Valets, Bellhops & Concierge - Front-line Hotel Ears & Eyes!

Valets, Bellhops & Concierge

Frontline Hotel Ears & Eyes!

By Nicholas Ashton, CEO/CIO, CommSmart Global Group

After 9/11, I was the Keynote speaker at a major security event for the Florida Tourism Board.  This was a meeting of those that controlled the total tourism picture of what Florida would have to enact after the terrible Twin Towers attack. 

How the vacationing public would react regarding security thereafter and what steps would be required.

Never had we seen such an attack and there was a numbness toward what steps would be accepted by the tourism trade and what major steps the public would demand.

That is where I created this byline that had to be front and center for all staff within a facility and enacted by owners and managers.

Not just words but planned actions in the line of sight of hotel guests.  Nothing better than the people who greet you when you arrive at a hotel or vacation resort, the valets, bellhops, and concierge.

These frontline people have the initial connection with guest and visitors who enter a facility, especially a hotel as there is always just one major entrance for all to pass through.  Casinos are a little different with multiple entrances and today must consider pipelining entrances to concentrate on security measures.

My security points back in 2001 are as relevant today and have only been placed on the backburner because of our overall complacency.

Valets, bellhops, and the concierge are the key when trained to observe all that exit a vehicle, open the trunk and expose their luggage and carry-in baggage. The aroma of the trunk when the trunk lid is opened is so important if chemicals or other materials have been transported over a period of time.  Yes, we are talking explosives, they have a very distinctive odor and if hidden by cheap perfume, still standout!

Conversation, mannerisms, profuse sweating and other characteristics are other and important observations that frontline must be trained for.  Nothing must be left to chance!

Yesterday, I was on Brian Kilmeade’s radio show as a call in while Eric Prince was a guest, they continued to talk about the event and why they were not talking proactivity which is required. I suggested that more security, including technology, must be used to know who is entering hotels and casinos.  Prince stated that this will never happen, as “What goes on in Vegas, Stays in Vegas”.  Wrong answer!

The public wants to know and sees that steps are being taken, they want peace of mind whilst they can relax and enjoy.  This is not the time, not to step up the hotel and casino security.

The other side of the coin, it is impossible to secure all situations, the world is a dangerous place and we must also rely on “See Something, Say Something” more than ever.

Vigilance is the key, but visually we must reduce the Fear Factor and increase the Comfort Zone!

Can we prevent all evil megalomaniacs with a death-knell ringing in their mind?  NO!

There is never 100% security, but there are competent measures that can be taken and drastically reduce collateral effects. 

Connect with us, our global expertise stands firm!

www.commsmart-global.com                          www.proximitysocialmarketing.com

Email: psm@proximitysocialmarketing.com

Telephone: USA: (515) 200.7068 or (330) 366.6860

CommSmart Global Group – Digital Dialogue Center

A LexisNexis Risk Solutions Partner

It is productivity perfection personified!

WE ARE IN THE NOW AND KEEP YOU; IN THE KNOW…

Copyright 2017

I Lost It Yesterday!

I Lost It Yesterday!

by Nicholas Ashton, CEO/CIO, CommSmart Global Group

There are times after the fact you know you could have handled it differently, yesterday was one of them!

When a client asks a serious question and you start to answer and are constantly interrupted, it becomes useless in even attempting to complete the answer. 

No matter what you say or attempt to state it is going nowhere.  That was one of those afternoon meetings.

I will not bore you with all the details, but it comes down to a personal attack and ludicrous suggestions, in fact challenging that proximity beacons don't even transmit at all.  Tell that to Google Nearby and Apple's iBeacon and the whole global beacon industry.

The gentlemen even accused that I had rigged my Android Smartphone to show so-called beacon notifications and they did not even exist!  When typing in my Smartphone, which by the way is more powerful than most laptops, to the Internet to show a number of views of the beacons, this was not believed either.

To suggest we walk around a local supermarket and ask people was even more silly, it is private property and we are guests and I was not about to do that either.  

