A jury’s decision to award sportscaster Erin Andrews $55 million as a result of a hotel’s failure to reasonably safeguard her privacy, safety and security is a forceful and important reminder to hotel owners and operators: A guest’s privacy and safety are paramount. Certainly this jury saw it that way, and other juries might reach … Continue Reading
The Equal Rights Center based in Washington, D.C. has recently published a short and helpful booklet for users of service animals and other types of assistive animals. It is a “users” guide for persons seeking accommodations for their service animals, including advocacy tips and resources for reporting violations. The hospitality industry is often at the … Continue Reading
The traveler today, whether a business traveler or leisure traveler, is mindful of fitness and food. Eating well and working out while on the road is an ever present challenge for many travelers, including most of our readers of HospitalityLawCheckIn. In our work on behalf of operators and owners we cannot avoid being influenced by … Continue Reading
Hi-tech key cards, hidden cameras, metal detectors, secure and limited entrance and elevator access, and even the simplicity of the vigilance of employees and guests are many of the best practices employed at hotels today to protect its employees, guests and customers. When travelling internationally, one can pretty easily spot signs of “perimeter security.” Perimeter … Continue Reading
So you check-in, hand over your credit card…and then what? As our reliance on computers and electronic data grows, hotel managers and operators have access to your credit card and other personal data. There are obviously great benefits to all this technology. Almost instantly a hotel manager or operator can pull up your preferences, stay … Continue Reading
Whether the hotel is located within the United States or outside of the country, the security of hotel guests and employees is top of mind for all hotel brands and managers. Historically, certain events, such as the murder of Nan Todler in 2003 in her own hotel room by hotel manager Christopher Richee, have resulted … Continue Reading
Today, it seems that we are always being recorded, filmed or otherwise monitored by some device. While there are practical limits and legal restraints, a question often lingers — How safe is safe enough? Hotel owners and managers struggle with balancing the need for guest security with guest privacy. In its basic form, security involves … Continue Reading
We have all seen it and experienced it – we want to keep in shape while on the road, so we go to the hotel gym – the little room in the corner with a treadmill and a TV and maybe, if we’re lucky, a water cooler. The hotel gym could be so much more. … Continue Reading
Typically when one thinks of a luxury hotel brand – one envisions lovely six fixture bathrooms, expansive lobbies, first class linens, and excellent customer service. Beyond the offerings at the spa and low fat offerings on the menu – health, fitness and lifestyle do not come into the equation. All that is changing, as JW … Continue Reading
Litigation against hotel owners due to bed bug infestation is running rampant. The best way to take a bite out of a bed bug claim, may just be to bite back with a good strategic defense plan before the problem arises. Let’s face it – there is a huge “ooogh” factor when it comes to … Continue Reading
