Would your records survive an attack?

An independent adviser to the Metropolitan Police has questioned whether British hotel groups in the capital would have adequate staff and guest records if any of their hotels were destroyed in terrorist attacks.

Griffith Williams pointed out that many companies in New York's Twin Towers had their only personnel records destroyed in the buildings, which was one reason why it is still unclear precisely who is missing.

In a letter to David Michels, Hilton's chief executive, Williams said that the 28-storey Hilton on Park Lane and 24-storey Metropole on Edgware Road could be possible terrorist targets.

Hilton said that it uses Centrefile, a data storage company which physically collects files from Hilton's 77 UK hotels every week or month and stores them at regional offices around the country. This system would account for staff and forward bookings, but not walk-in guests. Even central reservations bookings do not indicate whether or not guests showed up.

A Hilton spokesman said: "We're very grateful that this matter has been brought to our attention. We are currently reviewing how and how often our off-site data storage takes place."

One hotel security source commented: "I don't think you'll get any system that's 100% accurate. Obviously it's very important to have a record of who is booked into the hotel, but how can you know who is in the building and who isn't at the time of a sudden impact? The larger the building, the larger the problem."

by Ben Walker

Source: Caterer & Hotelkeeper magazine, 4-10 October 2001