Category Archives: Liability

Hospitality Industry Pool Risks: Florida Hotel Employees Hospitalized After Exposure To "Hazardous Chemicals"

Two Orlando hotel employees have been taken to the hospital after being exposed to pool cleaning chemicals that were incorrectly mixed.

Orange County Fire Rescue officials said two employees at the Vistana Villages Resort moved the chemical container to a safe area away from hotel guests on Saturday. But officials said the employees were injured in the process

Firefighters wore special hazardous material protective gear as they spent more than two hours cleaning up the chemicals.

No hotel guests were injured. Fire rescue resources were also sent to help the hospital to make sure the patients were properly decontaminated so they didn’t expose other patients.

Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/12/04/2531128/fla-hotel-workers-exposed-to-pool.html#ixzz1fatfwCeQ

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Filed under Guest Issues, Health, Injuries, Labor Issues, Liability, Maintenance, Management And Ownership, Pool And Spa, Risk Management

Hospitality Industry Privacy Risks: Mobile Phone Carriers Confirm That Mobile Devices "Integrate Tracking Software" That Reveals User's Location

“…AT&T, Sprint, HTC, and Samsung today confirmed that their mobile phones integrate a controversial piece of tracking software from a company called Carrier IQ..”

“…the software can be tweaked to gather more intrusive data about a user’s location, the software and applications on the device, which keys are being pressed and what applications are in use…”

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Both wireless carriers AT&T and Sprint insisted that the software is being used solely to improve wireless network performance while phone makers HTC and Samsung said they were integrating the software into their handsets only because their carrier customers were asking for it.

Meanwhile, several large carriers and handset makers, including Verizon, Research In Motion, and Nokia, distanced themselves from the software and insisted that reports about their devices integrating the tool are false.

The controversy began last week when independent security researcher Trevor Eckhart published a report disclosing how Carrier IQ’s software could be used by carriers and device makers to conduct surreptitious and highly intrusive tracking of Android and other smartphone users.

Eckhart described the software as a hard-to-detect and equally hard-to-remove rootkit that could be used by carriers and phone makers to collect almost any kind of data from a mobile phone without the user’s knowledge. Eckhart said his research showed that Carrier IQ’s software was often enabled to run by default on several mobile devices including those from Samsung, HTC, RIM, and others.

A lot of the information collected by Carrier IQ is designed to enable mobile operators and device vendors to quickly identify and address quality and service-related issues.

For more:  http://www.macworld.com/article/163982/2011/12/atandt_sprint_confirm_use_of_carrier_iq_tracking_software_on_mobile_phones.html

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Filed under Guest Issues, Liability, Management And Ownership, Privacy, Risk Management, Technology

Hospitality Industry Employee Risks: Washington DC Hotel Sued By Muslim Employee For Discrimination When He Was "Prohibited From Serving Israeli Delegation" (Video)

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The Mandarin Oriental Hotel in DC barred a Muslim employee from serving an Israeli delegation, CNN’s Barbara Starr reports.

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Filed under Guest Issues, Labor Issues, Liability, Management And Ownership, Risk Management, Training

Hospitality Industry Security Risks: New "High-Definition Surveillance Systems" Hold Promise Of Reducing "Theft-Related Losses And False Liability Claims"

“… high-definition surveillance system will also help the resort further eliminate costs by reducing theft-related losses in the resort’s restaurants and cafes and reduce the number and cost of false liability claims—which will cut insurance premiums over time. The security team can search and review footage much quicker, freeing them up for other important tasks…”

Avigilon, a leader in high-definition (HD) and megapixel video surveillance solutions, today announced that Bear Creek Mountain Resort and Conference Center in Berks County, Pennsylvania has deployed the Avigilon high-definition surveillance system to better protect its corporate assets and ensure the safety of its more than 315,000 annual guests. Bear Creek Mountain Resort replaced its analog-based surveillance system with the Avigilon high-definition surveillance solution for greater reliability, enhanced image quality, and the ability to more efficiently and quickly resolve incidents onsite.

