Protecting Hotel Staff and Guests with Panic Button Systems
On March 21, 2024, a tragic shooting took place outside the Sonesta Extended Stay Suites in Herndon, Virginia. An 18-year-old man allegedly got into an altercation with two teens in the hotel parking lot before fatally shooting a 14-year-old boy. This senseless act of violence highlights the critical need for robust safety measures at hotels and other businesses.
Unfortunately, this incident is not an isolated one. A recent viral TikTok posted by Haley Bartoletta recounted her harrowing experience at another Sonesta hotel location in Atlanta. Bartoletta says she heard someone apparently trying to break into her room through an adjoining door in the middle of the night. Feeling unsafe, she and her sister fled to the lobby, only to encounter a man who appeared to be “strung out on some sort of drug” wandering the hallways. Shaken, Bartoletta took to social media to warn others, stating “Never stay at a Sonesta or those types of hotels.”
Sadly, hotels are prime targets for crime, with 60% of human trafficking cases implicating hotels according to the Van Law Firm. Ensuring the safety of both hotel staff and guests needs to be a top priority. This is where panic button systems, like those offered by JET Hotel Solutions (https://www.jethotelsolutions.com/relay-family/), can make a huge difference.
JET Hotel Solutions provides state-of-the-art duress alarms and housekeeper panic buttons designed specifically for the hospitality industry. Their systems allow staff to instantly alert security of their location and situation with the press of a button if they feel threatened or witness suspicious activity. Having this lifeline can help prevent tragedies and provide peace of mind to employees working in isolated areas like guest rooms.
The technology behind these panic button systems has evolved dramatically from the early “walkie-talkies” first invented back in 1937. Originally large, heavy, metal devices used by the military in WWII, today’s panic buttons are discreet, lightweight, and packed with helpful features. JET’s RelayTX is a great example – it looks like a standard employee ID badge but has a concealed button staff can press to summon help. The device then sends a location alert to security, who can quickly respond.
In addition to empowering staff, panic buttons can also be made available to hotel guests, providing an extra layer of security and assurance. If a guest feels unsafe in their room for any reason, such as hearing someone attempting to gain entry, they can use the in-room panic button to immediately alert the front desk and have security dispatched to their location. This is the type of response Bartoletta and her sister should have received in Atlanta.
Some key considerations when selecting a panic button system are signal range, battery life, ease of use, and location accuracy. It’s also important that the system integrates well with a hotel’s existing security operations and protocols. Staff need to be thoroughly trained on how and when to use the panic buttons.
While no security measure is 100% foolproof, implementing a panic button system is a proactive step hotels can take to better protect their staff and guests. Had the Sonesta hotels mentioned earlier had these systems in place, perhaps the outcomes would have been different. The shooting victim may have been able to silently signal for help when the altercation began in the parking lot. Bartoletta and her sister could have used an in-room button to alert security rather than venturing out into the hallway and risking an encounter with the intoxicated man.
If you’re a hotel or business owner looking to enhance your security, consider contacting JET Hotel Solutions (www.jethotelsolutions.com) to learn more about their panic button offerings. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure when it comes to safety. Don’t wait for a tragedy to strike before taking action. Empower your staff and protect your patrons with this potentially lifesaving technology. In a world where senseless acts of violence can happen anywhere, implementing all possible security measures is simply the responsible thing to do.
Let’s honor the memory of the young Herndon shooting victim by spreading awareness of the importance of panic buttons in the hospitality industry and beyond. Together we can work to create safer spaces for all.