Research Topic: GUEST PERCEPTION TOWARDS SAFETY AND SECURITY IN THE LODGING INDUSTRY IN BUKIDNON (Philippines) DURING COVID 19.

Background of the Study

Safety and security are two crucial factors when you are going to choose a destination and also when you are going to select a lodging establishment to stay in. The first aspect tourists consider is to be protected from risks and hazards. Albattat and Som (2014) state that providing the highest safety and security standard levels will help you ensure good marketing for the hotels by preventing an accident before it becomes a big issue that will cause loss of life and property.

Patterson (2015) also stated that the companies in travel and hospitality are needed to be addressing any demographic, wage level, and worker satisfaction issues so that it will ensure their staff will remain motivated and contented. Many creative companies are already coming up with new retention plans and innovative strategies to keep employees engaged. The global economy is already improving, which means that consumers and businesses are already growing more confident about their financial situations. It is a good sign in the hospitality sector, for it will into more money spent on vacations or business trip. An increase in activity will cause an increased chance of risks. The hospitality sector encounters different potential damaging threats that the lodging establishments need to contend with, mainly as they deal with new activities and business travelers' income.

In the Philippines' national issue in safety and security, 36 people died in the Resorts World Manila when an exclusive hotel and casino complex was being attacked early hours of Friday morning, local time Lui (, 2017). Conferring to Ramos (2009), accommodation facilities security managers are all geared up to improve the safety and security of their properties by working with one another with the community; this was the main objective of the Accommodation Establishment Security and Safety Coordinating Council, Inc. ( AESSCCI) during its 2nd General Safety Assembly last November 6 at the Networld Hotel Manila. As Liong, N. (2009) stated, sharing security and safety practices, being ready to protect our property, our guests, and our employees.

Furthermore, in local issues, Trip Advisors Philippines (2016) talked about the outrage of the fights of militants and security forces. Also, the several kidnapping reports and robbery is some of the lodging establishments here in Bukidnon. Bukidnon Online (2016) added that quality, and not the quantity, is the problem in the sector of Bukidnon's hotel and restaurant. The quality of services and amenities of a lodging establishment in Bukidnon, not just quantity, is the bigger problem in attracting tourists, a tourism official in Northern Mindanao said. Still, we have to be aware of the risks that it may cause the company to fail.

The researchers develop this topic because of the arising problem of safety and security in global, national, and local problems. Also, because the number of risks that lodging industries are facing is on the rise. Companies must take advantage of a risk in safety and security that can help discover these threats before they negatively affect business.

Statement of the Problem

The study aims to identify the guest perception towards safety and security problems in the lodging industry.

1. What are the guest perception towards safety and security in the lodging Industry in terms of:

1.1. safety and security

1.2. being free from terrorism

1.3. well trained employees

2. Is there a significant difference in safety and security in the Lodging Industry when identified according to guest perception?

Objectives of the Study

The purpose of the study is to investigate the lodging establishment's context to enhance the understanding of safety and security risks or problems that the Lodging establishments are facing. This study aim to:

1. determine the guests' perception towards safety and security in the lodging industry in terms of safety and security of their personal belongings, being free from terrorism, and well-trained employees.

2. determine should there be a significant difference in safety and security in the lodging Industry when identified according to guest perception?

Significance of the Study

In the Hospitality Industry, safety and security make a significant impact in this century. Allowing to be trained and to educate employees and in-house guests to keep themselves safe and secure is one of the most crucial elements in the hospitality industry nowadays. Allowing them to be trained in safety and security will help them reach the employee's and guest's satisfaction where they will feel safe just like they are in their own house. It will increase the people outside and travelers' attention if they know that the lodging establishment manages well in safety and security matters. These will bring the hotel when they need more workforce and increase the economic status of the hotel.

Lodging establishment owners will introduce the types of training methods for employees and guests to follow to overcome the negative factors. These will make them feel safer while staying in the lodging establishment at all times. Besides, the effects of this method used will help minimize the safety and security issues. This research will enlighten the hospitality industry organizations to understand the purpose of training safety and security to help the employees and travelers. It will also advance the lodging establishment as they practice and apply on the employees and guests to manage and improve the safety and security measures. Scope and Delimitation of the Study

This research mainly focuses on the guest perception towards safety and security in the lodging industry. To train their employees and educate their houseguest in order to keep them safe and secure. It will also help reduce negative issues that will happen inside the lodging establishment and the surrounding. Lodging establishments keep them safe and secure in terms of death and avoid injuries on the employees and guests when accidents, crime, and fire.

Even though there are several limitations related to this study have occurred in order to complete this research successfully:

1. The availability to search for secondary data or electronic sources. The author has encountered trouble searching additional information and electronic articles and journals from the websites related to training and educating safety and security for the employees and guests. While the respective college university has provided several sources for the author, like academic websites, there are still many sources to collect more information because some of the journals and information need to be purchased before consuming.
2. Our study cited specific lodging establishments: GV Hotel, Travellers Pad, Time Inn, Jocel's Garden Suites, Hotel De Susana, and Uno Business Hotel.
3. The author had encountered some trials because of missing skills and information in conducting a proposal.

It is a great challenge when the author does not have sufficient experience and the skills to collect healthy and good research data.

Questions:

1. Identify a gap in these studies or realities/problems that necessitate the conduct of this research.

2.Write how the findings will be utilized; who will utilize these and what difference will these findings make to make a contribution to the growth of the discipline, or improve educational practices, enhance the quality of the service, etc.)

3) What are the theories that support these interrelationships?