Tips for Keeping Your Motel Safe and Secure

As a motel owner, one of your top priorities should be ensuring the safety and security of your guests. Not only is this important for your guests’ well-being, but it can also protect you from legal liability in the event of an accident or crime on your property. In this blog post, we’ll cover some practical tips for keeping your motel safe and secure.

Motel Safety Tips

Lighting

One of the simplest ways to deter crime at your motel is to ensure that your property is well-lit. Criminals are less likely to target a well-lit property because it increases the chances of being caught or identified. Here are a few considerations for lighting your motel:

• Exterior Lighting: Install bright and energy-efficient LED lights in the parking lot, walkways, and other outdoor areas of your motel. Ensure that lighting fixtures are strategically placed to eliminate shadows and potential hiding spots.
• Motion-Activated Lights: Consider installing motion-activated lights in key areas, such as entrances, stairwells, and parking garages. These lights will turn on automatically when someone approaches, providing additional security.

Security Cameras

Installing security cameras is another effective way to protect your motel from crime. Cameras can both deter crime and provide valuable evidence in the event of an incident. Here’s what you need to consider when implementing a security camera system:

• Strategic Placement: Identify high-risk areas such as parking lots, entrances, corridors, and reception areas. Install cameras in these locations to monitor suspicious activities and deter potential criminals.
• Quality and Coverage: Invest in high-resolution security cameras that can capture clear images and footage, even in low-light conditions. Ensure that the camera angles cover the necessary areas with no blind spots.
• Storage and Monitoring: Regularly check the quality and functioning of cameras to ensure they are recording properly. Store the footage in a secure location and establish a monitoring system to keep an eye on live feeds.

Employee Screening

Your employees play a critical role in maintaining the safety and security of your motel. It’s important to conduct thorough background checks on all potential hires to ensure that they don’t have a criminal history or a history of violent behavior. Here are some key steps for employee screening:

• Background Checks: Implement a comprehensive background check process that includes criminal records, employment history verification, and reference checks. This will help you make informed decisions about potential employees.
• Training and Education: Provide proper training for your employees on safety protocols, emergency procedures, and guest privacy. Regularly update their training to keep up with the latest security practices.
• Supervision and Accountability: Establish a system of supervision and accountability to monitor employee behavior and ensure adherence to security procedures. Encourage employees to report any suspicious behavior or security concerns.

Guest Screening

In addition to screening your employees, it’s also important to screen your guests. Establishing a reliable guest screening process can help prevent illegal activities and protect the safety of other guests. Consider the following measures:

• Identification and Registration: Require valid identification from every guest at check-in. Verify that the guest’s name matches the name on the credit card used for reservation. Keep a record of guest identification for future reference.
• Credit Card Authorization: Implement secure credit card authorization procedures to prevent fraudulent activities. Ensure that the credit card used for payment is valid and belongs to the guest.
• Background Checks (if applicable): In certain cases, such as long-term stays or extended motel operations, consider conducting background checks on guests to identify any potential risks or criminal activities.

Emergency Plans

Finally, it’s important to have a plan in place in the event of an emergency. This could include a fire or natural disaster, as well as an active shooter or other violent incident. Make sure that your employees know what to do in the event of an emergency and that you have procedures in place to evacuate guests if necessary:

• Emergency Evacuation Routes: Clearly mark and communicate emergency evacuation routes throughout your motel. Make sure that employees and guests are aware of these routes and conduct regular drills to practice evacuation procedures.
• Emergency Contacts: Keep a list of emergency contacts readily available, including local law enforcement, fire department, and medical services. Train your staff to act quickly and effectively in emergency situations, and ensure they know who to contact for assistance.

Motel Liability Insurance

While these tips can help prevent accidents and crime at your motel, there’s always a risk that something could happen. That’s why it’s important for motel owners to have motel liability insurance. Liability insurance can help protect you from financial loss in the event of an accident, incident, claim, or lawsuit stemming from your property.

XINSURANCE as the Solution

At XINSURANCE, we specialize in providing liability insurance solutions for individuals and businesses that have been denied coverage by other insurance carriers. We also offer a Tru Umbrella insurance solution that fills the gaps and covers the exclusions in your primary insurance policy. We can offer an all-in-one solution that provides all of your insurance coverage under one simple policy.

Head over to our Habitational Insurance page to learn more about motel liability insurance and to start your quote request.