Hotels ready to combat terror?

In the aftermath of terror attacks in Mumbai, the security at city hotels has been called into question. The Indian Express takes a closer look .

In the aftermath of terror attacks in Mumbai, the security at city hotels has been called into question. The Indian Express takes a closer look .

Entrance: Until Wednesday, security personnel checked cars, but except taxis, vehicles would pass without being checked under the seat or inside the boot. Private cars would head straight to parking lots and left unattended. Drivers were never frisked or asked for any identity proof.

After the attacks, Hotel Hindustan International has increased the strength of its security personnel by nearly 30 per cent and installed more CCTVs in the porch, reception area and lobbies. 8220;Cameras are taking photographs of every vehicle and guest,8221; said a hotel official.

Check-in: Indian guests are asked only for their visiting cards and not for identity proofs. Hotel employees usually have prior information about corporate guests, but in case of walk-in guests, they are more interested in taking down their credit card details.

In case of foreign guests, all details are sent to the Foreigners Regional Registration Office regularly. But sometimes several details are missing, for which, hotel managers are pulled up. 8220;It is very difficult to identify forged passports or fake visa stamps,8221; said an employee of the Taj Bengal.

Luggage: Till Wednesday, baggage of the guests at Oberoi, Taj and Hyatt was not checked. None of the hotels used metal detectors and scanners. Moreover, guests leave their baggage at luggage rooms of hotel for days, which again are not scanned. 8220;We need to install more CCTVs and scanners,8221; said president of the Hotels and Restaurants Association of Eastern India. 8220;We have started using metal detectors and will introduce baggage scanners,8221; said an Oberoi Grand official.

Security personnel: Majority of security guards do not carry weapons, and even if they do, the number is restricted to one or two for a hotel with 300 to 350 rooms. According to Oberoi Hotel8217;s chairman PRS Oberoi, it is difficult to obtain gun permits from the government.