Tourism is a major earner of foreign exchange and a key pillar of both the Jamaican and Caribbean economies.

Major hoteliers like the Melia Group, Marriott,  Hilton, Riu, and Sandals have been extending their presence in the Caribbean over the last five years.

Last year in Jamaica, tourism earned US$4.3 billion with over  4 million visitors coming to the island. The entire Caribbean netted US$48 billion, which underscores tourism’s importance to the region.

A key aspect of hotel operations is security, and hotels will need the services of security companies that offer an array of state-of-the art solutions.

The Guardsman Group, founded by Kenny Benjamin, who in October will be inducted into the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ)  Hall of Fame, is the top regional security company. It was founded almost fifty years ago. 

It has embraced modern technology and has formed partnerships with the best security companies in both the Americas and Europe.

Guardsman can give hoteliers peace of mind, ensuring the safety of both guests and staff while monitoring the properties. 

The Guardsman Group has upped the ante and is a trusted brand with a stellar track record. It can now put in place an entire security system to be managed from one hub

Some of the hotels on Jamaica’s north coast have turned to Guardsman’s AI solutions. It now offers visitor access management. One of the most important security measures for hotels is monitoring who comes onto the property.

Back in the day, this was done by manual log books, but in the digital/AI age, this is now outdated.

The Guardsman Group can now install digital logs that let hotel operators and managers know how many people are on the compound and where exactly they are. 

It employs digital technology that allows it to draw upon data coming in from a variety of signals- cameras, H.R. systems, fire panels, communication systems. AI takes all that data and places it into an actionable information location centre, which allows managers to make informed decisions. 

Speaking with Our Today, Guardsman Group’s VP for Product Development, Captain Jevan Brown, said: Guardsman’s modern AI solutions allow procedures and protocols to solve problems, and we have this technology already up and running in a number of hotels. For instance, if an altercation were to break out at one of the bars or in the lobby, it can be monitored and assessed.  We can instal custom built protocol systems that allow operators to action them. It also allows us to audit those actions so we can improve responses for future reference.”

At this time the issue of beach access has become topical. With Guardsman’s solar surveillance towers, the beach can be monitored with the hotel knowing exactly who is on the beach at all times.  This can be done with no internet access. Footage can be surveyed, cross-referencing can be done, and patterns determined.