European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 15, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Travel tips the practical traveler chains increasing improving hotel Security by Betsy Wade the new York times hotel detectives have emerged from behind the lobby Palm. In fact Security staff members Are virtually on display these Days As advertisements for hotels. In a few years the hotel Motel Industry has reversed itself from shunning the topic of Protection against crime lest it cause guests to worry to talking about safety openly. Security is a big Issue in the Industry said Lisa garb spokeswoman for Howard Johnson  it s not the top priority in guest surveys it s the  once the Issue received Public attention after a widely publicize i settlement in a Motel rape in Texas in 1991 and an increase in crime against tourists in Florida and elsewhere no hotel could afford to fall behind. One Strong indication is the Rise in door Locking systems that use plastic cards mechanical or electronic. Electronic door locks which Cost about $250 each installed Are opened with cards with magnetic strips and Are reprogrammed automatically when a guest checks out the no electronic key cards do not change combinations automatically but can be reprogrammed if a guest fails to return a key. Because these cards do not have room numbers on them they Are useless to anyone who Findson. Thorn Davis an operations consultant to the american hotel and Motel association says the major Security advantage of electronic key cards is that a lot of places Don t have Good key control and the automatic reprogramming feature eliminates employee neglect failure to change a Tumbler lock after a key is lost for example v. As a Security risk. Davis a former police officer who is a partner in hospitality risk controls in Dublin Ohio says that locks  one part of Security. He said his 1,500 clients nationwide included Motel chains with effective Security that still used Metal  g. Marshall Dean of the school of hospitality management at Florida International a University in Miami said virtually All Motel and hotel chains had set deadlines magic no Arnold did t blow up the Bridge yes it s Safe a travel to Florida keys by Donna Miskin new Day the scene in the movie True lies where a Long Span of Bridge Over the Florida keys explodes As a terrorist Convoy crosses it and Arnold Schwarzenegger hanging from a helicopter must Rescue Jamie Lee Curtis through the Sunroof of a limousine before it plunges into the deep was so realistic that keys tourism officials Are a bit worried. So they want you to know that seven mile Bridge built in 1982 to connect Marathon key to Little Duck key the longest Bridge in the keys is still standing and carrying traffic Back and Forth on . 1, which connects the Island Chain. The actual filming of the scene took place on the old seven mile Bridge. Closed to traffic the old Bridge has a Gap in the Middle which is where the Limo went sailing into the sea a spokesman said. What exploded was a miniature 80-foot Bridge that set designers created off a Beach in Sugarloaf key. J. Charmed by the Romance of four weddings and a funeral you la have to write your own script but you can Book a room at the Crown hotel in England s Amersham Countryside the scene of the first wedding where Hugh Grant meets Andie Macdowell. The 2,3-room inn features an elizabethan Interior with Inglenook fireplaces Oak beamed ceilings four poster Beds and 16th-Century paintings. Rates begin at $112 per room per night including an English breakfast. For for their properties to switch to card Locking systems. On aug. 17, according to Mercedes a. Mcdonnell a spokeswoman for Choice hotels the participating motels of four chains in this group set a deadline of oct. 1, 1996, for conversion to electronic locks these Are the Quality Comfort Clarion and sleep inns. Sleep inns an Economy Brand begun in 1988, describes itself As the first Chain that started out with state of the Art door Security these motels now numbering Over 100, use the guest s credit card As the room key. But the company making this technology Mcdonnell said is not doing As Well As others in the Field and sleep inn owners Are being Given the option of changing to their own electronic keys. Holiday inns has set Jan. 1,1996, As a worldwide deadline for its properties to install reprogrammable card keys. According to a spokeswoman All hotels joining the Chain must now have such a system. Howard Johnson s deadline for franchise holders to install electronic locks is Jan. 1,1996, according to garb. Two other chains in the same group hospitality Francise systems inc., have set deadlines ramada inns in the United states for Jan. 1,1996 the pays inns for Jan. 1, 1997. This group s super 8 Chain still uses Metal keys but management is discussing a change she said. Budgeted inns according to Steve Marcus the chairman had shifted its company owned properties now numbering 80, to electronic locks by the end of 1993 the end of 1994 is the deadline for its 22 franchise operators which he said were nearly All converted. Sheraton s deadline was August 1993, and All 2 72 properties in North America met it a couple of the 124 overseas properties were granted extensions according to Lisa Dickason a  to the Chain s Security chief Richard Hudak 60 percent to 70 percent of Sheraton have electronic keys the rest have mechanically reprogrammable ones. All Domestic Marriott hotels. Courtyards by Marriott and Fairfield inns have new Locking systems according to Chad Callaghan Marriott s senior director for loss prevention. Residence inns another Marriott Brand still use Metal keys but Callaghan said each unit was Small enough to maintain tight key control. Kris Krause director of Industry evaluation for the american automobile association said the membership of 36 million began telling the organization in 1991 that it expected deadbolts in addition to regular latches on hotel room doors. The aaa responded in 1993 by raising its minimum standards for being listed in the 23 regional tour guides. A requirement was added that room doors and connecting doors have deadbolts 1 to 1 i inches Long and that room doors also have chains and peepholes. The deadline was set for the inspections on which the 1995 guides would be based. The inspections willbe finished in october and by mid August Krause said,7,000 of 22,000 were Complete. She said 447 lodging places had been told they were out of the Book because of the Security requirement a rate of 6 percent. Most of the hotels recognized that these requirements were Long overdue Krause said. The ones that did not were in Remote places Independent motels that could not afford to get them installed or places that conceived that they had no crime  hotel Security experts Point to another reason that safety discussions have become so audible in a time of prevalent crime hotels want guests to be Alert to safety issues.  there is no Point in having a peephole if a guest does not use it before opening the door Davis Saio Don t flaunt jewelry Marshall said. Don t leave the Motel door open while fetching your Luggage Krause said. Five Quick pointers to help family travel by Kathleen Nelson St. Louis Post dispatch the five keys to family travel according to visa plan ahead. Know the ropes. Budget but Don t sweat it. Don t overdo it. Celebrate the memory. Visa s Booklet by the same name offers details on All the above. A lot of it is common sense but it does t Hurt to hear it Over and Over before during and after a family vacation. For a copy Arnold Schwarzenegger As Harry to Ascer in True lies. More information Call 1-800-225-5843. A Telephone card is needed to Access 800 numbers in the states and you will be charged a fee for the Call then there s the grand hotel Corvinus Kempinski in Budapest Hungary where newlyweds Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley Jackson stayed for a week recently while he was shooting a video there. A room goes for about $176 a night. Renting the entire ninth floor As the gloved one did two presidential suites seven regular suites and seven double rooms will set you Back about $9,735 per night not including breakfast which is an additional $19 p r person. For information Call 36 1/266-1000, roundabout write to visa Check card . Box 8999, san Francisco 94128-8999, attention m1-11m. Budget Europe travel service has published a 48-Page european planning and rail guide. The 32-Page Booklet is packed with rail maps and suggestions for Scenic train and boat rides. There s information on major tourist attractions and off the beaten track villages tip on packing using electrical appliances abroad changing Money and getting passports. The guide is available by sending three first class postage Stamps or $1 to bets 94 planning guide 2557 made court Ann Arbor Mich. 48105-1304 distributed by sort put Howard new a Rvl september 15, 1994 stripes Magazine 25