For hotels and serviced apartments
Cameras and security systems for hotels and serviced apartments
A guest in a hotel or serviced apartment wants to feel the place is well run and safe, without feeling watched. Good security systems here work quietly: a card that opens only their room, a fire alarm on every floor, and cameras in shared areas.
Whether it is a multi-storey hotel or a small serviced-apartment building, send one request and get quotes from licensed installers of cameras, access control and fire systems.
What a hotel or serviced apartment needs
- Card room locks linked to reception, programmed at check-in and expiring at check-out.
- Access control for lifts, floors, staff areas, stores and equipment rooms.
- Cameras for shared areas: lobby, reception, entrances, parking, staff and delivery entrances.
- A fire alarm system covering rooms, corridors, kitchen and parking — guests don’t know the building and rely on alarms and signs.
- For small serviced apartments: self check-in by code or a smart lock where there is no 24-hour reception.
Where cameras go in a hotel
Entrances and lobby
Cameras for the main entrance, lobby, reception desk and the shared safe-deposit area.
Lifts and stairs
A camera in the lift lobby on each floor and at emergency exits.
Shared corridors
A general view of corridors, angled so it does not show inside rooms when doors open.
Parking, staff and delivery entrances
Outdoor cameras for parking and the supply and staff entrances.
Where never to put cameras: inside guest rooms and apartments, toilets, staff changing rooms, and changing rooms at the pool, gym and spa. Corridor cameras stay general, never zoomed on a particular room door, and façade cameras must not look into neighbouring buildings’ windows.
Fire alarms and guest safety
Hospitality premises need complete safety systems: detectors in rooms and corridors, a control panel that pinpoints the alarm, emergency lighting, clear exits and signs, and possibly a suppression system depending on building size. An evacuation map on the back of each room door helps guests. These requirements are tied to licensing through the official Civil Defense platforms, and the tourism licensing authority may add its own.
These systems are installed and maintained by fire-safety contractors accredited with Civil Defense, and card locks and emergency doors should be linked to the fire system. Read our fire alarm and Civil Defense guide.
Card locks and access control
A card lock system is the backbone of any hotel: each guest’s card opens only their room, staff cards carry different permissions for housekeeping, maintenance and management, and every door opening is logged. Lifts can be linked to cards so only guests reach the room floors.
Ask about integration with your hotel management software, battery life, and how doors open if the system fails. For staff, an attendance terminal records shifts.
Compliance notes for hospitality
The surveillance camera law and its implementing regulations may cover tourism and accommodation facilities and set the areas to cover — such as entrances, exits and parking — and how long recordings are kept. The Ministry of Tourism may have extra requirements for licensing. Check what applies to you, and see surveillance camera compliance.
Hotel recordings and door logs contain guest data, so limit access, store them securely and hand them over only through the proper channels.
What to include in your quote request
- Type of property (hotel, serviced apartments), number of rooms or units and floors.
- Floor plans or photos of the lobby, corridors, parking and staff entrances.
- Whether reception is staffed 24 hours, and quiet times suitable for installation.
- The hotel management software in use if card locks need to link to it.
- The retention you need, existing cabling and the state of the fire system.
- Whether you want a maintenance contract covering cameras, locks and fire systems.
For what drives the cost, see our security systems cost guide.
Hotel systems: common questions
Can I put a camera in the room corridor?
Generally yes, as a view of the whole corridor angled so it does not show inside rooms. Inside rooms and apartments themselves, no filming is allowed.
Do card locks work in a power cut?
Most room locks run on internal batteries. Ask about battery life, low-battery alerts and emergency opening.
I have serviced apartments without reception — what are the options?
Many small properties use smart locks with a code sent to the guest, plus a camera at the shared entrance and an intercom.
Is a hotel required to have cameras?
Hospitality premises are often among those covered by the regulations, but the details depend on the type of property. Check with the competent authority and a licensed installer.
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Equipping your hotel or serviced apartments?
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