Security personnel seamlessly manage the Avigilon high-definition surveillance system using the Avigilon Control Center network video management software (NVMS) with High-Definition Stream Management (HDSM) technology. The resort installed 42 Avigilon HD cameras ranging from 1 MP to 5 MP to monitor parking lots, the dock alley, the main pedestrian thoroughfare, equipment storage area, snow tubing hill, restaurants, hotel, and at the top and bottom of its chairlifts. Avigilon analog video encoders were installed to improve performance of the resort’s existing analog cameras. The system is monitored 24×7 and the resort stores 21 days of continuous surveillance video on an Avigilon Network Video Recorder (NVR.) The management team has remote access to the system as well.

For more:  http://www.securityinfowatch.com/bear-creek-mountain-resort-deploys-hd-surveillance-system

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Filed under Claims, Crime, Insurance, Liability, Maintenance, Management And Ownership, Risk Management, Technology

Hospitality Industry Security Risks: NBC Security Consultant Demonstrates How Criminals Can Use Hotel Staff To Break Into Hotel Rooms (Video)

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NBC Security Consultant shows how criminals can use hotel staff to break into a hotel room.

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Filed under Crime, Insurance, Labor Issues, Liability, Maintenance, Management And Ownership, Risk Management, Theft, Training

Hospitality Industry Pool Risks: 7-Year Old Boy Saved From Drowning At A "Crowded" Missouri Hotel Pool; Water Was "Cloudy" And Obscured Most Guests From Seeing Body Floating Near Bottom Of Pool

“…The water was a bit cloudy; he could make out a figure — pool artwork, he thought — that looked like it had six limbs. He didn’t realize it at the time, but what he saw was the near-drowning victim, laying on a black line on the pool’s bottom…”

“…The child’s father, who had been watching over two younger children, rushed over and started frantically administering CPR while Garry Pate made sure the boy’s head was turned to the side as fluids gushed forth from the boy…”

Justice was recently recognized by DeKalb County CEO Burrell Ellis, the Board of Commissioners and others for his bravery over the summer in getting the 7-year-old out of a hotel pool in Bridgeton, Missouri, near St. Louis. Justice has received medals, police patches, and commendations from DeKalb and Bridgeton.

When Justice arrived at the pool — crowded due to a birthday celebration — he found his brother Makenzie just dangling his feet in the water and his brother Maxwell sitting with his father, Garry Pate, who was in a lounge chair watching a nine-year-old cousin play in the three-feet area of the pool.

Justice got in the water and started practicing for a pool game when he saw “a big, grayish object” – a child slowly floating near the bottom of the pool.

Justice knew something was wrong. He came out of the water and went over to his father. Dad, there’s a boy on the bottom of the pool, Justice told him.

That’s a drawing or painting at the bottom, Garry Pate said. But before he could say another word, his son had left his side.

“Justice didn’t even look at me,” Garry Pate recalled. “He jumped in.”

Pushing off the wall with his legs to gain speed, Justice quickly swam down to the child. He grabbed him, pulled him up, swam to the surface and held the child up over the water.

“Call 911!” Garry Pate shouted. Nervously, a niece did, helped by other relatives in getting the right address to the dispatcher.

Justice got the child to the wall where his father was standing, and Garry Pate helped get the victim to the pool deck.

Some people on the pool deck stood frozen among the commotion.

The child’s father, who had been watching over two younger children, rushed over and started frantically administering CPR while Garry Pate made sure the boy’s head was turned to the side as fluids gushed forth from the boy.

For more:  http://stonemountain.patch.com/articles/a-hero-among-us-stone-mountain-12-year-old-saved-child-from-drowning

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Filed under Guest Issues, Health, Injuries, Liability, Maintenance, Pool And Spa, Risk Management

Hospitality Industry Fire Damage Risks: Texas Hotel Fire "Contained By Protective Water Sprinkler"

 “…a fire protection sprinkler is what prevented the fire from spreading and causing major fire damage.  A restoration company is currently at the hotel conducting clean up…”

Fire investigation determined the fire was unintentional and caused by food cooking in a microwave. 

