As federal investigators search for a motive in the Las Vegas concert massacre, the spotlight is on the hotel where the gunman stayed, and the security measures that were in place, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
Stephen Paddock was able to get dozens of high powered weapons into his room at the Mandalay Bay, and keep them there for days undetected. There are no allegations that the hotel was complicit, but across the country, other hotels are looking at what happened and what could be done to prevent another attack.
One of the suggestions after the attack was putting x-ray scanners in hotels like the airport. Liza Barratachea, who heads the San Antonio Hotel Association, says that's impractical
"We're not going to see that level of security in 260 hotels, but are there things that we can do better? Probably," she tells Newsradio 1200 WOAI.
She says hotels have a great relationship with police, which is the key to communication if something seemed strange, but as the Las Vegas investigation unfolds, hotels are looking at best practices. For example, how often do housekeepers check the rooms?
"Typically, brand policies are that they will not wait longer than three days to enter a room," she explains.
Barratachea says the balance between security and privacy is tricky
."A lot of people have been talking about screening bags. People would rather not have hotel staff go through their things. We are sensitive to that."
While nearly every city sees tourist activity, there are parallels between Las Vegas and San Antonio. Both are tourist destinations that bring guests from all over the world.
They are also both places that host outdoor events. In San Antonio, think Fiesta, which is surrounded by high rise towers.