U.S. hotels arm staff with panic buttons, after years of resistance


FILE PHOTO: Signage for the New York Marriott Marquis is seen in Manhattan, New York, November 16, 2015. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly

(Reuters) - Major hotel chains including Marriott International Inc and Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc said on Thursday they are arming U.S. employees with panic buttons to fight sexual harassment and crime, an about-face for an industry that has opposed the idea for years.

Workers in the hotel industry are frequent targets of sexual harassment as they are often alone with guests in their rooms. Unions and other advocates have increased pressure on hotels to provide the devices over the last year in the wake of the #MeToo social media movement and the Oct. 1 Las Vegas shooting, where the gunman opened fire from his hotel window.

The Star Festive Promo: Get 35% OFF Digital Access

Monthly Plan

RM 13.90/month

Best Value

Annual Plan

RM 12.33/month

RM 8.02/month

Billed as RM 96.20 for the 1st year, RM 148 thereafter.

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!

Next In World

Slovak court pauses legal change limiting cooperating witness testimony
Ghana to license medicinal, industrial cannabis use
Real Madrid reaches agreement with UEFA to officially end Super League project
Defending champion Anthony's mistake hands moguls gold to Olympic debutant Lemley
South Sudan cuts cholera deaths, new cases amid sustained response
Zambia urges Africa to strengthen water management cooperation
1 dead, 2 injured in college shooting in Russia's Krasnodar region
Chinese medical team trains South Sudanese counterparts on first aid
Le Pen lawyers tell French appeals court she did not intend to do wrong
Electric vehicles in Kenya surge to 35,000 in 2025, driven by e-motorcycles

Others Also Read