12.Dec.2011 Ensure Your Privacy while Traveling
USA Today released an article titled, “ESPN’s Erin Andrews files new $10 million lawsuit,” explaining that Erin Andrews, who was allegedly spied on and filmed nude while in her hotel room three years ago, has filed a $10 million invasion of privacy lawsuit against the West End Marriott and Michael Barrett.
This raises the question, “What can I do to ensure my privacy at a hotel?”
Stephen Barth, travel attorney and founder of HospitalityLawyer, has shared a few ways that hotels help to ensure the safety of their guests:
Keeping Room Numbers Confidential
Ideal hotel policy is to never announce a room number aloud to a guest to the extent that bystanders could overhear. Accordingly, the best practice is to write the room number down and show it to the guest. If a guest is concerned that others have become aware of their assigned room number, the guest should request that the process be repeated, and assigned to a different room in a confidential manner.
The ideal hotel policy is to not give out guest room numbers to anyone other than the registered guest, and authorized guests of a registered guest, except upon proper ID. A phone call may be transferred to a guest room, as long as the caller knows the guest name. However, if the caller only knows a room number and cannot confirm the guest name, the best practice is for the hotel to not connect the call. As an alternative, the caller may leave a message with the hotel representative with contact information. An inappropriate caller will rarely, if ever, provide contact information.
IDs before Keys
If a guest has misplaced a room key, the front desk associate should ask for ID before issuing a new room key. If a registered guest has visitors, the visitor should not receive a room key unless the registered guest has expressly authorized the issuance of the room key, and only if the visitor presents a photo ID.
And something all guests can do while staying at a hotel:
Place a post-it note over the viewfinder (commonly referred to as the peephole)
Erin Andrews was allegedly filmed and photographed through the viewfinder of her hotel room. By placing a post-it note over the viewfinder, guests can easily avoid unwelcome onlookers.
Do you have tips about controlling your privacy during a hotel stay?