You see, he has an iPhone and the Apple products are controlled monetarily with all that goes on them by Apple.  Folks, they (Apple) are a pain to work with as a developer.

Apple wants you to use an app, which we do and with the last changes with Apple's operating system last week, you are always behind the eightball in changes that supposedly will work, they don't.

I am passionate about communications.  Being one of the early driving forces back seven years ago, I know the industry inside out.  I lost it language-wise in frustration and not being able to answer or use my Smartphone to show exactly what is available and show on the screen.  He accused that it was rigged!

Going back to my office I dropped into the Verizon store and every Android phone lit up with our notifications! They are non-invasive notifications and do not ding or send out noise, you must have the Bluetooth on to receive notifications.

Was I wrong in my attitude, sure, in retrospect, but do not challenge a whole global multi-billion dollar industry!  We do have the most incredible communications and marketing solution that is working successfully.

Do not get me wrong, is there more to the story, of course, there is, we both need to sit down and clear the air. 

Proximity Beacons work and work successfully!

Sadly the other gentleman had other ideas in his mind, sometimes we need to listen and listen well and not mistrust technology.  That goes for both of us!

www.commsmart-global.com

Email: listen@commsmartglobalgroup.com

Telephone: (515) 200.7068

Copyright 2017

Listen To Your Enemies The Failure Of EAVESDROPPING is Biting Us In The Ass!…

Listen To Your Enemies

The Failure Of EAVESDROPPING…

Analytic Information
Gathering Is a MUST!!!

The continuing plan of Terrorists Attacks.

It is all about Stand-Off, how close can someone wanting to do harm get to inflict their maximum damage.  It is not just regarding physical terrorism it is cyber as well.  How close to do allow people to you?

FORTY-TWO months ago I wrote the following regarding eavesdropping, listening to the sound and chatter of the streets. It seems politicians, Presidents and Prime Ministers have failed yet again.


Not only on the pulse of the people regarding political scenes, Iraq, Iran, Syria and the European terrorists too!

This will not only bite the ass of America and Europe, it will bring unrest to their shores as well.

We are not here to just promote our company and innovations, we are here to save lives!

Eavesdropping is the act of secretly listening to the private conversation of others without their consent, as defined by Black's Law Dictionary. This is commonly thought to be unethical and there is an old adage that "eavesdroppers seldom hear anything good of themselves...eavesdroppers always try to listen to matters that concern them."

In researching the history, we find, Anglo-Saxon law punished eavesdroppers, who skulked in the eavesdrIp of another's home, with a fine; the eavesdropper was also sometimes called, the eavesdrop. Eavesdrop also means a small low visibility hole near the entrance to a building (generally under the eaves) which would allow the occupants to listen in on the conversation of people awaiting admission to the house. Typically this would allow the occupant to be prepared for unfriendly visitors.

Early telephone systems shared party lines which would allow the sharing subscribers to listen to each other's conversations. This was a common practice in rural America which resulted in many incidents and feuds.  In fact, I had one at the farm in England and was that fun!

Our means of communicating have changed in a very short period of time, we have gone from Telephone Party Lines to Smart Mobile Phones, VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) to Satellite Phones.  What about just overhearing conversations, the spoken word?  They are all methods of garnering information being discussed by others and then relayed in one form or another to a central repository.

Sadly, most information is placed in a hopper, silo or storage facility until someone decides we better take a look.  The Hopper Mentality is and has caused too many missed opportunities for successful outcomes.  In fact is has been attributed to successful terror actions against nations.

In the increased clandestine world of government and corporate information gathering, things have not really changed that much.  Yes, we have the Internet, with the good, the bad and the ugly pitfalls of information sharing.  Sadly, collecting information in the field still takes too much time in it being transported, analyzed and acted upon.  Why?

An eclectic group of individuals and corporations decided to make a difference and use their well-earned expertise to change it all.  Originating from different parts of the world was not a problem, the common denominator, law enforcement, counter-terrorism, major crimes digital data collection and analytics experience.  Next are their connections and communication skills, endless, strong and growing every single day.

