This article is part two of a three-part series on hotel safes. Look here for part one.
In-room safes typically don’t require heavy maintenance, but hoteliers should include safes in their preventive maintenance programs. While safes do need periodic checking, the primary maintenance is changing the batteries at least every two years. But when safes are brought online, maintenance can be checked remotely, making preventive maintenance even easier.
“We are seeing a movement toward devices going online, including safes, to reduce maintenance, increase efficiency and allow control from any location within the hotel,” said Ethan Mayeux, director of military sales for Assa Abloy Hospitality and product manager, North America for its Elsafe brand.
There is much less utilization of the safety deposit boxes at the front desk, which in the past had high usage rates, said Roger Abram, president of Innovative Hospitality Concepts. “Guests don’t need to stand in line at the front desk waiting to get their valuables.”
Since in-room safes are so secure, most guests are still using hotel safes for the standard items such as electronics, wallets and passports—items they still need to quickly access as needed. “The odds of breaking into a hotel safe are very rare,” said Harvey Brodach, president of Global Safe. “Hotel safes are protected since they are already in a locked hotel room. Door locks are pretty sophisticated and hotel security is a hotel’s priority. Safes keep honest people honest and protect hotels and their guests.”