Mumbai Hotel Attacks Trigger New Debates About Inadequate Hotel Security - Philadelphia Inadequate-Security Lawyer Weighs In
As an experienced inadequate-security lawyer, I have been blogging about security concerns at hotels and resorts for many months prior to the unfortunate occurrence last week at two Mumbai luxury hotels. The terrorist attacks in Mumbai once again reveal that inadequate security is always a risk at a gathering place for travelers and hotel guests.
The hotel industry faces unique challenges in today’s environment. They are inviting guests to their hotels and resorts that often do little to limit access by terrorists or other potential threats to security. Large international luxury hotels seem to have been targeted by terrorists as evidenced by the multiple attacks on innocent guests at the Mumbai Taj Mahal and Oberoi Hotels. The Overseas Security Advisory Council and Association of Corporate Travel Executives offers the following safety tips:
1. Make your own reservations when practical. Try not to identify the company.
2. Park as close to a hotel access point as possible in a well lit area and always travel at night with a well lighted flash light.
3. Stay with your luggage until it is brought into the lobby. Personal travel documents, laptops and other valuables in excess of $1,000 in value should be hand carried and personally protected.
4. In some countries your passport may be temporarily held by the hotel for review. Get it back as soon as possible. Beware of persons in the hotel lobby who have noted your arrival.
5. Ground floors that open to a pool area or beach with sliding glass doors and window access are considered vulnerable. Female travelers should request rooms that are away from elevator landings and stairwells.
6. Allow the bellman to open the room, turn the lights on and check to insure that it is vacant. Assume that all hotel rooms abroad are bugged for audio and visual surveillance.
7. Ask where the nearest fire stairwell is. Most fire truck ladders only go up to about the 7th floor.
8. Always carry a smart phone or cell phone that can send international email. When traveling abroad also consider traveling with water purification pills or devices.
The safety and privacy of hotel and resort guests should be the top priority for hotel and resort owners and operators. Since 1979 the experienced inadequate-security lawyers of the law firm of Reiff and Bily have aggressively represented clients who have been injured on other’s premises, including hotels, motels, inns, apartment homes, shopping malls, casinos and cruise ships. For those who have suffered a physical assault or robbery because of negligence due to inadequate security we would like to begin an immediate investigation into your case to preserve evidence and properly prepare your case. For a free consultation, please contact us at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com. We have been protecting the rights of injured consumers since 1979.
