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Network Camera Video Surveillance for Hotels and Motels

Topic: Hotels and Motels

Hotels and motels are a place in which security can be very important. With so many people moving in and out on any given day or night, with people entrusting their lives and their valuables to spend a night in the hotel/motel, it is of the utmost importance that things are kept as safe as possible. One vital part of any security system for a hotel or motel is a network camera video surveillance system.

Benefits of Video Surveillance for Hotels and Motels

When travelers and visitors come to stay at your hotel or motel, they want to know that they are safe. Having a video security system in place on the hotel lets them know that you are keeping an eye on things and will ensure that the area remains secure. The presence of video cameras can also help to deter would-be criminals from entering the premises at all. Thus not only does it help in preventing thefts, it also increases business as visitors are more likely to stay at a hotel they know is safe.

Video surveillance can also help you with keeping an eye on your staff. Putting cameras in supply rooms and other areas can help keep you advised should any of your staff begin stealing supplies. This can also be used for quality control, to ensure that hotel employees are acting properly.

Network Cameras for Video Surveillance Systems

There are two primary camera types used in video surveillance. For many years the primary camera used was the CCTV (Closed Circuit Television) camera. While this is still the most commonly used camera system for video surveillance, network cameras are rapidly overtaking their place in the market for a number of reasons.

One of the major advantages of network cameras is that they offer a much higher quality of picture. Analog CCTV cameras are limited in how high of quality they can provide, but with digital images picture quality is almost unlimited. For practical purposes there are certain ranges in which most cameras will fall, however the quality is generally much better than that of traditional analog cameras.

Remote monitoring is another area where the network camera shines. As the name implies, network cameras share their video feeds over a network. Any computer which is hooked into the network (it can be a Local Area Network or the Internet) are able to view the video feed: assuming they have the proper authorization. That means no matter where you are, whether it be at the hotel itself, at home or even on the road, you can check up on your security feeds.

Things to Consider

One of the things to look at before installing a video surveillance security system at your hotel or motel is to examine the layout. Is it a single building, or is it made up of a number of buildings? How much outdoor space is there? How large are the public areas?

When putting in the network cameras, ensure that you stay out of the rooms themselves. You are placing these cameras in large part for the security of your guests, but you must also respect their privacy. Keep camera placement to public areas such as lobbies, pools, hallways, etc.

It is also smart to keep cameras around the entire perimeter of the hotel. This allows you to keep tabs on anyone entering or exiting the premises, whether through proper avenues or breaking in. The visible presence of cameras on the perimeter also serve as a warning to criminals not to enter in, since the area is under surveillance.