise our security processes and protocol to ensure peace of mind for our guests.
We have not had an opportunity to view the footage prior to its airing on A Current Affair, however should it suggest that a breach has been made then we are very happy to investigate further and look into our policy and staff protocol regarding security matters.
Neil Scanlan
Regional Manager
Accor Hotels Queensland
