Security at star hotels today goes beyond guarding property. "We have to think in terms of security for visiting heads of state, politicians from other cities, chief executive officers of international firms and other high profile visitors," says Colonel (retd) Mir Ziauddin, Chief of Security at the Leela Palace.
Apart from physical security, there will be issues such as protecting the privacy of a celebrity, say, like a film star or rock musician. "Things have changed since the days when a chief of security could manage with a limited understanding of guest satisfaction and a security strategy based on problem identification and threat minimisation was enough," says Col Ziauddin.
Many major hotels such as the Leela Palace have reduced outsourced security personnel and have started in-house training for their personnel. The core team is often retired armed forces officers, Junior Commissioned Officers and Non-Commissioned Officers with good track record. In some cases, the doormen have been recruited from among retired Presidential Body Guards, cleared for security and this helps during VVIP visits.
"There has been a renewed focus on fire safety and prevention and the need for contingency plans to deal with terrorist threats and abnormal crisis situations. Security officers receive training in surveillance techniques, use of technical equipment and close protection for VIPs," says Col Ziauddin.
They also learn to closely collaborate with the security agencies of overseas visitors as during the visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to Bangalore.
Security officers have to think beyond the buildings and guest rooms. Total security plans have to be drawn up to cover the perimeters, guard rooms, the gardens, illumination, all entry points, reception facilities, vulnerable equipment and power facilities, the regular staff and those of suppliers and contractors and maintenance of the intrusion and fire detection systems.
"At the Leela our future plans include a 60 channel multi-circuit CCTV systems, monitored 24 hours. We are one of the two hotels in Bangalore with a 100 per cent guest room inventory with electronic keys in some rooms and metal key systems others... we can ensure only registered guests have access to their rooms'' Col. Ziauddin says.
Ultimately, in a crisis situation such as a terrorist attack, only security personnel with adequate training can react fast enough.
Bangalore may not yet have reached the stage of Uttar Pradesh where armed guards are taken for granted on every hotel corridor but more unobstrusive security measures have been taken up by the major hotels.
© 2005 Kasturi & Sons Ltd (KSL). Source: Financial Times Information Limited - Asia Intelligence Wire.
