Say Goodbye To 'Do Not Disturb' Signs?

JH
John Honovich
Jan 04, 2018
IPVM

This was suggested by many in the discussion about Las Vegas Shootings: How Does One Secure Against Such A Risk At An Event?

Now, the Hilton, 4 Disney Orlando Hotels and Wynn are restricting the use of 'Do Not Disturb' signs to short periods:

Hilton is now changing its policy to stipulate team members should inform active security or duty managers if a Do Not Disturb sign or light has been in place at a guestroom door for longer than 24 consecutive hours.

Wynn Resorts is also not taking any chances. The company now has employees investigate any Do Not Disturb signs in place for more than 12 consecutive hours.

This is a fairly straightforward display of the tradeoff between security and convenience. Do you care? Will this help?

Avatar
Mark Jones
Jan 04, 2018

Excellent idea. I would think some amount of training, however small, goes along with it. Nothing beats the human eye and good judgment.

U
Undisclosed #1
Jan 04, 2018
IPVMU Certified

This is a fairly straightforward display of the tradeoff between security and convenience.

This is a CYA over-reaction to a specific situation that is unlikely to prevent a similar occurrence in the future.

Although it’s true that a forced room inspection room on the day of the shooting may have alerted staff to suspicious activity, anybody planning an attack in the future would effortlessly take the policy into account.

The shooter didn’t need to bring twenty-three firearms into his room for this to occur.  He did because it because he could do it; one or two fully automatics would have done the job just as well.  

The shooter also didn’t need 48 hours to setup the shoot, 12 hours would be more than sufficient, if he knew such an inspection was imminent.

 

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(1)
Avatar
Brian Karas
Jan 04, 2018
IPVM

Not to mention he could have most likely opened the door and said "Everything is find, I don't need new towels, just chillin' in here."

I do not think hotels are going to want to resort to forced rooms inspections, that would likely have a lot of negative push back from guests.

Personally, if I am in a hotel room for 3 days or less I generally leave the DND sign up. I do not need anything for such a short stay, and would prefer to just have the room left alone. I think that is fairly common.

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U
Undisclosed #3
Jan 04, 2018

"This is a CYA over-reaction to a specific situation that is unlikely to prevent a similar occurrence in the future."

Exactly right.

A 'tradeoff' between security and convenience indicates that an increase in security will be the result from a decrease in 'convenience' - when as you note - there is no actual increase in security at all. 

As a Diamond member of Hilton's loyalty program, I can attest that they have been already doing this for more than a month.  Or maybe it's just that I look shifty.

I am regularly in Hilton properties for 3-4 nights at a time - and I have always hung my DND sign on the door as soon as I check in and remove it when I check out.

I just don't like hotel employees touching my stuff if I'm living there for a few days.

In my last 2 similar stays over the last 2 months, not only have the maids come into the room to make sure I don't have an Abrams tank parked next to the ironing board in the closet, but they also clean up and move around my stuff, make the bed and give me new towels.  Just like the sign aint there.

You want to come in every 12 hours and check for crates of C4 and hand grenades?  fine.

just leave my stuff alone if I hang the sign.

In my opinion, this has nothing to do with 'convenience' at all... they are just using that word to avoid using the word privacy.

how am I inconvenienced by a maid walking into my hotel room when I'm not there during the day?

 

 

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UM
Undisclosed Manufacturer #2
Jan 04, 2018

This is nothing more than legal posturing.  You can easily fit two AR15s and thousands of rounds of ammo in a carry-on suitcase.  Is housekeeping going to start digging through my bags?

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JH
John Honovich
Jan 17, 2018
IPVM

New article: Why Hotel 'Do Not Disturb' Signs Are Disappearing:

So what rights do travelers enjoy when they bar entry to a room with that flimsy DND sign? Put simply, almost none; those doorhangers are legally meaningless, hospitality lawyer Chris Johnston explains. Per the fourth amendment, guests can bar governmental agents from entering, as in their own home, but such restrictions don't extend to hotel staffers. “Part of every agreement to rent a room at a hotel is a waiver allowing hotel staff and employees to enter the room for a whole list of reasons, to check on the welfare of the guest or the maintenance of important mechanisms like A.C.,” he says. “The DND sign has no value between the guest and the hotel, unless the contract they sign states as such.”

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