On Oct. 12 , 2017 , the MGM Resorts International issueda statementdisputing the Las Vegas police report that there was a six - minute delay between the time gunman Stephen Paddock dart security measures safeguard Jesus Campos at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino and the sentence heopened firefrom the 32nd floor into a crowd of concertgoers , kill 58 people and injuring more than 500 . MGM , which owns Mandalay Bay , say the clock time delay was more like 40 second , according to new info it received . ( Policeconfirmed there was no six - minute gaptoday . )
The hotel was answer to one of the unrequited questions and concerns that people have voiced about hotel security measure : Why was there a delay ? How was the gunman able to make several trip back and forward to his hotel elbow room to bring in 23 weapons without anyone acknowledge ? And , why , if many of the moments of the shooter ’s preparations werecaptured on hotel surveillance camera , was nothing done ?
Hotel security department in the U.S. today seems to be where airport security system was before 9/11 . Will it change after the bad mass shot in modern U.S. history ? And how should it ?
Metal Detectors in Hotels?
Mac Segal is head word of hotel security department consulting for the globular security business firm AS answer . He articulate that metal detectors , luggage hunt and armed guards are already received at Western - style five - star hotels across Africa and the Middle East . That ’s because upscale hotels have proven to be attractive objective for terrorists .
" In the last three twelvemonth , over 300 mass have been killed or injured in terror - colligate attacks on hotels in Africa , " says Segal , citingdeadly incidentsin Mali , Egypt , Burkina Faso and Libya .
But in the United States , terror threats and active shooter situations had n’t even made it onto the radar for most hotels . Until now .
" In the U.S. , hotel security has cease with petty theft , potential sexual molestation and drunk guys in the bar , " says Segal .
Perhaps one of the reasons that Stephen Paddock could carry so many weapons up to his sumptuousness suite in the Mandalay Bay is that most hotel security in the U.S. is focused on protect the invitee , not profile them as potential threats .
" In hotel security measures , they ’re looking at two things , " says Bill Nesbitt , a security consultant and good witness with Security Management Services International . " They need to protect the invitee against outside incursions . They also want to protect the guests against any venal employee . "
Would Tougher Security Measures Have Helped?
When Paddock opened flaming through two wiped out hotel windows at 20,000 concertgoers attending the Route 91 Harvest Festival , he became the first lone gunman in U.S. story to apply a hotel as a staging ground for an attack . It ’s unreadable at this point whether Mandalay Bay could have done anything to predict or prevent the shooting , give that Paddock ’s profile and behavior did n’t accompany the distinctive practice for a mass gunman .
Another important fact , say Segal , is that the objective of Paddock ’s tone-beginning was n’t the hotel .
" I do n’t think the conversation aright now should just be about hotel security , " Segal say . " The Mandalay Bay was not attacked . The hotel was not attacked in any shape or frame . No Edgar Guest was injured or threatened . The only person injured [ in the hotel ] was that incredibly brave security system military officer . "
While the Las Vegas shooting should absolutely be a rouse - up call for hotel , Segal says he thinks that expectant question need to be require about event security measures and specially effect evacuation plans . Hundreds of hoi polloi were injured examine to take flight the outdoor music fete , with some scrambling over nipping - conducting wire fences and others trampled in a panicked rush for the exits . Segal believes that venue want to design exits and elimination plans specifically for active shooter situations , not just fires .
Still , says Nesbitt , hotel postulate to be on guard against imitator who are inspire by Paddock ’s rampage – just as there have beenmany copycat killingsafter Columbine .
More Effective Security Measures
Yet , Segal say that hotels can stiffen security against future terrorist or lone gun attackers without turning hotel lobbies into military checkpoint .
" Increased security does n’t entail that we have to discommode the guests , make the guests find intimidate , make the Thomas Kyd palpate scared or make the hotel look like a prison , " says Segal . " On the opposite , you could do this in an intelligent , aesthetic manner that still give up for a positive guest experience and still keeps hoi polloi safe . "
While some hotels may install more television camera and metallic element detectors , the undecomposed aegis against future attacks , aver Segal , is a well - trained hotel staff . Every hotel employee , from housekeeping to pressure dealers , need to be train in how to recognize " suspicious indicators " of an imminent attack .
" You see nervousness , hostility , tunnel vision , repeated consistence movements , dodging of eye inter-group communication , " says Segal . " Maybe the hombre pays for the room in cash , does n’t want to give ID . "
Again , whether that type of training would have prevented the torpedo ’s fire is indecipherable , since all business relationship describe Paddock as cool , calm and suck up no attention or suspicion before the attack .
Steve Wynn , CEO of Wynn Resorts , toldFox News that his Las Vegas hotels enforce heightened security protocols in 2015 after identifying The Strip as asoft targetfor terrorist . Those communications protocol include a " no gun " policy for all guests and surety grooming for all hotel staff members . In addition , all entering and outlet are monitored with cameras and hidden metal demodulator to alert security personnel to shady person .
While Wynn refused to say whether his hotel ' security measures could have prevented an attack like Paddock ’s , he did direct to the fact that Paddock had hole up in his elbow room for 36 hours , which should have been a crimson flag .
" We also have rules about ' do not disturb , ' " Wynn secernate Fox News . " If a elbow room goes on ' do not upset ' for more than 12 hour , we look into . "
