Caesars to check ‘Do Not Disturb’ rooms each day

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — One of the world’s largest casino companies will check its guests’ hotel rooms every 24 hours, even if they have a “Do Not Disturb” sign hanging on the doorknob.

Caesars Entertainment told The Associated Press Friday it also is considering giving panic buttons to its employees to enable them to quickly summon help if they are in danger or feel threatened. The company will implement the new policy soon at all its properties worldwide, spokeswoman Noel Stevenson said.

The company, which owns 47 casinos in five countries, becomes the latest hospitality firm to adopt new room check policies after a gunman broke windows in his Las Vegas hotel room and rained bullets down on an outdoor concert in October, killing 58 people and injuring hundreds before killing himself.

That casino, Mandalay Bay, is owned by MGM.

“In light of recent tragic events and to further strengthen security, we intend to check rooms with ‘Do Not Disturb’ signs on the door every 24 hours,” Stevenson said.

The room checks will be conducted by security guards. The company had proposed having housekeepers do the checks, but changed its mind after opposition from a casino workers’ union.

Caesars joins other gambling and hospitality companies who have adopted similar policies requiring guest rooms to be checked periodically, even if a “Do Not Disturb” sign is in use, including Disney, Hilton, Wynn Resorts, and Boyd Gaming.

The frequency of checks ranges from 12 hours to two days.