In 2019, the police department saw an increase in calls for service at Extended Stay America Hotels including a shooting incident. The police department did an overall analysis of hotel calls for service and saw that although Extended Stay type hotels generally had higher call volumes, other hotels also had high call volumes. Officers increased work with hotels on deterring crime and increased the number of proactive hotel checks. Despite this increase in police service at hotels, call volume did not decrease until the pandemic began impacting hotel occupancy. After the initial pandemic stay at home orders and other restrictions began easing, call volume began rising again despite much lower occupancy rates. In 2020, call for service rates at hotels increased at 16 of the 30 Schaumburg hotels despite the months of Cook County travel restrictions and stay at home orders. The increases in call volume continued into 2021 with 17 of the 30 hotels having higher call volume compared to the already high call volume in 2020. Extended stay hotels saw a particularly high increase in domestic violence calls with the number of people making hotels their residence became more common. Hotels in Schaumburg and across the region have expressed concern about these increases in crime. These concerns were highlighted by a significant gang related shooting incident at a Bloomingdale hotel. Attached is a statistical report that shows a summary of the crime activity of Schaumburg hotels. 

To help address these issues, the police department recently hosted a Safe Hotel educational program for Schaumburg hotel operators that included a presentation by the Cook County State's Attorney's office. Additionally, the department increased prostitution related operations by 85%. Village staff have also explored ideas on a hotel licensing ordinance. The ideas for a proposed ordinance came from police officers that regularly deal with hotel issues, community development staff, and hotel licensing ordinances from other municipalities. Police and community development staff met with Chicago Northwest and the Illinois Hotel and Lodging Association to get input on the impact the licensing requirements would have on hotels and suggestions based on their experience with hotels in other communities. Some provisions for hotel licensing recommended by staff include: 

• Requiring security improvements such as parking lot lighting, surveillance systems, and restricted (keycard) access at public points of entry.
• Limiting the length of stay to 180 days, with exceptions made for corporate contracts and homeowners displaced by natural disasters.
• Requirements related to keeping registration records.
• Limiting room occupancy and congregation of occupants (exceptions for hospitality suites and other special circumstances)
• Required participation in the Village's Safe Hotel Program.

Staff is looking for endorsement from the public safety committee regarding implementation of these additional licensing requirements.  Staff plans to incorporate any committee input into a proposed ordinance to be presented to committee this summer.