We often take the occasion of going out to our favorite restaurant as a chance to forget about life for a while, to escape the cares of our day-to-day responsibilities. Nowadays, that may no longer be possible.
The Rhode Island Hospitality Association took a bold step when it offered a training seminar on April 24 and April 27 to prepare for active shooter and violent incident scenarios.
No one could have known that there would be a shooting scare at the White House Correspondents Dinner inside the Washington Hilton hotel in Washington, D.C., on April 25, which would put a spotlight on this type of preparation.
Within hotels, this training is essential to protect guests, employees and brand reputation. Hotels present unique safety challenges due to open-access lobbies, multiple entry points, guest room floors, event spaces and constant public traffic.
Active Violence Immediate Response Training, or AVIRT, provides hotel and hospitality organizations with comprehensive active shooter response training designed to help staff members recognize warning signs, respond effectively and take actions that can save lives.
The invitation for the training went out to restaurant owners and managers to prepare their teams for the season. The idea was sound from the start with the upcoming FIFA World Cup matches and thousands of fans from around the world descending on our area for 12 weeks starting in June, but it took on a greater urgency following the White House Correspondents Dinner incident.
The hospitality association partnered with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to offer this training free of charge, which was conducted via a morning and an afternoon session on both April 24 and April 27.
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GETTING PREPARED: Erik Ulmen, protective security adviser for Rhode Island at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, leads a training seminar on active shooter and violent incident response organized by the Rhode Island Hospitality Association.
COURTESY RHODE ISLAND HOSPITALITY ASSOCIATION[/caption]
The morning session covered general best practices for security in the hospitality industry, with special emphasis on security relating to the upcoming World Cup. Other topics included how to deal with potential and realized threats; how to identify suspicious packages and what to do, with assistance from the R.I. Bomb Squad; and how to share and receive security-related information with federal state and local agencies.
The afternoon session covered what to expect from World Cup activities, fans and the special events that will be taking place this summer.
The lead trainer was Erik Ulmen, protective security adviser for Rhode Island at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. He has been in this assignment since 2015.
Prior to his work in Rhode Island, Ulmen worked as the branch chief for the Office of the Undersecretary of the National Protections and Programs Directorate of DHS. He was responsible for the development of a regional evaluation program, specifically looking at critical infrastructure resilience. He is a recognized subject matter expert in critical infrastructure, active assailant, school safety, risk assessment and mitigation, and intelligence.
Other aspects of instruction included de-escalation training with skills in how to use calm, controlled communication in tense situations; identify emotional triggers and choose effective responses; apply hospitality-focused conflict resolution while maintaining professionalism with aggressive or upset guests; protect personal and team safety during deescalation; and document and report incidents accurately.
There was also instruction offered on human trafficking training, including how to identify red-flag interactions and room/payment patterns, among other signs. Staff members could also take a course on how to give guests accurate and confident information on unfolding events.
“Dining Out With Bruce Newbury,” syndicated weekly on radio, is heard in Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, Indiana and Iowa. Contact Bruce at bruce@brucenewbury.com.
