Hotels’ existing video monitoring systems are already being used in 40% of UK, US, Sweden and Norway-based hotels to cover reception areas to help ensure proper procedures are being followed to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission. This was just one finding uncovered in the 11-page Ava Security Hospitality Sector Video Security Trends Report 2021, published this month.
New COVID Safe requirements accelerate adoption of video analytics
Hotels have been turning to video analytics to help reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission as they prepare for further easing of lockdown next month. Nearly a quarter (24%) of the sector’s decision-makers were already using their existing video systems for people counting, including room occupancy level monitoring. A further 26% planned to deploy this capability within the next 12 months.
Nearly a quarter (24%) had already configured their video security systems to report people density levels in reception areas, bars, lounges, and vestibules where guests are likely to congregate. An additional 30% said they were planning to add this capability over the next 12 months.
The use of behavioural analytics to augment video security systems will enjoy a boost in adoption as hoteliers look to use them to monitor adherence with one-way systems (for moving around hotels), mask-wearing in public areas. Today, 24% of hotels have behavioural analytics in use but a further 30% plan to adopt it in the next 12 months.
Noise or audio analytics is also set to be deployed more extensively in hotels. Today, 22% use some audio analytics to pick up breaking glass, screaming and other pre-defined sounds. However, a further quarter (26%) of hospitality sector respondents anticipated deploying this in the next 12 months.
Appetite for IT Cloud migration extends to VSaaS demand
A quarter (24%) of the hospitality sector recorded receipt of additional budget to accelerate the migration of more IT applications into the Cloud. Linked to this, 22% of hotel group’s security decision-makers were already actively considering ‘moving to a cloud-based video surveillance system (sometimes called VSaaS).’
Over half (52%) considered VSaaS adoption ‘Net High Priority’ (either High Priority or Somewhat a Priority). A further 22% were actively considering upgrading from an existing analogue-based CCTV system to an IP video system. A further 16% planned to purchase new security cameras to gain access to additional video analytics capabilities.
Making hotels COVID Safe has accelerated video system improvements
The Ava Security Hospitality Sector Video Security Trends Report 2021 provides a wealth of data and insight linked to how Operations, Facilities Management, Security and IT directors and managers within hotels and other hospitality venues in the US, Norway, Sweden and the UK, are adapting their video security systems in the wake of the pandemic.
Vegard Aas, Head of Online Business at Ava Security, commented:
“Despite the severe reduction of bookings over the last year, hotels have continued to find new money for improving video security systems as part of a suite of process and system changes which they are green-lighting to reassure potential guests of their venues’ COVID safety readiness.”
“The hospitality market is clearly determined to begin recovering its losses as pandemic restrictions are lifted around the US and Europe. There are already stories of hotel rooms in some popular destinations being hard to come by, as most Europeans hold off on planning foreign travel until later in the summer due to lingering uncertainties linked to vaccination levels and the impact of new variants.”
You can download the full report free by going here