How To Mitigate Risks When Staying In A Hotel

Introduction

To some people, traveling overseas form part and parcel of their office work. Whether a person is a frequent or a first time traveler, he or she is exposed to risks whenever they go for an overseas trip. From time to time, we used to come across reports saying that, in certain countries, we should avoid staying in those hotels that are frequented by Westerners. Well, if we have no choice, then we need to do some form of risk assessment and mitigation on our part. We should think of what can go wrong during our stay at the hotel.

Risk assessment and mitigation

In beefing up security, hotels in certain cities install metal detector arch or are using hand-held type metal detector to screen guests as well as visitors. I had the hands-on experience with these safety precautions when staying at Hilton Istanbul, Turkey; Sheraton Club Des Pins, Alger, Algeria; Hotel Mulia, Jakarta, Indonesia; Shangri La Makati, Manila, Philippines; and Hotel Manila, Philippines.

As a safety precaution during your hotel check-in, if possible, request for a room that is located not higher than the sixth floor. It is easier to escape during an emergency, e.g. fire. Travelers should be security aware that rooms on lower floors provide easy access for burglars or intruders.

When you first enter your hotel room, always check the room thoroughly. Check the bathroom, connecting door, behind the curtain, and in the closet. This is to ensure that the room is really empty and safe before you close the door.

To mitigate risks while staying at the hotel, the following do's and don'ts are useful:
- You should check the location of fire exit and staircase. The diagram is usually placed behind the door, look and study it properly. This is useful when you need to move out or evacuate quickly during an emergency, e.g. fire, bomb threat, terrorist attack, earthquake, etc. Remember that the lift is out of service during an emergency.

- For an extra protection of you and your valuables, consider using a rubber wedge or doorstopper that you usually use at home. I used the rubber wedge when staying in Sheraton Hotel, Ashgabat, Turkmenistan several years ago.

- Always have a torch light with extra batteries - to be used when electricity supply is cut off. Some hotels provide a torch light, usually placed in the closet.

- Always verify callers before opening the door and display the €Do Not Disturb€ sign on the door.

- Always check with the hotel if tap water can be used for drinking. In certain countries, you cannot drink the tap water, even after boiling it for it may upset your stomach. When I stayed at one of the hotels in Yangon, Myanmar a few years back, there's a notice saying that the tap water was not safe for drinking. You have to boil first the supplied mineral water in order to make your drinks.

- Place your belongings at one or two places only. It is easier to pack them again should you need to move out quickly, e.g. in case of emergency. This was really useful from my own experience. When I stayed at Mirama Hotel, Manchester, England in October 2010, the hotel management tested their fire alarm at about 45 minutes past midnight. As I placed my important items (passport, cash and credit card) at one place, myself and my daughter just grab the items and went down via the stair case to the ground floor.

- In case you will be having your scheduled meeting in the same hotel where you are staying, it is to your advantage to check the location of the meeting room first at your earliest convenience.

If you follow the above safety tips when staying at the hotel, I believe that you and your family can sleep well.

Remember that mitigating risk begins with you.