The buttons, also called “employee safety devices,” can be worn on a lanyard or as a pin or carried in a pocket. Panic buttons are already commonplace in New York City and Washington. Some large cities, including Chicago and Seattle, have passed ordinances requiring hotels to have them (though Seattle’s is being challenged in court). Seventeen hotel chains, including industry giants like Hilton and Hyatt, pledged last fall to invest in panic buttons with the goal of national implementation by 2020. Workers’ safety is increasingly top of mind for lodging companies. Many times it’s someone in the room who’s naked or making lewd gestures, Mello said. Many speak limited English and often are put in dicey situations where they’re mistreated, sexually harassed or even assaulted. Safety concerns are compounded because hotel workers, especially housekeepers, are mostly women. Small, independent hotels may decide against using them: “This is a not-inexpensive item either, so they have to plan ahead,” she said. Liz Rammer, president of Hospitality Minnesota and executive vice president of the Minnesota Hotel and Lodging Association, said she wasn’t aware of any large hotels that do.īut Rammer said the industry is on board, despite issues of cost and technology. The Radisson Blu at Mall of America is running a pilot program this summer to explore options for Radisson hotels, and the owner of the Best Western Normandy in downtown Minneapolis said he thinks they will be operational by year’s end.įew Minnesota hotels appear to use panic buttons. Mystic Lake Casino Hotel in Prior Lake launched a panic button system in February, and similar plans are taking shape elsewhere. The union is seeking panic buttons along with higher wages as its leaders negotiate contracts this summer. We did have a worker who was physically assaulted last week,” said Christa Mello, who heads UNITE HERE Local 17 representing 1,600 hospitality workers. “We’ve had guests that get out of hand and get angry at something. Minnesota’s largest hospitality union wants hotels and motels to equip its workers with panic buttons so they can buzz security if they feel unsafe while tidying up rooms, cleaning the pool or delivering room service.

Mystic lake casino layout