June 3, 2011 > NYC hotel plans panic buttons for housekeepers NYC hotel plans panic buttons for housekeepers By Karen Zraick, Associated Press NEW YORK (AP), Jun 01 - A luxurious New York City hotel where an Egyptian businessman is accused of sexually abusing a housekeeper has agreed to equip all room attendants with panic buttons. The Wall Street Journal says the agreement was reached between The Pierre hotel and the New York Hotel & Motel Trades Council. Pierre spokeswoman Nora Walsh says the alarms will be made available as soon as a system can be put in place. Mahmoud Abdel Salam Omar, an executive and the former chairman of a major Egyptian bank, is charged with sexual abuse and forcible touching of a housekeeper at the Manhattan hotel. He's being held on $25,000 bail. His lawyer, Liz Beal, told the court her client ``adamantly denies the charges against him.''