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Important to Business Travelers' Sense of Security |
August 21, 2002 - The results of a new online
survey show that while the majority of business travelers are concerned
about airline safety and theft, they feel that hotel design can improve
their security while staying in hotels.
The online Hospitality Security Survey, conducted by the Atlanta-based architectural firm of John Portman & Associates, gauged the opinions of business travelers on how design affects their feelings about hotel security. The survey was a follow up to the firm's 2001 survey conducted for women business travelers, which found that security was a high priority for women in selecting a hotel. "From this new survey we learned that architects can use design to help travelers feel even safer," said Ellis Katz, Vice President and Director of the Hospitality Studio at John Portman & Associates. Some examples noted in the survey include:
"Security-conscious travelers are willing to pay for added security features," said Katz. 42 percent of the respondents would be willing to pay five percent more for a hotel room that included new safety features; 38 percent of the respondents would be willing to see the room rate increase by 10 percent for these safety features. Personal security and convenience, rather than fear of a cataclysmic event such as a terrorist attack on a hotel, remain the primary concerns of both men and women travelers. Two thirds do not want to give up the convenience of a walk-in option at hotels for the security of a reservation-only policy. Respondents to both surveys consistently indicated a desire for tighter security in hotel public spaces, restricted or controlled access between floors and from room to room, and a notification call from room service before delivery. "Next year, John Portman & Associates will celebrate 50 years of experience in designing successful hotel projects all over the world," said Katz. "As we anticipate the evolving dynamics of the hospitality industry in the 21st century, we understand that good hotel design must incorporate good security design. Our goal is to make travelers feel as secure in hotel rooms as they do in their own homes." The Portman companies were established in Atlanta in 1953. John Portman & Associates serves as the flagship of the group, providing distinctive architectural, engineering and interior design services for projects worldwide, specializing in hospitality, mixed-use urban complexes, commercial and educational/institutional buildings. |
Cindy Holt John Portman & Associates +1-404-614-5040 http://www.portmanusa.com |