(Please feel free to move this post to another section if you feel it is more appropriate there.)
I am thinking about opening up a hostel in Philadelphia, but I am just a little concerned about running an all-hours business in a city that has had and does still have some crime issues.
It's not that the city is unsafe or anything. I love living here. It's just that the streets feel less safe at night than streets in many of the major European cities I've hostelled in. Also, bars and clubs almost all close at 2am here, so there are generally less people out and about during the early morning hours.
I was wondering if there are any hostel owners out there from other major US cities who could offer me some advice on hostel security. I've read a lot of great things on this forum about preventing theft and other "internal" crimes, but not too much on what kind of security measures are taken to secure the building from unwanted outside visitors.
Of course I welcome the opinions of people working in non-US city hostels as well. I just suggested American cities at first because we (unfortunately) seem to have a bigger crime rate here.
Thanks for any help you might be able to give!
16 years
I've worked at a few city hostels in the USA. Some ideas:
16 years
Hi,
I have a hostel in North Qld, Australia.
We have just done a major over haul on our camera system. We now have 25 camera's throughout the hostel. They monitor car parks, entrances, fences, pools, tv rooms, internet cafes, bars, stairways and hallways etc. Locals now know that we have the camera's installed, and we hand footage to the police if we have any intruders. And if there are internal problems we can generally find the culprit (eg. stealing food, leaving a mess, throwing up etc.)
If you can afford it, install a swipe card entry system. We currently use a master key system but we now have racked up 100's of missing keys. Which is making our hostel less secure. We are either going to have to re-key the whole site shortly (35 rooms, 125 beds) or invest a bit more in the swipe card system.
We also have a staffer who lives onsite and pleasures in patrolling the grounds with his mag lite in hand, this in itself is a huge security bonus.
16 years
I am sorry, but I am appalled; spy cameras in hostels, what is the world coming to?
16 years
I am sorry, but I am appalled; spy cameras in hostels, what is the world coming to?
I have to agree. Since I'm thinking about a smaller to mid-size hostel I'd rather go cameraless (plus that's one less cost to worry about). However, a card entry system seems like a necessity. I'll be sure to remember that.
I just have to figure out the logistics of having a bar/cafe on the first floor and whether or not that will be open to outside guests, and then how to make the rooms secure if it is open to the public.
16 years
i think cameras are essential in certain areas - notably the entrace, storage areas, any other high traffic areas and for office/reception area - whereever you store the REALLY valuable stuff.
but then, i guess it depends on the location and nature of the hostel. im far used to working in bigger hostels and i wouldt go without them.
oh yeah, swipe cards are definately the way of the futiure.
16 years
Just having a visible camera is a deterant. It doesn't even have to be plugged into anything.
15 years
Are you aware there is a new hostel there now? Apple Hostels took over for the old operator and they are doing a kick ass job. Really high ratings.
Before you think of opening there, you might want to find out if the market is large enough for both of them.
15 years
Also, i agree with cameras - but they should be VERY visible. And, in some US cities it is required to have signs saying people are being filmed. Hidden cameras are illegal some places.
The point of security is for it to be a deterrent to problems starting. So if the cameras are visible, people may think twice.
15 years
Hi!
I need some help and I can see that you guys have been talking about this.
We have visible cameras and we tell anyone that comes in about it.
Yesterday, someone came in, paid for 2 nights, left his clothes and left "for a couple of hours". He carried a small backpack.
At 9 pm his room mate told us, his laptop and camera were missing. We have no idea of how he managed to open the lock, he seemed a regular tourist, I´m really concerned.
What can I do about this? Is this something to be expected? I´m really down today coz I wasn´t expecting this...
did this ever happen to you?
15 years
At 9 pm his room mate told us, his laptop and camera were missing. We have no idea of how he managed to open the lock...
What kind of locks are they? (on a locker?)
Is the roommate sure he locked his stuff up?
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