Site Map - Hospitality/Lodging

07/20/2009 - Two details during the run-up to the twin and nearly simultaneous suicide bombings that struck the J.W. Marriott and Ritz-Carlton hotels on Friday in Jakarta give indications of how the attack proved successful, according to Time magazine.

06/29/2009 - A real estate bust has led to increased squatting in the United Kingdom, but the private sector is offering innovative solutions.

03/26/2009 - The new video monitoring system at DePaul University helps security officials keep residence halls safe.

03/26/2009 - The recent terrorist attacks on hotels in Mumbai were just the latest reminders of how challenging—but critical—it is for hotels to find ways to detect, deter, and respond to terrorist threats while remaining open and welcoming public venues.

01/28/2009 - Representatives from the real estate industry's top executive organization discussed the lessons of the Mumbai terrorist attack and their industry's best practices today before lawmakers.

04/28/2008 - When homeowners faced frustration due to unauthorized parking in a private lot, officials found a Web-based reservation system to help control access.

03/27/2008 - Houses of worship aren’t immune to crime and violence, but there are security resources (here and here) out there to keep worshippers looking above rather than around.

11/27/2007 - Police in New Orleans and Orlando have created special units dedicated to protecting tourists. Officers are trained to be sociable with tourists, and the units are allied with tourism associations and organizations, according to a new problem-oriented-policing guide on tourist crime developed by the U.S. Department of Justice. Hotels and other sectors of the tourism industry in those cities are strongly encouraged to perform background checks on employees, and police urge that these staff members be heavily punished if found guilty of crime against tourists. Other jurisdictions make it easier for victimized tourists to testify against criminals; Hawaii, for example, has enacted a statute allowing victims to testify from their homes via teleconferencing. Various other measures are in use around the United States, such as creating business-improvement districts in downtown areas, and encouraging hotels to adopt practices to reduce guest victimization, including requiring guests to show identification before entering the building. Disney World uses crime prevention through environmental design techniques to protect visitors. "Virtually every pool, fountain, and flower garden serves both as a visual attraction and a means to direct visitors away from, or toward, particular locations," the guide says. The document is on SM Online.

11/13/2007 - The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), in conjunction with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), has issued guidelines for employers in the food service industry. The guidelines discuss the basic rights of employees in this job sector and offer examples for business owners in how they should handle disabled employees.

11/07/2007 - A federal appeals court has ruled that an off-duty crew member of a cruise line was acting within his scope of employment when he raped a passenger who had gone ashore. The court also determined that the cruise line,as a common carrier, is liable for crew member assaults on passengers. (Jane Doe v. Celebrity Cruises, Inc., U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, No. 03-15321, 2004)

11/07/2007 -

10/29/2007 - The University of Florida has developed a scoring system that has led to fire-safety improvements in Greek fraternity and sorority housing.

09/21/2007 - Insurers will give better rates to hospitality industry properties that incorporate safety and security policies.