It is the Word on the Streets and the Missing Link of Intelligence on the Ground.

CommSmart Global is worldwide cyber analytic policing, in more ways than one.  It goes beyond the Internet, it uses secure cloud technology to accelerate the urgency of street level information reaching the analytic core of our abilities. 

The Atmospherics, chatter, a conversation that surrounds us each and every second, is collected in various disruptive means and transported through the Internet for immediate review. 

Our Next Event Predictability capabilities use comparable data collected from differing sources and is analytically checked with our proprietary algorithms, which define the next move.  No more time wasting, no more delays and no more missing the boat on critical events.

Our team of experts can train your staff within law enforcement, military and agencies in our unique techniques, solution, and services or we can be contracted as our security clearances meet all rigorous requirements.

Importantly, it is our leadership and communication skills that ease the ability to be fast-tracked in the use of these unique solutions.

We work worldwide for organizations and governments that are of the correct cultural disposition.

It goes deeper than that, CommSmart Global has a Cyber and Computer security division with Public Safety solutions.  Not ideas, working solutions that contribute to security and our worldwide team is passionate about doing the job we were born to follow.

We are not here to mess around, we are serious, as a needed heartbeat!

WE are in the NOW and

KEEP YOU; in the KNOW…

www.commsmart-global.com


Call: +1 (330) 366-6860

Email: moreplease@commsmart-global.com

So You Read it On the Internet!

So You Read it On the Internet! 

By Nicholas Ashton, CEO/CIO, CommSmart Global Group

Oh my, you read it on the Internet, so it must be true!  

No, anything whatsoever can be written on the Internet, anything and even scum bucket newspapers spread vicious lies.  As you know, there are always two sides to every story.  We have all seen the National Enquirer, the retractions, and the following lawsuits.  

You see, today people who want to get back at someone and attack them perpetually, using the Internet or a low life rag of a newspaper who never even approaches the individuals in the story to hear the other side. 

Anything placed on the Internet is there forever and ever and not always a happy ending to the anonymous writer or forwarder of the miss-information.

Sounds a bit far-fetched? 

No, as there are those that are closed mind and believe what they read, which is convoluted facts and fiction, then they spread the information or take action in a manner that is open for legal aggression.

No, I read it on the Internet!

Responding to these individuals, former co-workers or ex-girlfriends is not the way to go.  It allows them to think they have won and got one over on you. 

They have got under your skin and annoyed you. Never respond, as it is only going to cause you to do something you will regret.  This is the trend of the unsociable society of today!  

Unfortunately, there are those that never check the real facts and the twisted and derided muses of sick individuals who use this weapon.  They hide behind a keyboard and screen, smirking as they think they strike at your heart with each keystroke.  

Just as hackers, phishers, a man in the middle brutal attackers whose minds are polluted with hatred and wanton aggressive in harming you.

It is pure HATE towards people.  Hatred for what was perceived happened and then twisting the real facts, inventive, sadistic words that they write and giggle as they think what will be your reaction.  The hacker is the same, hatred for what you own, valuables, money, information that they steal and want for themselves without working or lifting a finger for it.

Bullying, stalking and just downright disgusting lies are growing day by day and I can understand the inner feelings of those attacked and the subject of these sick individuals. 

Defending yourself in these situations becomes an extremely difficult situation, as the seed has been sown. 

The more you defend, the more people think that those that shout loudest are guilty, not the fact!  It is inner anger that sadly comes to the surface.  You have maintained silence, not wanting to stir these individuals, which becomes like a hornet's nest or a mound of angry ants.  It is very difficult to maintain a semblance of calmness in this situations.

Beware what you spread about people to others through emails, regarding individuals, it falls under the electronic stalking law.  

Think first of how malicious you are being in re-tweeting, posting or sending emails that you happen to find while wasting your time to dig up what you think is dirt on someone you have a disliking for. 

It has happened to me and I have ignored their sordid intentions and will not stoop to their lowlife level of depravity.  I mean, what is the point?  

