| The latest news in hospitality risk management from Valor Security Services |  |
| Hospitality Risk Management |  |  |
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- Prank calls to hotels around country result in fire sprinkler, property damage
Hotels around the country have been the target of pranks in the past week or so, which follow the same pattern -- a frantic caller urges hotel workers or guests to set off a fire sprinkler, sound an alarm or break windows immediately because of a fire or gas leak. One Arkansas motel reportedly suffered $50,000 in damage from water sprinklers pulled as a result of the prank, and a Comfort Suites in Alabama suffered $10,000 in water damage. Authorities are investigating the calls and say the pranksters could face felony charges if caught. Google/The Associated Press
(6/12)     
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AH&LA member advisory regarding recent prank calls at hotels: Learn more here.
- Washington museums react to Holocaust museum shooting
Museums around Washington were rethinking security measures last week in response to the fatal shooting at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. Many museums grapple with issues of having an armed presence in a public place that is supposed to represent openness and education, and some, such as the Smithsonian's Anacostia Community Museum, said it had no plans to increase security measures. The Washington Post
(6/12)
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- High-tech security devices on display for hotels
High-tech security devices for hotels were on display in Bahrain recently at the Advanced Security Equipment Exhibition. The devices included a camera capable of detecting liquid explosives, solar-powered security cameras and a hand-held system that allows guards to take photos of anyone entering a facility and cross-referencing it with their ID cards or driver's licenses. Gulf Daily News (Bahrain)
(6/17)
- Travelers' Web use going mobile -- don't get left in the dust
By 2012, more than half of Internet users will access the Web with mobile devices, and that means hoteliers should start preparing to rise to the occasion and have systems in place that are fully compatible with travelers' many devices. That will include features that work with devices that are geographically aware and have a wide variety of downloadable apps. 4Hoteliers
(6/13)
| Business Operations & Strategy | | |
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- Hotels hop aboard the Twitter train for marketing, communication
Most major hotel brands have discovered Twitter and are "tweeting" regularly to market themselves and engage with their customers. Even Ritz-Carlton CEO Simon Cooper can be found tweeting as @SimonFCooper, and clever marketing ideas include the Westin Bonaventure's promotion to give away free room nights to 25 followers of the Los Angeles hotel's tweet address, @thebonaventure. HotelsMag.com
(6/15)
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| Legislative & Policy Monitor | | |
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- U.S., Mexico strike deal on border security, customs
An agreement between officials in the U.S. and Mexico aims to increase security along the border. The agreement also is expected to make it easier for travelers to pass through customs. "People traveling south across the border will see more license-plate scanners and more canine teams in place," said Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano. The Arizona Republic (Phoenix)
(6/16)
- TSA chief warns against limits on body scanners
The acting head of the Transportation Security Administration told a congressional budget panel that efforts to restrict whole-body imaging devices could impair security at U.S. airports. "Based on the intel that I and the leadership team at TSA see every single day, if we do not have the ability to deploy this technology and utilize it to the best of the abilities of the system, it will represent a severe limitation of our detection capability," Gale Rossides told lawmakers, adding "TSA took really great measures to protect the privacy concerns" of passengers. Homeland Security Today
(6/11)
| News from Valor | | |
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Valor CCTV video patrol aids in arrest of burglary suspect
In early June, the local police were patrolling through the parking lot of a large property where Valor provides security management services. One of the officers was familiar with several auto burglaries that had taken place since the beginning of 2009. The suspect in these cases was a young male riding a bicycle. The police officer observed a possible suspect matching the description as he was riding through the parking lot. He was last seen going into the parking deck where some of the incidents had taken place. The officer rode into the parking deck and observed the bike but no suspect. After calling our CCTV security operator for assistance, the suspect was located. Security officers were then able to provide a still photo of the suspect from the CCTV archives, including footage of him breaking into vehicles. With this photo, the police have been able to clear nine auto burglary cases at the property. This subject was also a suspect in several other auto burglaries that had taken place in the area.
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 | The world stands aside to let anyone pass who knows where he is going."
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| About Valor Security Services |
Valor Security Services provides security management services and risk management expertise nationally to over 260 retail, hospitality, and mixed use properties
owned or operated by a variety of successful developers, owners, and management companies. Valor is exclusive to the hospitality, retail, and mixed use markets.
As a result, our training, operations, and efforts are focused on, and based on the requirements of, these markets.
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| | Recent Valor Security's Hospitality SmartBrief Issues:
- Wednesday, May 20, 2009
- Wednesday, April 15, 2009
- Wednesday, March 18, 2009
- Wednesday, February 18, 2009
- Thursday, January 22, 2009
| | | Lead Editor: Angela Giroux-Scheide
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