A fire that could have turned out to be an inferno was kept contained by a protective water sprinkler after a fire broke out at an apartment on Sunday night.

Temple Fire & Rescue responded to a fire at the Candlewood Suites, 1850 Scott Boulevard.

Firefighters arrived at 7:36 p.m. and found smoke in the hallway on the second floor.  Upon making entry into one of the rooms, they located the fire which was quickly extinguished. The fire was under control by 8:10 p.m.

For more:  http://www.kxxv.com/story/16134214/water-sprinkler-prevents-major-fire-damage

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Filed under Fire, Insurance, Liability, Management And Ownership, Risk Management

Hospitality Industry Kitchen Risks: Restaurants Must Insure That Employees Understand "Kitchen Safety Procedures" (Video)

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Young Workers are the most vulnerable workers. They need to speak up more if they don’t understand safety procedures. Supervisors need to make sure they are working safely. This story takes place in a restaurant kitchen, and is a graphic example of the risks involved with young people not speaking up. It doesn’t hurt to speak up.

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Filed under Health, Injuries, Insurance, Labor Issues, Liability, Management And Ownership, Training

Hospitality Industry Information Security: Hotel Chain Computer System Hacked By Man Who Threatened To Reveal Confidential Information If He Was Not Hired For IT Position

“…an infected email attachment (was) sent to some Marriott employees to install malicious software on the company’s system that gave him a “backdoor” access to proprietary email and other files…”

“…Nemeth sent an email to Marriott staff on November 11 last year, informing them that he had been accessing Marriott’s computers for months and had obtained proprietary information… He threatened to reveal the information if Marriott did not give him a job maintaining the company’s computers…”

A Hungarian citizen has pleaded guilty to stealing confidential information from the computers of Marriott International, and threatening to reveal the information if the hotel chain did not offer him a job maintaining the company’s computers, the Department of Justice said.

Attila Nemeth, 26, pleaded guilty in a US court, according to a statement by DOJ. He was detained after he travelled to the states on a ticket purchased by Marriott for a fictitious job interview.

As he had not received a response from Marriott, Nemeth sent another mail on November 13 containing eight attachments, seven of which were documents stored on Marriott’s computers. The documents included financial documentation and other confidential and proprietary information, the DOJ said.

A US Secret Service agent, using the identity of a fictitious employee of Marriott, communicated with Nemeth on November 18, who continued to call and email the undercover agent demanding a job to prevent the public release of the documents, according to the plea agreement. Nemeth emailed a copy of his Hungarian passport as identification and offered to travel to America, according to the DOJ.

For more:  http://news.techworld.com/security/3320672/marriott-hotel-chain-hacked-by-disgruntled-job-seeker/

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Filed under Crime, Labor Issues, Liability, Maintenance, Management And Ownership, Privacy, Risk Management, Technology, Theft

Hospitality Industry Employee Risks: 61-Year Old California Hotel Housekeeper Arrested For Theft While Cleaning Guest Rooms

“…while she was cleaning she was seen taking a woman’s watch and hide it in the room… she was seen entering the room again and retrieve the watch, conceal it upon her person, and leave the room. It was then the trap was sprung and she was detained by security, who also took the watch back from her…”

“…officers arrested this 61-year-old cleaner from Los Angeles, and she was charged with burglary. Her bail was set at $50,000…”

On Friday, Nov. 11, at 12:55 p.m. officers of the Santa Monica Police Department went to the Fairmont Hotel, located at 101 Wilshire Boulevard, in order to investigate a report of a suspect who was being held at the hotel by their security chief in regard to some allegations of theft. When the officers arrived at the scene they spoke with the Director of Security who told them the detainee was an employee of the hotel.

He said there had been a number of thefts from the hotel rooms reported, and that the person, who was a cleaner at the Fairmont, had become the prime suspect. On the day prior to the officers being called the hotel, security had prepared a room with several items in order to make the room appear occupied by a guest. They had then placed a hidden camera inside the room.

For more:  http://www.smmirror.com/#mode=single&view=33538

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Filed under Crime, Guest Issues, Labor Issues, Liability, Management And Ownership, Risk Management, Theft