ASSA ABLOY Hospitality Encourages Hotels to Prepare for Hurricanes and Other Disasters

DALLAS | As Hurricane Gustav threatens the Gulf Coast (exactly three years after Katrina hit New Orleans in 2005), ASSA ABLOY Hospitality, the world leader in hotel security technology with premier brands in North America including VingCard, Elsafe and TimeLox, encouraged its hotel customers to make advance preparations to help ensure their properties’ electronic-locking systems and equipment will continue providing all-important security.

“Our goal is to help our customers secure and stabilize their hotels in advance to ensure security will not be compromised in the event of a hurricane or other disaster,” said Marc Freundlich, president and CEO of ASSA ABLOY Hospitality North America. “Additionally, we want to remind customers that VingCard, Elsafe and TimeLox offer 24/7 telephone support, and we’re ready to dispatch field technicians to install, repair or reprogram locking systems in a timely manner following a disaster.”

At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Friday, the center of Gustav was about 165 miles east-southeast of Grand Cayman, with sustained winds near 65 mph. Forecasters’ projections for the storm’s path varied greatly, estimating it could make landfall anywhere from the Florida panhandle to the Texas coast by Tuesday. In light of these projections, VingCard, Elsafe and TimeLox urged hotel owners and managers to take the following precautions in preparation for a disaster:

• Keep functional, failsafe keys on hand for each guestroom
• Fully recharge your Ipaq/Locklink or minilink
• Ensure spare batteries are available for your lockset
• Move front desk equipment and pre-encoded failsafe keys to a secure, dry location
• Locate cleaning cards for your lock reader

“Our top priority is ensuring the safety and security of our customers, their properties and their guests, which may include evacuees and emergency contractors following the storm,” Freundlich said. “We ask that any hotel with VingCard, Elsafe or TimeLox systems contact us immediately with any special requests or urgent needs. We’re also aware that hotels in surrounding areas of the storm’s direct impact will experience higher occupancy levels as people are evacuating, and we invite these properties to contact us regarding their security needs as well.”

Additionally, Freundlich said that VingCard, Elsafe and TimeLox are prepared to provide written budgetary quotes for hotels if required for insurance claims for replacement parts or systems. For more information or to request disaster assistance, please contact VingCard, Elsafe and TimeLox toll-free at 1-800-225-8464 or by e-mail at [email protected]. Operators are available 24/7.

More information is also available online at , and .

About ASSA ABLOY Hospitality Inc. North America
The world leader in hotel security technology, ASSA ABLOY Hospitality has products installed in more than 35,000 properties worldwide, securing more than 6 million hotel rooms. The ASSA ABLOY Group, a publicly listed company, is a world leader in security and hospitality systems. The North American division of ASSA ABLOY Hospitality brings three security brands to hotels throughout the United States and Canada, including VingCard () electronic locking system solutions, Elsafe () UL-listed (1037) hotel safe series, and TimeLox () security solutions for gaming properties and other large resorts.