Hotel's security
Hotel's security
Starting in the late 19th century, the Savoy Homann Hotel in
Bandung has been host to kings, princes and dignitaries from
around the world. It has been considered a four star hotel and
even received ISO 9002 accreditation. Lately, however, perhaps
because of changes in ownership and management, or because of the
monetary crisis, the quality has slipped away. The hotel
amenities are almost invisible. The gift shop cum drugstore is a
cupboard in the aging "business center office" which charges
outrageous prices for the uncomfortable use of their antiquated
computer and business machine.
Granted, the kitchen is still staffed by good cooks and caring
hopeful staff who serve a tasty although limited selection of
eastern and western food. On the same level, actually only a few
feet away, there is a rat-infested garden with a fishpond and a
few birdcages with beautiful birds. The sight of rats dashing
about from burrow to burrow while snatching spilled bird food is
unnerving.
Getting back to one's room, one finds that there are major
deficiencies. The realization that those strange pellets in the
bathroom are most likely rat droppings is astonishing. It quickly
becomes obvious that the cleaning staff are not well-trained,
forgetting to replenish the many little things in one's room. One
day there is no shampoo, for several days there are no bags for
laundry, at other times the complimentary tea or coffee is
missing and the bottled water supply is always short. These
things are annoying and not worthy of a renowned hotel.
Unfortunately there is also evidence of systematic
criminality. By this I mean that the management actively
participates in illegal behavior. The showing of pirated movies
on one of the hotel's channels (5) is an indication of this.
For real criminal activities, we have to again look to the
staff. Small things are generally safe in your room but it is my
personal experience that a large expensive item, like a lap-top
computer, is not safe even for short times. If not locked up for
every minute that you are not in your room, it vanishes with no
trace. Don't expect to recover any valuables and don't even try a
police investigation. The hotel will first search your room to
see that you are not the thief, and then when you insist on a
police report, they take you to the station to give your name and
address, and you get a piece of paper stating that you lost the
computer on the street. Since my lap-top was stolen from my room
with no evidence of forced entry, I can only assume that the
hotel is somehow involved, particularly since their main
objective is to "keep it quiet" and not pursue the thief. Then,
when the question of compensation comes up, the hotel flatly
denies any responsibility and hides behind "its rules" that all
valuables be kept in the hotel safe.
Given that a computer is as important for doing business as
clothing, one should really keep one's luggage in the lock-up as
well. Obviously insider thieves can walk into your room at any
time and walk off with any of your belongings when you are away.
What then is the traveler paying for when he or she rents a room
in a hotel. The answer should be "security".
OLEH KUTOWY
Ottawa, Canada