Catastrophes including World Trade Centre targeting, Bali bombings of 12 Oct 2002, the London public transport bombings of 7 July 2005 and the Marriott Jakarta bombing of 17 July 2009 have heightened the awareness of terrorism and the need for preparatory measures to prevent terrorism.
InterContinetal Hotels Group has developed three levels of response to terrorist threat. Each level has a set of procedures that should be followed to ensure that we minimise the risk of a terrorist attack in our hotel. The three levels are Green, Amber and Red. The following factors influence the threat level:
Brand - Profile
Location
Clientele
Specific Intelligence
Level Green is the level we are at in normal conditions. This is when no specific threat has been made against your Country, City or Hotel. However, at Level Green we still ask
that you are vigilant and report any suspicious activity. The Green phase is largely a preparatory phase requiring the planning and development of procedures to respond to incidents. Procedures to be implemented include:
Security Patrols
Bomb threat response
Evacuation
Periodic testing of fire systems
In addition, the Green phase should be used to perform training including emergency response teams; general staff awareness; and evacuation.
Level Amber is when there has been a generic threat to your Country. The security measures dramatically increase, albeit discreetly and not necessarily visible to Guests. Transitioning to Amber will mean that the Green level measures have been completed/ installed and the following additional measures are to be employed:
‘Out of hours’ security procedures
Developing a procedure for installing and inspecting ‘Security Seals’ to inspection hatches, service cupboards and ground floor fire exits. The seals will provide a means of detecting access.
Increasing security patrols
Postal search procedures
Level Red, is when there has been a credible and specific threat to the City or Hotel. The Red level is the highest state of preparedness and operational procedures include:
Increasing frequency of security patrols
Preparing guest occupancy lists
Limiting access to and egress from the hotel
Implementing security valet parking
Evacuation and Crisis Response Team drills
Security Valet Parking
The process of security valet parking entails all vehicles undergoing screening and staff valet parking vehicles. A restricted cordone will be established in order to perform screening including:
The valet will advise the guest of the procedure.
Hotel staff will remove guest luggage from the vehicle and thereafter the valet will take possession of the vehicle keys.
The valet will inspect the inside of the vehicle including the boot.
The underside of the vehicle will be inspected using a mirror and torch.
The vehicle will be parked in the secure parking lot.
The valet ticket should denote the time the vehicle was parked, the registration number, parking bay number and valet name.
The vehicle keys should be secured
If the hotel threat level is increased to a Red+ level, the hotel should not provide onsite parking facilities.
IHG employs a group of consultants who analyse the risk of terrorist activity globally to determine if a country is Green, Amber or Red based on intelligence from government agencies and internal analysis. IHG use this information to determine the risk of travel to foreign countries for our employees
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