Your reception area is the first line of defence against everything – visitors, guests and employees included. If a security breach is going to happen, the reception area is a hotspot for such violations. Safeguarding your premises has never been as important as in today’s risk-ridden world, which is why you must invest in reputable reception security.
With the expert help of All Time Security, learn about the common misconceptions about reception spaces, why you need reception security and much more, below.
Common Misconceptions About Reception Spaces
Perhaps because they’re high-traffic spaces often monitored by CCTV, hotels and offices are unfortunately lured into a false sense of security about their reception areas. As a result, reception security personnel are overlooked and considered an unnecessary investment. After all, if your reception is a low-risk zone, how could they help? But, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Any reception space is certainly the first line of defence against unauthorised individuals, but also the protection of assets. Your reception desk may house classified documents, cash from guests, and even employees’ personal belongings. Adequate security is a must to keep these important items in safe hands.
Additionally, many hotels and offices have a major misconception that reception security is actually limited in what they can do to protect the property. Of course, reception security is a niche, but we at All Time Security have a wide range of skills that we lend to the reception areas under our protection throughout the UK. This service doesn’t only involve a physical barrier – like a metal detector at the door – or the presence of suited-up personnel. From CCTV monitoring to security patrol and access control, we’re constantly on the lookout for threats to your business operations. The scope of what we’re able to do for you is therefore comprehensive, and not at all limited.
Rest assured, reception security is more imperative to the safety of your hotel or business office than you might think.
The Unique Security Needs of Hotels and Offices
Hotels and offices are very unique spaces in the commercial world – even if they are remarkably common across the UK! As such, they have unique security needs.
Hotels cater to such a wide demographic of guests and employees that their reception areas are a constant hub of comings and goings. They have a great responsibility to constantly monitor these guests and other miscellaneous visitors, whilst maintaining order in the reception area. Guest safety and privacy are of paramount concern.
The security needs of office spaces are also distinct: employees, visitors and tradesmen are a daily occurrence, although (unlike hotels) their presence is often regular and unremarkable. Yet, this regularity lures businesses into a false comfort. Because office spaces are considered to be low-risk and secure, this is ironically often the reason that they’re not – security threats go unnoticed and regrettably enabled.
For both hotels and offices, they are unique in that they cater to diverse visitors with bespoke needs and expectations. Hiring reception security therefore has multiple benefits. Not only do you have personnel on-site that can aid in the day-to-day running of your business, but you’re also able to prevent unauthorised access to your property, manage potential threats, generate a welcoming and professional atmosphere, and have a fallback in case of emergency response and crisis management.
At All Time Security, our reception security personnel are well-trained to manage and diffuse urgent situations. Emergencies like injury, violence, theft or vandalism can be immediately handled with effective visitor management protocols, a clear risk assessment and a thought-out response plan – features that can only be carried out by a security expert.
When Reception Security is Crucial
As recently as 2022, over 4,500 allegations of violence and over 1,300 of public disorder occurred in hotels, motels and guesthouses. Corporate crime is also more common than most realise in office spaces, to the extent that the UK has implemented a new Crime and Corporate Transparency Act, though this is more related to theft. Violence and theft are both concerns that mar hotel and office spaces, particularly those without reliable reception security keep a close watch on their daily operations.
Reception security plays a crucial role in deterring undesirable, threatening behaviour in these busy spaces. Often, the presence of one or two personnel is enough to keep public disorder at bay and enhance your professional reputation. For hotels, 82% of guests would feel reassured in an accommodation accredited for security and safety. This reassurance holds great weight when considering customer loyalty and the smooth running of your business.
Plus, as we’ve hinted at before if unruly visitors or offenders debate entering your hotel or office to cause trouble or steal, they’ll think twice with a security guard at the front door. In general, it is due diligence to implement security measures – however unnecessary they may seem to your operations at first – for any environment in close contact with the general public, and also with employees.
A reception security guard can always help you out more than you’d think. They’re an undoubtedly crucial force to be reckoned with!
Explore Your Options With All Time Security
If your hotel or business office has carried on without facing a security threat to date, you might be hesitant to make any changes to your security policies. But, we highly recommend evaluating and improving your current security measures regardless – the future is always in flux, and more security challenges are occurring and evolving every day.
Rather than be caught up in the tide of new security threats and being unable to handle them with inappropriate response plans, stay ahead of the curve with All Time Security. We’re ready to offer companies throughout the UK further resources and assistance in developing their effective reception security strategies with our professional help.
