London
hoteliers are failing to take the threat of terrorism seriously when they
recruit staff, according to new research.
A
report, from hospitality recruitment firm Indago, reveals that 57 per cent of
the capital’s hotels fail to carry out in-depth checks on potential employees.
Major
international and domestic hotel brands proved to be the least security
conscious, with 74 per cent of those surveyed not conducting any pre-screening
processes when taking on new staff. Those that did, however, carried out checks
on all applicants, from floor level to senior head office.
Although
90 per cent of independent hotel operators operated full pre-screening
processes when recruiting, this was only for staff in team leader positions and
upwards.
Even
where companies did dig up negative facts about potential staff, Indago
reported that only 21 per cent would halt the recruitment process at that
point. The remaining 79 per cent would employ the dubious candidate.
“Where
airlines (and other parts of the travel industry) are rigorous with their
pre-screening processes, hotels must surely follow suit,” said Indago director
Dominic Armstrong.
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“Tourism
is at threat in any country, and with the UK wooing the dollar back into the
country post 9/11, plus bidding for the Olympics in 2012, we cannot afford to
give tourists any cause for concern.”
