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Alan Orlob, VP corporate security, Marriott International

Alhough the Ritz-Carlton and JW Marriott could not detail the specific actions they have taken to step up security in the Middle East following the bombings at the JW Marriott and The Ritz Carlton hotels in Jakarta, Indonesia, both brands said they had responded accordingly.

“Ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all our guests and associates is our highest priority. We take this commitment very seriously. As a result, we continuously monitor threat conditions at all our hotels globally, and take appropriate action as conditions warrant,” said Alan Orlob, VP corporate security, Marriott International, when questioned about the safety at the brand’s Middle Eastern properties.

“We monitor conditions daily in all our markets, consult regularly with local and global authorities, and outside security consultants, and adjust our security measures accordingly,” continued Orlob.

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Similarly, an official spokesperson for The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company said: “At The Ritz-Carlton, the safety and well-being of our guests is critical. We regularly evaluate our security measures and make modifications as appropriate based on threat levels. As you may appreciate, we are unable to provide specific details regarding our procedures to ensure that security at our hotels, resorts, and clubs is not compromised”.

The news follows comments on HotelierMiddleEast.com by The Feedback Company CEO and executive director Gustavo Cavaliere, in the aftermath of the Jakarta bombings, questioning security at the brands’ Middle Eastern properties.

“In the Middle East, luxury hotel managers remain sceptical that an attack could ever happen to their properties and they might be right. My question is, if one of the duties of a manager is to lead with good examples, initiative and vision, shouldn’t they be preventing instead of guessing?” asked Cavaliere.

He listed “lack of prevention techniques”, “feasible measurement tools”, “deficient training methods”, and “hotel management carelessness” ,among the security failures at both properties.

When asked whether staff across the board had been briefed on existing or new security procedures following the attacks, Orlob asserted “periodic staff security training is ongoing at all our hotels globally”.

For many hotel corporations, security is an expense and not an investment. Today hotel directors claim that because of the current international economic debacle they have to cut their budget and can’t splurge US $2000 to benefit the security of the property to lower their vulnerability, Cavaliere said.

“In times when occupancy rates are down 25%, hoteliers are locked in a price war and personnel cuts are rife, wouldn’t it be wise to take advantage of the world economic crisis and focus not only on how to survive, but also on how to improve your hotels within your own resources, without extra costs?,” Cavaliere questioned.

Both the hotels have now opened for business amid high security arrangements after remaining closed for 12 days.

The heavy explosions had caused damage to the lobby areas of both the hotels. However, the supporting structures were undamaged and much of the repairs are now complete.