HospitalityEducators.com The #1 Independent Website for Hotel Owners & Managers

December 2011 • Volume IV, Issue 6

In this edition:

• It’s Time We Talk About The Elephant In The Room: Preventing Hotel Housekeeper Injuries
• Holiday Security
• Early Registration Discounts for the 2012 Hospitality Law Conference end January 9
• Industry Resources, including Best Practices for Nightclub Establishments
• A Christmas Message from Ray Ellis

It’s Time We Talk About The Elephant In The Room: Preventing Hotel Housekeeper Injuries, by Chris Montross and Bill Gonser, CKI Risk Solutions

Over the past decade, hospitality providers have been engaged in an amenities competition and have taken drastic steps to remodel and revamp their suites and guest rooms to appeal to patrons desiring luxurious accommodations. According to the New York Times, “It is a competition in which the nation's premier hotels are trying to have their accommodations resemble royal bedrooms. Super thick mattresses, plush duvets and decorative bed skirts have been added, and five pillows rather than the pedestrian three now rest on a king-size
bed.”

Housekeepers, who clean 15-20 rooms a day under intense time pressures that characterizes hotel work are being adversely affected by the heavier, more cumbersome mattresses which have more than doubled in weight and thickness over the last ten years. As a result, housekeepers and room attendants are now 48% more likely to be injured on the job and 51% more likely to incur a serious, disabling injury than that of the average worker in the service industry. Read more

Holiday Security, by Jesse Denton, Hospitality Engineering & Loss Prevention Services

Crime often increases around the holidays, as the criminals know people are out shopping, attending
parties, exchanging gifts etc. Guests also frequently have more cash than normal with them and everyone has a pocket full of credit and debit cards. It is every staff member's duty to be part of the security team. Everyone should keep their eyes and ears open. When something "just doesn't look right", inform your manager or supervisor. Remind guest not to leave valuable items in sight in their autos or unattended in public areas. Read the complete article (on page 1)

Tenth Annual Hospitality Law Conference

The 2012 Hospitality Law Conference, scheduled for February 8-10, in Houston, features a dedicated track highlighting the latest trends and most pressing issues facing risk management and loss prevention professionals, including:

• Data Security Breaches: The Crucial Mistakes That Companies Most Often Make
  In this presentation, Douglas Meal will share his experience in the area by detailing how data breaches are often allowed to occur, or made substantially worse once they occur, by reason of the victim’s own crucial mistakes – mistakes that the audience members can make sure are avoided by their companies or clients.
• Insurance Litigation Survey
  Returning presenter Chip Merlin will help attendees understand recent case law for property casualty coverage cases from across the country.
• Business Interruption: Common Challenges and Solutions, presented by
  Rich Clark, with Arthur J. Gallagher, Stan Johnson with Navigant, and Marshall Gilinsky with Anderson Kill & Olick, will present an interactive discussion about what to expect when disaster strikes.
• The Claims Process
  Wes Brandt, Area Vice President at Arthur J. Gallagher, Gary Thompson, Partner at Reed Smith LLP, and Harvey Goodman with Goodman-Gable-Gould/Adjusters International will reflect on lessons learned from their collective experience of many decades in the trenches and also offer some fresh insights and concrete proposals on how to improve the insurance claim process.
• Best Practices for Coordination Between the Legal, Risk and Claims Departments during Litigation and Claims Processing
  Returning presenter James Eiler will focus on suggested best practices for in-house law departments, risk and claims managers for effective communication and response to claims and litigation.
• Current Issues in Loss Prevention
  Returning presenter Jim Stover with Arthur J. Gallagher will address issues such as bed bugs, pandemics, and guest safety.

Don't miss "How to Defend a Title III ADA Accessibility Claim" on February 9.

Register by January 9 and save up to $300!

Industry Resources

Best Practices for Nightclub Establishments

The New York Nightlife Association has released the "Best Practices for Nightclub Establishments." It is an excellent resource containing tips on the following topics:

• Developing a Safe Nightlife Atmosphere
• Response to Serious Criminal Incidents
• Counterterrorism Best Practices

HospitalityLawyer.com Safety & Security Library

Visit the Safety & Security Library for articles on hotel safety, fire protection, hotel security, crisis management or disaster preparedness, mitigation and recovery, crisis communications management, insurance, violence in the workplace, the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA), the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) initiatives, and those requirements under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) that directly affect hotels and restaurants.

Fire Protection Management Tips

The U.S. Fire Administration publishes Coffee Break Training Bulletins, providing technical training and administrative tips. Below are links to the archived Bulletins:

• Fire Protection Series Archive
• Fire Investigation Archive

CPSC Recalls

• Dutailier Group Recalls Drop-Side Cribs Due to Entrapment and Fall Hazards

A Christmas Message from Ray Ellis

CHRISTMAS, 2011 - MAY THIS HOLY SEASON BRING YOU PEACE AND LOVE!

My wish for you in 2012 IS A TIME OF GOOD HEALTH, MUCH HAPPINESS AND REWARDING EVENTS AND EXPERIENCES. 

For those who are unaware,  I was 90 on 5/11 and moved into assisted living on 5/16. The new address is 7400 Clarewood Dr., Apt.  205, Houston, TX.  77036. Phone: 713-778-2123.

My health is not that “jim’dandy.”  And I will remain in Houston to be near my medical team and facilities.  My travel days are over at 4,790,000 air miles; through security almost 500 times; and my most flights in a year was 58.

Blessings and love,
Ray, Uncle Ray, Raymond, Uncle Raymond, Cousin Raymond, Unc’ and 90 year-old Patriarch

RAYCELLIS@GMAIL.COM