'Snooping' in Hotel Rooms – is Nothing Sacred? By John Hendrie

It gives the story line such intrigue.  Hotel rooms and suites have been the scene of everything from trysts to road warrior repose, from vacationers to rock band demolition, and from Fatty Arbuckle in the bath, “Pretty Woman” or the “Hangover” and Eloise traipsing about.  I think all guests expect a modicum of privacy and security – we, in the Lodging Business, represent a code of ethics and obligation to protect the common good.

We also have electronic keys, locks galore, sound-proof walls and deep, thick curtains.  Yet, privacy can be compromised and trespassed upon, no matter our vigilance as hoteliers, as demonstrated by a lawsuit, filed by an ESPN reporter, against several major Brands.  Her “stalker” and privacy assailant has already pleaded guilty of secret video-taping of her undressing in a multitude of hotel rooms around the country.  This type of media coverage always makes for lurid reading and a spike in sales.  I certainly am appalled for the reporter for this breach of privacy. 

Hotels are public buildings, and safety and security issues are top concerns.  Technology has certainly supported our efforts.  There never are guarantees, rather our efforts to create minimum risk.  The hotels in question, as reported Marriott and Radisson, are fine Brands, and not every guest is the object of someone fixated.  But, the whole episode(s) spreads a blemish from which we need to learn and react.  These perpetrators are a very clever lot, and we should pay attention to their modus operandi and have solutions at hand, put into action, and the public informed.  We have that obligation.  Our privacy is assaulted all day long – data, noise, hustle and bustle, the phone – you know the drill.  The hotel room, at the end of the day, should be the haven and sanctuary.

 

 

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