Hotel Security as an Exercise in Low Visibility

For people who want to maintain a low signature, a hotel is a critical environment. It is a place of transit, where your patterns are established, and a lapse in awareness can create a major vulnerability. Hotels are magnets for opportunity crime, and the better you are at controlling the information you broadcast, the safer your stay will be.

Your first interaction is the most important. To avoid revealing sensitive information, try to book and check in online if possible. When you approach the desk, use a lower voice and hand over your reservation details rather than stating your name and room number aloud for others in the lobby to hear.

When it comes to room selection, never default to the top floor. You want a room that is accessible by fire equipment, which means you can escape via stairs quickly, if needed. This means typically the second to fourth floors. Avoid the ground floor for obvious reasons of accessibility. If you are being escorted by a staff member, avoid discussing your floor or room number until you are safely in the elevator or a quiet area. If you suspect you're being followed, sometimes entering the elevator and intentionally hitting the button for a floor one level above your actual room can throw off a casual observer.

Once inside your room, your priority is to convert a temporary space into a secure one. Start by establish your exits. Do not rely on the fire map posted on the door. Immediately take a short walk to locate and physically check both fire escapes at your end of the floor. Check that they are clear, accessible, and know exactly where they lead—to the lobby or directly outside. Second, return to the room and set your physical security reinforcements. Always use the deadbolt, but enhance it. Travel with a simple, personal security measure like a rubber doorstop or a portable door lock. I recommend the RTT Deadbolt Safety Strap. Place the doorstop firmly under the main door and the joining door (if you have one) for added physical security, and use the strap to lock the door when you are in the room.

Finally, control your information. Place the "Do Not Disturb" sign on your door immediately, and keep it there. If you leave turn the TV on and leave it on. This creates the impression that you are in the room, discouraging housekeeping or maintenance from entering when you're gone. Avoid using the small hotel safe, as these are often simple and a favorite target for opportunistic thieves. Keep valuables secured elsewhere, or better, in your person.

Controlling your information goes right along with low vis movement when departing the hotel. Your low signature needs to extend right out the front door. When leaving, be prepared. Walk out of the main entrance with the confidence that you know exactly where you are going. There is nothing that signals vulnerability faster than watching someone leave the hotel lobby and looking absolutely lost the moment they hit the sidewalk. Hesitation makes you a target. Do your best to blend in immediately. Pregame it. Look at Google maps or similar and plan your route, even if you are going for a coffee or a simple walk. When exiting the hotel, always project a sense that you are going somewhere. Have your public transit route, taxi app, or walking directions set and ready to go before you step outside.

While this hotel safety checklist cannot guarantee absolute safety when you travel, these small steps reduce your chances of an incident happening. If you plan ahead, you are better prepared if an unexpected event does occur.