Tell us about the Marriott Desert Ridge Resort.
The J.W. Marriott Desert Ridge Resort and Spa is a destination resort that caters to conventions as well as to the business
and leisure traveler. We have the two largest ballrooms in the state of Arizona, and have attracted groups and associations
that have previously been unable to hold their convention in the state. The resort is spread across 80 acres of land, and
hosts two championship golf courses — Faldo and Palmer designs. In addition, we have a 28,000 square foot Spa, and eight
lighted tennis courts. There are also acres of pools including a 1,600 foot Lazy River. Our restaurants include Ristorante
Tuscany featuring elegant Northern Italian cuisine, Roy's Hawaiian Fusion, Blue Sage by Mark Miller featuring Southwest
and Mexican cuisine, Meritage Steakhouse featuring prime steaks, chicken and seafood, the Vista Lounge lobby bar and 24
hour Room Service.
What are the logistics of the resort?
The resort is comprised of 950 guest rooms including 81 suites spread across six floors and nine wings. Our staff is currently
comprised of 1,200 associates and 100 managers. In addi-tion, the resort leases space to Roy's Hawaiian Fusion Cuisine,
Hertz Car Rentals, Del Star Resort Shops, and Mile High Valet.
When is your peak season?
The typical Phoenix market's peak season is January through April which holds true for us as well. Being a convention resort,
we stay fairly occupied throughout the year. For 2004, August is looking to be our highest occupancy month.
What is your title?
I am the Assistant Director of Loss Prevention, and additionally serve as the evening Manager on Duty. My daily duties and
responsibilities consist of overseeing the safety and security measures for our guests, associates and assets. We accomplish
this by providing emergency response, safety patrols of the resort and video surveillance through closed circuit television
cameras. As the Manager on Duty, I interact with all departments within the resort and ensure that service levels are being
met. This role is classic MBWA — management by walking around!
How many officers do you have?
The Loss Prevention department employs up to 30 associates at any one time, which includes six Shipping and Receiving Attendants,
one Lost and Found Coordinator, and one Administrative Assistant in addition to the Loss Prevention staff. An average shift
would have one Loss Prevention Supervisor, one Base Officer, and up to three additional officers.
We are staffed around the clock, so our PIPEs receive constant use.
How many rounds do you do?
Safety patrols are completed on a periodic basis and are random in nature. The majority of the buttons are indoors, although
officers also patrol the property's exterior.
How long have you been using Guard1 Plus?
The Guard1 Plus system has been in place at the resort since February of 2004. It has been
working well. Prior to purchasing the system, patrols were communicated to a Base Operator who manually entered them into
the daily log software. This system is now utilized to supplement our Guard1 Plus patrols.
How many PIPEs do you own?
The resort utilizes three PIPEs, with buttons located in stairwells, outlets, floors, and areas not covered by CCTV.
Do you print the reports?
Reports are downloaded at the end of each shift to review and document officer patrols. Any deficiencies to officer patrols
are made obvious at that time, and can be addressed up front.
What kind of security issues do you face?
The handling of non-guests wanting to utilize the resort's pool areas can be a challenge. The setup of the resort's PIPE
system tends to make our officers more visible and mobile, which puts us in a good position to deal with this issue.
What problems has The PIPE solved for you?
The PIPE better allows our Supervisory staff to monitor and validate that patrols are being
completed on a regular basis. Additionally, the system has supplemented our daily log, effectively cutting down on radio
traffic between Base Operators and Officers.
How did you hear of TimeKeeping Systems and Guard1 Plus?
TimeKeeping Systems Incorporated is an approved vendor for Marriott International. I have been impressed with the level
of customer support available, in addition to the built in software support that the system contains.
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