Using Security Cameras and Surveillance Systems in Hotels

Many people who love to travel anywhere or those who travel for the purpose of business, holidays or vacations are always considering which inns or hotels are good enough to stay at.  Nowadays, it is a certain fact that the crime rate is always increasing day by day, and when there are holidays coming up, the crime rate will absolutely go up as well.  Criminals can lurk anywhere and can strike at any person at any time, so hotels and other hospitality establishments must have security cameras and surveillance systems installed in their vicinities in order to protect their customers and ensure that everyone is absolutely safe and satisfied during their stay at the hotel.

Most of us who have stayed at a typical hotel have definitely noticed that there are security cameras placed everywhere – in doorways, hallways, recreational areas such as the swimming pool and the gym, and especially at the front desk.  These security cameras are installed in a way that the staff and guests will be made aware that they are being monitored and kept safe.  It is also an effective means of deterring would-be troublemakers when they realize that there are security cameras present in that particular hotel.

The installation of visible security cameras is truly one of the easiest, least costly and most effective ways to earn your customers’ trust, achieve a positive reputation, attract new customers, and gain more future repeat customers.  It has been known for a fact that when people check into a hotel as guests, they want to know that they can trust the staff to offer them a comfortable yet safe and secure room in the hotel just like how they would feel in their own homes.  If you are part of the hotel management, it is wise to put more effort into reinforcing your hotel’s safety for your guests, because the more competitive you become in the hotel industry, the more customers you will surely attract into your hotel.

The most popular security camera used inside hotels is the indoor camera type.  Hotel owners or managers who normally choose to either add new security cameras or opt to replace their old ones simply go for the dome camera types with wide dynamic range (WDR) function.  These indoor dome security cameras are ideal for hotel areas such as the hallways, the lobby and other common public areas.  On the other hand, the most popular security camera used outside hotels is the low-light bullet security camera.  Bullet security cameras are a great option for hotels due to their affordability and the fact that they are weatherproof.  Also, due to the fact that low-light bullet security cameras are very small in size, they are obscure enough and will not destroy the aesthetics of the hotel property.

Lots of hotels nowadays typically end up replacing their rather old VHS systems in order to take advantage of the extra camera connections (ports) that the digital video recorder (DVR) can offer.  DVRs can come in 4, 8 or 16 ports, and if there are more than 16 security cameras that are needed to be installed, multiple DVRs are used and are simply joined to the Internet in order to create one complete virtual system.   Of course, upgrades are very beneficial because a modern DVR can provide a higher resolution on every video recorded unlike that of an old VHS unit, even when the same security cameras are used.

Below are some of the most common benefits on using security cameras and surveillance systems in hotels:

Safety and Security – Security cameras can aid in keeping guests and staff safe from theft and other criminals by helping the hotel owner or security personnel in tracking visitors and preventing break-ins that might occur in the hotel vicinity.

Prevention of theft – Security cameras can help in keeping intruders away from exclusive hotel areas such as gyms and swimming pools, where the high chances of theft is most likely to occur.  Security cameras in store rooms and other maintenance areas can also help in preventing or monitoring potential employee theft.

Flexible – Modern security cameras are very easy to install and they can be adjusted anytime in order to fit your every need.  Unlike the traditional analog CCTV cameras, wireless IP security cameras do not require power tools, technicians or long lengths of cable wiring.  All you need to do is to mount the security cameras and start recording footage.

Remote monitoring function – The addition of a network video recorder (NVR) to your security camera and surveillance system will definitely give you that power to broadcast your surveillance footages over to the Internet.  This terrific breakthrough in surveillance technology lets you monitor any of your security cameras at anytime from anywhere in the world provided there is a reliable Internet connection, thus giving you instant security updates.

Remain extremely competitive – Aside from providing that much-needed security, security cameras and a surveillance system in the hotel can surely give your guests peace of mind while they are staying at your hotel, and when they are completely satisfied, they will surely come back again and even refer the hotel to their friends, thus helping you increase your return business and make you remain extremely competitive in the hotel industry.

Setup Advice on Security Cameras and Surveillance Systems for Hotels

Below are some basic setup advices for those who are planning to install or upgrade security cameras and surveillance systems in hotels:

• Install security cameras near entrance and exit doors in order for you to obtain a clear image of each and every person that comes in or out of the hotel building, whether it is a guest or member of the hotel staff.
• Install security cameras in open areas where people normally are at, such as pools, lobbies, restaurants, and meeting rooms in order to help prevent petty theft.
• For very valuable objects such as priceless artwork and safe boxes, it is advisable to install fixed security cameras near the object in order to help prevent or deter theft.
• Security cameras must be placed all around the hotel’s perimeter in order to help secure the whole hotel building and facilities especially when the hotel is situated at nearby dangerous neighborhoods.