RIYADH, 12 August 2003 — All starred hotels in the capital are stepping up security in and around their properties following the May 12 bombings here. Some five-star hotels are even using imported bomb detectors, which cost about $80,000. Other hotels have launched full-fledged security projects by signing deals with local companies. “Security companies are also training their employees and supplying them with walkie-talkies to enable them to report quickly any suspicious activity to the police,” said Najib Khudairy, a supplier of security equipment.
A senior executive of a five-star hotel, who did not want to be named, said: “Millions of riyals are being invested by hotels around the Kingdom to beef up security. The hotels have revised their security details and the security has been substantially upgraded following the Riyadh bombings.”
Civilians have been barred from bringing firearms or any suspicious object into hotels, he said. He also pointed out that security hassles in hotels sparked some protests from foreign guests who are insufficiently aware of security concerns.
Khudairy said all hotels set up checkpoints at their entrance and exit gates with the help of concrete barricades. They also use an array of security equipment like surveillance cameras and metal detectors as well as firefighters on location. He said all visitors and guests are individually checked by the security personnel when entering the premises. Asked about security measures taken by the Al-Faisaliah Hotel, Ron Cusiter, director of marketing, refused to divulge details of the security arrangements, saying it was “a sensitive issue.”
Abdullah Al-Mugrin of the Riyadh Palace Hotel, said the hotel was “still to finalize some new security plans.” But he too was unable to provide more detailed information. Ibrahim Sheikh Yasin, general manager of the Holiday Inn, could not comment on the hotel’s security measures.
Some hotels have been conducting mock security exercises in cooperation with the Civil Defense Department to test their readiness for an emergency. Sources told Arab News that whether the investment in security measures would lead to a climb in room rates depended on the nature of the facilities each hotel introduced and on approval from the Ministry of Commerce.
