AHLA releases new employee safety device buyer’s guide, comparison matrix

WASHINGTON (Nov. 13, 2024) - The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) and its technology committee, Hospitality Technology Next Generation (HTNG), today released an updated buyer's guide and comparison matrix to help hoteliers assess the latest generation of personal safety devices for hotel staff.

HTNG and AHLA first released the Staff Alert Device Buyer's Guide in 2019 to help hoteliers identify and acquire technology to keep their staff members safe while on the job. This update, compiled by HTNG's Staff Alert Technology Workgroup, provides information on a range of personal safety devices, such as panic buttons, with the latest technology and features, including:

• Location accuracy so managers can track the location of their staff in the event of an emergency
• Enhanced communication options, such as via Wi-Fi, Zigbee, and other networking systems
• Modular designs that allow hotels to select only the features they need for their staff
• AI-driven systems that can learn on their own for more effective location and response actions

The HTNG Staff Alert Workgroup includes representation from over 90 global members from hospitality companies and technology vendors and is one of many HTNG workgroups that are comprised of AHLA members dedicated to solving industry challenges and advancing technology. This team maintains a Staff Alert Device Buyer's Guide and Solutions Comparison Matrix to help hoteliers understand the range of evolving staff-alert solutions and decide which products work best for their specific needs. Learn more about HTNG workgroups here.

The updated employee safety device guide and comparison matrix are the latest in a long line of hotel industry efforts to enhance employee and guest safety, including:

• The introduction of our Safe Stay initiative during COVID-19, which continues to support public health practices aimed at protecting hotel guests and staff
• AHLA's 5-Star Promise, a commitment made by AHLA members to enhance policies, training, and resources, including employee safety devices, that together are aimed at strengthening safety and security for hotel employees and guests
• The AHLA Foundation's No Room For Trafficking initiative, which supports trafficking-prevention training for hotel employees across the country. This initiative has led to more than 1.8 million training sessions since 2020 and more than $3.7 million in contributions to help survivors of human trafficking
• Continuous advocacy for a host of hotel-safety legislation, including:
  • The HOTEL Act, which encourages federal workers to stay at properties with anti-human trafficking training policies in place
  • The Human Trafficking Awareness Training Recognition Act, which requires the federal government to establish a certification program for businesses that train their employees to recognize and respond to suspected human trafficking

Additionally, AHLA's Safety & Security Committee, which includes a cross-section of America's top hotel-safety experts, helps keep hotel guests and employees safe by sharing the latest techniques and best practices with AHLA members.

"Hospitality starts with maintaining a safe and welcoming environment for hotel guests and employees, and through a variety of AHLA and AHLA Foundation safety initiatives, America's hotels are laser-focused on doing just that," said AHLA Interim President & CEO Kevin Carey. "Our latest employee safety device buyer's guide and comparison matrix are important resources that will help hoteliers across the nation decide which devices are best for them to ensure the safety of America's nearly two million dedicated hotel employees."

The Staff Alert Device Buyer's Guide and Solutions Comparison Matrix are available here.