Resorts are a popular destination for families as well as organizations, and Florida is still the top travel destination in the world. Last year, we attracted nearly 95 million tourists to our state. It was a record year, and our resorts were bursting at the seams.
Much of the traffic is made up of families and groups of friends here on vacation or for the holidays. In the non-holiday seasons, hotels and resorts in the area host many weddings, events, and conventions. In Central Florida, convention season runs twice a year starting in November and in January. We know all of these seasons well because of the increased need for security guards during these times.
Security Guards for Resorts: Service Meets Safety
Resorts are commercial facilities open to the public. Hotel management and owners are tasked with protecting their business as well as ensuring the safety of their guests. Security guards must also provide visitors with directions or answers to questions. For this reason, security guards placed at resorts must be trained in customer service as well as security.
People are especially security-conscious when they are traveling. From a service standpoint, the presence of security guards is visually comforting to guests. They are authority figures that ensure safe passage to their rooms and prevent unauthorized access. Security guards can provide concierge services and be posted at various locations around a resort:
- Parking lot management – to sign in guests and protect guest vehicles
- Front desk concierge area – to direct guests to rooms, stores, and services
- Security patrol – to monitor the property on foot or in vehicles
- Front door sentry – to validate guest entry and be a comforting presence
Professionally trained security guards provide more than just safety; they become part of the image of a quality resort.
Servicing International Guests
Resorts attract international guests. Security guards, as part of the hospitality staff, need to be adequately trained in dealing with intercultural differences. This kind of training ensures that communication with guests is as smooth as possible, without inadvertently offending travelers from different parts of the world. After all, recreation and relaxation are important expectations of all resort guests regardless of their nationality.
The basic duty of resort security guards may be to ensure safety and security but never at the cost of basic courtesy to guests and visitors. They are not, however, there to make friends because this can compromise security. It is essential that resort security guards are able to maintain the balance between ensuring safety and being courteous to guests.
For Further Questions
If you are a resort owner or manager, your best option for placing competent and efficient security guards at your resort is to consult with a security guard agency that is familiar with international tourism. If you have any questions, call Apex Security at 407-846-1435 for resorts in Orlando, Kissimmee, Ocala, and surrounding areas in Central Florida.