Hilton Americas–Houston installs 3VR Security’s digital recorder platform for retrieval of video footage and improved security.
Hilton Americas–Houston installs 3VR Security's digital recorder platform for retrieval of video footage and improved security
As open buildings, hotels are typically on guard for any signs of trouble. So it's no surprise that the downtown Hilton Americas–Houston just upgraded its video-surveillance system, installing one based on 3VR's digital recorder platform for the sake of efficient retrieval of video footage for research.
Hilton Americas-Houston's networked digital-video system also includes facial recognition capability so Hilton can input a digital facial image that can send out an alert related to that individual if picked up by the video surveillance cameras.
"A homeless person was trying to sneak into the hotel, and we got a shot of him and put it in the system," said John Moore, Director of Security and Life Safety, Hilton Americas–Houston. When the video system picked him up trying to enter the hotel again, the system sent off an alert, so security might escort him off the property.
But the hotel isn't just monitoring for potential outside threat; it's also keeping an eye out for rogue insiders, too. The hotel is using facial recognition to monitor employee behavior, paying particular attention to any former employees who leave on less-than-pleasant terms. All employees are informed that video monitoring of them takes place.
The video system monitors the areas where employees come to punch into time clocks in order to verify the person's identity. But perhaps more significantly, the facial recognition system is used to watch for any suspicious activities of employees or former employees.
"If someone leaves under bad conditions, we set up alerts for that," Moore said. If the former employee suddenly showed up at the hotel, the video surveillance system would send out an alert.
In any serious cases related to any trouble, the video surveillance footage is stored and can be E-mailed to insurance carriers or the local district attorney. The system has 1 TB each of storage and backup and only saves movement in clips.
The video surveillance system is used more often for examining more mundane problems, such as when a guest complains of misplacing an item or wondering where the valet is. The hotel does not do facial recognition of its guests, though it would be nice to know whenever a top celebrity might walk through the door.