Lock, camera selections impact a hotel's overall design

Hotel & Motel Management, April 19, 2004 by Christine Blank

While electronic locks and security cameras are necessary security elements, they also can fit well into a hotel's decor. Finding a locking and security system that stays true to the original design of the hotel is important, particularly when updating a historic property.

Fortunately, electronic locks are available in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors, and are often custom designed for a property to match its decor.

Benny Stephens, v.p. of design and construction for US Franchise Systems, said designers should consider all the finishes in the guestroom when selecting a new lock.

"There are many different lock finishes and colors that allow a wider range of coordinated room finishes," Stephens said. "Some locks may be available with logos and other designs."

Electronic locks also are available in more shapes and sizes than before. Some are designed to sit flat on the door, rather than the traditional rectangle box on the outside of the door. For example, in March, the Windsor Court Hotel, a luxury property in New Orleans with a style described as elegant and contemporary, upgraded from a traditional key system to new solid brass electronic locks that are flush in the doors.

"We have been very reluctant to put in most of the lock systems, which generally seem to be brass plated and look like a brick on the outside of the door, [which is] not conducive to our decor at all," said Clive O'Donoghue, assistant general manager of Windsor Court.

The new locks, made with brass, look elegant against the doors, O'Donoghue said.

When The Palace, a Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide-owned hotel in San Francisco built in 1875, needed to install new locks, executives wanted to retain the brass knobs and logo to preserve the history of the property.

"It's very challenging to keep your property's historic tone, while looking at technical modifications," said Michael Jawitz, director of safety and security at The Palace.

Jawitz said it's worth any extra money for custom locks, so a historic property can keep the character of a hotel.

While electronic locks can limit the variety of designs that manual locks feature, they don't have to detract from the attractiveness of the door, according to Sam Hardage, chairman of Woodfin Suite Hotels in San Diego. The company operates 18 Woodfin Suites and Chase Suites hotels.

"Most of ours are brushed gold finish, which provides a more muted look to the entry," Hardage said. "The gold also matches well with the traditional six-panel doors in white or crimson, depending on the property."

Arcadia Residential Suites, an extended-stay property in Cincinnati, features brushed brass manual locks. The brushed brass is more traditional and looks more upscale than shiny brass, according to owner Ben Coffman.

Smile for the camera

While security and design professionals agree security cameras are necessary for most properties, they don't agree about whether cameras should be camouflaged with the hotel's decor or stand out.

"Security cameras must be visible to the customer," Stephens said. "Visibility is key as a deterrent, as well as providing a sense of security."

Arcadia Residential Suites has security cameras in its common areas and parking lot. Signs on the doors indicate the extended-stay property's entryways are recorded 24 hours a day.

"We get a lot of comments that people feel very secure," Coffman said.

"If people see [cameras], there is less of a tendency for them to do stupid things, particularly when schools come through," said Sonny Walker, chief engineer at the Hilton Garden Inn in Glastonbury, Conn.

Walker has experimented with white cameras that blend in with the hotel's ceiling tiles, but found that charcoal gray cameras have garnered the best response from guests.

"People who walk out in the hall see the gray camera and feel more secure," Walker said.

"Some are concealed, some are visible, but they don't need to be hidden anymore because it is expected," said Stella Abdoulin, senior designer at Barry Design Associates, which is located in Los Angeles.

Still, Abdoulin believes cameras can be aesthetically pleasing against the hotel's decor. When remodeling older hotels, Abdoulin said she works with security consultants to choose modern cameras that match the decor of the property.

Stephens agreed that, even though cameras can be visible, they should avoid conflicting with building decorative elements, light fixtures and ceiling coffers. In addition, security cameras are much smaller than they used to be and hotels can buy domes to conceal and protect them.

But executives of some historic and luxury properties don't want cameras to alter the appearance of the hotel in any way and don't want guests to notice the cameras.

At The Palace, cameras must be almost invisible and blend in with the aesthetics of the historic property, according to Jawitz. The Palace's lobby camera is a pinhole type, installed inside a cabinet that houses one of the lobby's televisions. The camera allows security personnel to have an unobstructed view of the lobby, but preserves the character of the property, Jawitz said. In hallways at The Palace, security cameras are hidden behind the wall, and the small lenses are flush with the wall.