Remote Duress Alarms: Enhancing Hotel Staff Safety with Advanced Technology
A recent news report from WVLT in Knoxville, TN sheds light on how widespread this need is. The story looked at how many school systems across East Tennessee are implementing or considering panic buttons to improve emergency response. Oak Ridge Schools, for example, has provided every employee with a panic button. “Every single staff member has the ability to at the push of a button get response there, get backup, get people in where they need to be and alert people this is a real situation that needs to be locked down,” explained school representative Molly Smith Gallagher.
While schools are an important use case, the hotel industry faces unique staff safety challenges that make remote duress alarms even more vital. Major hotel brands and local laws are increasingly mandating panic buttons for workers. Cities like Miami Beach, Seattle, Chicago, and New Jersey have passed measures requiring hotels to provide safety devices, and the American Hotel & Lodging Association has rolled out the 5-Star Promise, a pledge by major hotel brands to provide panic buttons to workers by 2020.
The good news is that the technology behind panic buttons has advanced dramatically since the early days of simple “walkie-talkies.” First developed in the 1930s for military use, early two-way radios were bulky, had limited range, and lacked features. But over the decades, walkie-talkies evolved into sleek, digital devices using cellular networks, GPS, and cloud-based software to provide seamless, reliable performance across large properties.
A leading example of a modern remote duress solution is the RelayX from Relay Inc. Far more than a walkie-talkie, the RelayX is a fully-featured panic button and communication device purpose-built for demanding environments like hotels.
Key features of the RelayX solution include:
- Failsafe connectivity: Intelligently combines 4G/5G cellular, Wi-Fi, and private LTE networks for always-on coverage across an entire property
- Military-grade durability: Built to MIL-STD-810H specs, the RelayX is IP68 rated for dust/water resistance to withstand drops, spills, temperature swings, etc.
- Dedicated panic button: Staff can instantly trigger an SOS that alerts security and shares their location. Automated escalation ensures every alarm is acknowledged
- Precise location: Combines GPS, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth beacons to pinpoint staff location room-by-room
- Cloud dashboard: Integrates with hotel systems to immediately notify security based on panic button location and staff ID. Provides real-time remote visibility
- Voice messaging: Allows staff and security teams to communicate clearly via push-to-talk across the property
- Language translation: Built-in support for live translation of 30+ languages to bridge communication gaps with a multilingual workforce
By leveraging advanced duress solutions like RelayX, hotels can provide round-the-clock protection for workers no matter where they are on the property. Knowing they are never truly alone and that help is instantly available provides invaluable peace of mind for staff. Hotels also benefit by mitigating liability, attracting talent, and demonstrating a genuine commitment to employee wellbeing.
However, implementing a wireless panic button system takes experience to get right. Factors like network coverage, alert rules, dashboard integration, and staff training all impact the success of a rollout. That’s where the hospitality technology experts at JET Hotel Solutions come in.
With deep experience deploying the RelayX device and other staff duress platforms, the JET team works closely with each hotel client to design a tailored solution. “We conduct a thorough assessment of the property’s layout, network infrastructure, and staff procedures to develop a comprehensive system that addresses their specific needs and technical constraints,” says JET Director of Hospitality Solutions, Bryan Lynn.
From system configuration and installation to ongoing monitoring and 24/7 support, JET offers hotels a worry-free path to enhancing staff safety with a remote duress solution. “We aim to be a single point of contact that takes the complexity out of implementing this critical technology,” Lynn adds. “Ultimately, a panic button system is more than a device, it’s a commitment to staff – and we’re here to help deliver on that promise.”
To learn more about remote duress alarms and JET’s services for hotels and commercial businesses, visit https://www.jethotelsolutions.com/relay-family or contact JET today. With the right technology partner, any hotel can provide a safer, more secure working environment for their most valuable asset – their people.