Terrorism, rugby, and hospitality: She׳ll be right

Abstract

In 2011, international attention was focussed on New Zealand, host of the Rugby World Cup (RWC 2011), which brought 133,200 visitors to New Zealand over a three-month period. This exploratory study, undertaken before the event, investigates the attitudes of hotel managers and staff as they prepared to host spectators, rugby teams, and media personnel. The aim of the study was to determine preparedness for an attack, and assess attitudes and approaches to risk management in relation to terrorism. Interview data collected from senior hospitality managers revealed a distinctly laissez faire approach to security, which is partly explained by Hofstede's (1984) low uncertainty avoidance category for New Zealand. This attitude is reputedly common in New Zealand, where it is proudly expressed as 'she'll be right'.It is hoped that this study will bring attention to the weak security measures in New Zealand, which would have been insufficient protection for life and property, had a serious terrorist attack been planned.

Safety and Security Measures in Egyptian Hotels

“…Pizam (2010) found that 30% of U.S. hotel general managers admitted that they had done nothing with regard to security procedures, and more than half thought that their security was sufficient. Peter et al (2014) investigated the attitudes of hotel managers and staff to risk management prior to the event in New Zealand. Chan (2004) clearly showed that gaps might exist between the perceptions of hotel management and hotel guests and that these gaps might affect guest satisfaction.…”

“…1. Hotels have a long history of being a -soft target‖ environment for safety and security threats (Enz, and Taylor, 2002;Enz, 2009;Homeland Security, 2010;AlBattat, and Som, 2013;Chan, and Lam, 2013;Paraskevas, 2013;Lisle, 2013;Peter, et al, 2014). Hotel as a working environment have become an easy target because of several factors, including open access with 24 hours a day, many public and multiple access points, parking lots, and encounters with strangers and foreigners.…”

“…Hotel management has been forced to review and revise security measures accordingly. This puts increasing pressure on managers and planners concerned with hotels to develop more effective measures to stop or limit the severity of their negative impacts to protect hotel business and society in general (Pizam, 2010;Ghaderi, and Som, 2012;Mohammad et al, 2012;Nassar, 2012;AlBattat, and Som, 2013;Ahmed, and Akther, 2013;Peter, et al, 2014). The dramatic incidents associated with the Egyptian Revolutions from 2011 to date are recent reminders of the vulnerability of hotels to potential safety and security threats.…”

“…Unfortunately, the hotel and tourism industry is highly vulnerable in terms of safety and security threats. These threats are frequently in the forms of crimes, terrorism, natural disasters, health, and man-made hazards (Gill et al, 2002;Feickert et al 2006;Enz, 2009;Homeland Security, 2010;Pizam, 2010;Prashyanusorn, et al, 2010;Kôvári, and Zimányi, 2011;Taillon, 2012;Wichasin, and Doungphummes, 2012;Boakye, 2012;Rittichainuwat, and Chakraborty, 2012;Rittichainuwat, 2006Rittichainuwat, :2008Rittichainuwat, :2011Rittichainuwat, :2013Chan, and Lam, 2013;AlBattat, and Som, 2013;Ahmed and Akther, 2013;Paraskevas, 2013;Lisle, 2013;Peter, et al, 2014;Yang, and Nair, 2014). This puts increasing pressure on hotel managers and planners to consider the impact of safety and security threats to the industry and develop more effective measures to stop or limit their negative impacts to protect hotel business and society in general.…”

“…This emphasizes that hotels should upgrade their safety and security measures and procedures to make them harder targets against threats and hazards. Hotel management has been forced to review and revise safety and security measures accordingly (Pizam, 2010;Ghaderi, and Som, 2012;Mohammad et al, 2012;Nassar, 2012;AlBattat, and Som, 2013;Ahmed, and Akther, 2013;Peter, et al, 2014).…”