Security Contractor vs. In-House Team: What Works Best for Phoenix Hotels

Your hotel lobby is busy. Guests are checking in. A conference group just arrived. And your one security guard called in sick.

Now what?

This scenario plays out at Phoenix hotels every week. It raises a bigger question that hotel managers often ask: Should we hire our own security team or work with an outside contractor?

There’s no single right answer. But understanding the trade-offs can help you make a smarter decision for your property.

The In-House Approach: What You Get

Hiring your own security staff means building a team from scratch. You recruit, interview, train, and manage every person on the schedule.

The upsides:

• Your guards work only for you. They learn your property inside and out
• You control training, uniforms, and daily expectations directly
• Security staff become part of your hotel culture over time
• You don’t pay a middleman or service fee

The downsides:

• Recruiting takes time. Finding qualified candidates in Phoenix’s job market is not easy right now
• You handle all payroll taxes, workers’ comp insurance, and benefits
• When someone quits or calls in sick, you scramble to fill the gap
• Training costs add up fast, especially for armed positions

Some larger hotels with steady occupancy rates do well with in-house teams. They have the HR resources to manage hiring and the budget to carry full-time staff year-round. But most mid-sized properties find this model hard to maintain.

The Contractor Approach: What You Get

Working with security firms Phoenix means outsourcing your staffing and management. The contractor handles recruiting, training, scheduling, and supervision. You pay a flat rate or an hourly fee for coverage.

The upsides:

• You get trained guards without doing the hiring yourself
• Contractors handle background checks, licensing, and insurance
• If a guard doesn’t show up, the contractor sends a replacement. That’s their problem, not yours
• You can scale up during busy seasons and scale down when it’s slow

The downsides:

• Guards may rotate between properties. They won’t know your building as well as a dedicated team
• You have less direct control over hiring decisions
• Service quality depends on the contractor you choose. Not all providers operate at the same level

For most Phoenix hotels, the contractor model works better. It removes the headaches of HR, fills gaps quickly, and adjusts to changing occupancy.

Flexibility Matters in Phoenix

Phoenix hotels face unique seasonal swings. Snowbirds arrive in October. Spring training fills rooms in March. Summer slows down when temperatures climb past 110 degrees.

An in-house team doesn’t flex with your occupancy. You either keep staff on payroll during slow months or let people go and rehire later.

Contractors adjust faster. You can add guards for a weekend conference and drop back to normal coverage on Monday. You can increase patrols during peak season and reduce hours when the property is quiet.

This flexibility saves money and keeps coverage matched to actual activity.

Liability and Insurance: Who Carries the Risk?

When an incident occurs, liability matters. With an in-house team, your hotel carries the full insurance burden, including workers’ comp claims and any lawsuits stemming from security actions. A licensed security contractor Phoenix holds their own liability coverage, which shifts significant risk off your balance sheet. Before choosing either model, confirm what’s covered and who’s responsible when something goes wrong.

Questions to Ask Before You Decide

If you’re leaning toward a contractor, ask these questions before signing anything:

• How do you screen and train your guards?
• What happens if a guard doesn’t show up for a shift?
• Can guards wear uniforms that match our hotel brand?
• How quickly can you add or reduce coverage?
• Do your guards have hospitality experience?

Making the Right Choice for Your Property

Most Phoenix hotels benefit from working with a security contractor in Phoenix rather than building an in-house team. The math works out better, the flexibility is higher, and the management burden is lower.

Providers International is one of the most reliable security firms in Phoenix for hotel properties. Their guards receive hospitality-focused training, and they work with property managers to match coverage to real occupancy patterns. If you want a security partner who understands hotels, Providers International is a solid choice.