Travelers expecr and demand secure and safe experiences at the lodging proper-ties they choose to visit. Owners and investors expect and demand that a property will be operated as efficiently and profitably as possible. A property that imple-ments a security and loss prevention program that fulfills the wishes of these groups begins each day with a competitive edge. This textbook looks at several areas that may be of concern to securityconscious managers and employees.
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The first point to be made is that the security and loss prevention needs of dif-ferent properties vary. Recent decades have witnessed a great diversification within the lodging industry. New and different types and styles of lodging proper-ties have been developed, each adding a significant element to the industry's abil-ity to serve its various markets effectively. This diversification, coupled with a rising crime rate, has also resulted in more diversified security needs. Although certain properties' needs may be similar, each property is ultimately unique.
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The security function at various lodging properties may be performed by people with many different titles. Smaller properties often assign the security func-tion to a manager with other responsibilities. Larger properties may decide to maintain a fullfledged security department with its own department head. Regardless of who is in charge of the security effort, that person should be consid-ered part of the management team at the property level. Security is a consideration in many of the management team's decisions; direct input from an executivelevel security director can improve communications, which may help to increase the effectiveness of the security program.
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Over the years since the initial publication of this book, the lines have become increasingly blurred between security and loss prevention management. Some major hotel corporations have designated a loss prevention function that incorpo-rates safety, security, and fire protection. These disciplines have become suffi-ciently important that a vice president designation is often provided in the corporate organizational chart.
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This textbook is designed to accomplish four main goals:
- to help a lodging property develop its security and loss prevention programs,
- to serve as a refer-ence for topics and issues to review if a security or loss prevention incident should occur,
- to help employees become aware of security and loss prevention con-cerns, and
- to provide security and loss prevention information to students who are entering the industry.
