About 6 years ago, I had an occassion to visit Belfast. We were staying at a hotel not very far from Hotel Europa. We were told during our stay that the hotel was target of many a terrorist strike.
What amused us most was we had to press a calling bell to gain entry into our hotel. The receptionist would pop up from within, take a good look at us and then press a button releasing the lock to let us in.
The situation at work was no different. Even during normal hours the front door of the offices were all shut. The same press-the-calling-bell routine had to be repeated there too.
We used to find this quite funny then. And at times frustrating when the door would not promptly open. The IRA threat had more or less been nuetralised by then. Why are the people so paranoid? We use to wonder.
I can now put my amusement down to my insensitivity to the plight of the Belfast citizens. Today that comes back to haunt me. It is time similar security measures are applied to our hotels.
Our hotels work on the ancient principle of "Atithi Devo Bhava" (Guest is God). Time to tone down the hospitality a bit. Be polite but be vigilant. I am sure no one will mind.
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3 comments:
thank god, people of Belfast are aware of the problem. they follow the rules and no one seems to mind them. Half the problem is solved when we have identified the problem. if we find the solution and implement/follow it, we have won.
bumped you off alphainventions.com - great post!
I think you make a very good point about hotel security. It should be tightened in hotels around the world.
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