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Security benefits tourism in Oman

Oman is scenically located between the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea; this nation is undergoing a transformation from an economy based on petroleum and natural gas exports into a more diverse model. Specifically, Oman is betting on tourism to help replace these two long-standing economic pillars. But, in order to capitalise on this lucrative potential, a new breed of international customer must be specifically catered for.

Security as a business model

Customer demands now transcend the traditional reliance on price and luxury. In many cases, the modern-day tourist in Oman considers the level and quality of security systems to be nearly as important as the size of their rooms. Additionally, recent governmental legislation has required public facilities such as hotels to maintain CCTV systems and recording devices as part of an overall pre-emptive strategy to discourage potential crime.

Sachin Srinivasan, senior sales manager at OHI Electronics (the firm that installed the Al Falaj Hotel’s security system) relates, “Overall, Oman is experiencing a boom period in security industry growth.”

In order to position the Al Falaj Hotel on the leading edge of this trend in customer security awareness, Srinivasan turned to Hikvision for solutions.

The internal solution

The most widely employed Hikvision product in the hotel is the DS-2CC591P-A vari-focal dome camera, placed throughout the interior of the facility. Srinivasan chose this specific camera because of its “ability to see very clearly in environments where lighting levels not only vary from one corner to another, but also change throughout the day.”

The specific challenge of having sharp resolution in low-light requirements was the impetus for selection of the DS-2CC591P-A. Srinivasan explains, “With this camera, we are able to identify any person in question, regardless of how dark the particular area might be inside the Al Falaj. For a hotel, this is vital.”

Srinivasan also explained the additional importance of the DS-2CC591P-A’s unobtrusive appearance: “We can place this camera in virtually any interior area without it sticking out or attracting our unwanted attention. As a hotel, it is very important – from a customer satisfaction standpoint – that we promote a pleasant atmosphere; so the quality of a camera must also be matched by its unobtrusive housing.”

The external solution

Obviously, security needs begin before a customer actually steps through the front door. To monitor who is coming and going through the main entrance, Srinivasan chose the DS-2AF1-514 analogue speed dome for its 360° pan range; as well as its 360° coverage of front of the lobby. Srinivasan noted the range of the camera, along with its “ability for tremendous resolution to identify customer’s faces, licence plate numbers, and the ability to get a clear image from up to 35 metres to 40 metres out.”

Importantly, the issue of quality and durability was a large reason this particular camera was acquired. “The reality is Oman presents very difficult challenges to any structure left outside, let alone electronic security equipment. We needed something that could withstand the huge variance in temperature, especially the heat, and other potentially destructive weather like sandstorms.”

For specific and more security-sensitive areas, the Al Falaj Hotel uses the DS-2CC193P-A High Definition Box Camera. One such example is at the hotel’s petroleum station where it has deployed this Hikvision HD Box Camera in order to make sure it is always able to immediately, and positively, identify licence plate numbers at any time of the day or night; as well as the driver or passenger’s face.

The control room

Each of these components is electronically tied into the main security room located inside the hotel. This centralisation allows security personnel to immediately access any of the above-mentioned devices and respond to any potential situation.

The Al Falaj Hotel uses the DS-8116HDI-S standalone DVR units to ensure enough space is always available for the hotel’s sizeable recording needs. Additionally, each unit is connected to its own monitor and keyboard, thereby allowing separate security personnel to continually observe and respond in an independent, and efficient, manner. Additionally, these DVRs are connected to a remote network that allows additional monitoring possibilities from the security manager’s office, the general manager’s office and the administrative manager’s office.

While Srinivasan stresses that the current analogue security solution used at the Al Falaj Hotel is more than adequate to achieve the challenges presented; he says the future of this hotel’s security would be in HD.

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