A hotel security officer is responsible not only for the safety of hotel guests, but also for the safety of the hotel, its employees, and its property. A security officer in some large hotels monitors the hotel’s various areas using a system of cameras and video monitors. The security officer also patrols banquet and meeting rooms and responds to any type of disturbance, such as a fire or an unauthorized guest, as well as medical emergencies. The security officer also responds to complaints from guests about noise disturbances and issues with other hotel guests.
As a security force, many hotels employ off-duty or former police officers. Theft, disorder, and other disturbances within the hotel and its parking areas are dealt with by these officers. A hotel security officer’s responsibilities may include escorting the hotel payroll and making bank deposits. Other tasks, such as removing unauthorized individuals from the hotel’s entrance and parking lots, are completed to prevent panhandlers from harassing hotel guests. The security officer is usually responsible for keeping an eye on the various stores and shops located within the hotel.
Some of the world’s largest hotels have guest lists that are as large as or larger than the population of some small towns. Many of the same situations and emergencies occur in these hotels as they would in a comparable-sized city, and it is the hotel security officer who responds to rectify the situation. Because of the sheer size and scope of many of the largest hotels, the security force uses a closed-circuit television monitoring system to keep track of most security situations. The security team is usually very quick in responding to most issues due to the use of the monitoring system and calls from guests relayed by the front desk.
When an offender is detained inside a hotel, the hotel security officer is usually required to take custody of the offender. When the authorities arrive, the hotel security will usually provide a written statement of the actions that led to the detention, as well as hand over custody of the detainee to the authorities for arrest. The hotel security officer will then draft a written statement that fully describes the incident. This report is typically kept in the hotel’s records and files for as long as the hotel board deems necessary.