Anger and shutting yourself in a room is not the answer.  Nor is responding to those that do bring it to your attention, as no matter what you say, they will not believe you. 

I have met people who talk behind your back, spreading, what they believe is true or twisted, warped, anonymous statements to others.  They cannot stand it that you have a different solid value in making a change and have the testicular fortitude to take it to the upfront and center.

The unsocial side of the Internet is bubbling to the surface and will be stopped, lies, innuendo, hacked information is out there and being extracted to do harm to each of us.  

Do not think that an eight-digit + password is a lock on your world!  It is NOT!

So, in business and your private social life, watch your P’s & Q’s on how you try to retaliate, there are laws against.  

Those that receive such vendettas, ignore and do not add these people to your Christmas card list.

So count your blessings and remember to pay it forward each and every day!

Oh, look what they wrote about… it has to be true, I read it on the Internet!

WE are in the NOW and

KEEP YOU; in the KNOW…

www.commsmart-global.com

Worldwide Call: +1 (515) 200.7068

Email: standfirm@commsmartglobalgroup.com

Are You Lost In Oblivion Again?

Are You Lost In Oblivion Again?

by Nicholas Ashton, CEO/CIO, CommSmart Global Group

I know you woke up, rubbed the sleep from eyes and stumbled to the bathroom or the kitchen, depending what was going through your mind.  

In or out, that is the first decision of the day!

What drives you?  Was the late night news still ringing in your mind or Jimmy Fallon, reading silly Tweets, still bouncing from side to side in your mind, or was it the crazy Halloween party get-ups, your business, employment or the family?

Might even have been Mother Natures Fury, Global Terror, political nutjobs or someone in the family.

In this year of 2018, information is bombarding you at a rate some cannot handle.  Too Much Information (TMI) is more than an issue.  Processing power is stretched and decisions are becoming more difficult.

Morons killing people for no apparent reason, President's chastising world so-called leaders and failed politicians treading on fine lines not wanting to upset the already overturned rotting apple cart. 

What a week so far!

Try the logical approach, find that quiet corner somewhere and take deep breaths, think of all that is directly affecting you and try to prioritize them. 

Difficult at first, but it is worthwhile.

Most of you personally cannot change a good 90% of the concerns.  The other 10% is close to your heart and to place them in order will take some deep thoughts and time.

Family, business, friends and the sordid issues that keep flashing in your mind. Never in the history of the world has there been so much thrown at you, muddling your mind and tearing you in all directions.

Now you have found this corner to mardle over, do it every day, it is time for you to have an introspective of your surroundings, both mental and physical.

Look back at the information that was directed at you, or you read in a blog, a newspaper or on the Internet. The conversations at work, with the family or the overheard conversations in public places, they all leave a residue in your mind that is triggered by other events.

Become frugal in how you handle it all, be innovative in your decision making and make this a daily occurrence.  

Just a thought...

www.commsmart-global.com

Email: thoughts@commsmartglobalgroup.com

Telephone: +1 (515) 200.7068

copyright 2017

HAPPY LABOR DAY... CHANGE YOUR COMMUNITY - ALL OF US DESERVE IT! BRING BACK THE TRUST, RESPECT & SAFETY…

HAPPY LABOR DAY...

CHANGE YOUR COMMUNITY - ALL OF US DESERVE IT!

BRING BACK THE TRUST, RESPECT & SAFETY… 

ATMOSPHERICS 

Collectively Labor Day is a fun time, too much food, drink and annoying family members.  Right?

It is catch-up time, on all the news, views, and gossip between bites of over of undercooked burgers, weird tasting coleslaw, and punch.

What is missing is information storage, understanding or the analytics of what has just happened.

Law Enforcement cannot work unless we have information flow and the ability to analyze what we have learned...

That is us, ATMOSPHERICS Personified...

This is Atmospherics!

Now at the fingertips of those that protect and serve.  Law enforcement is people and people are the police and vice versa.

It is the CommSmart way to present our information to you or through our Super 1829 Symposiums which are powerful mentoring and coaching full day events.

Law enforcement has radically changed since the days of Sir Robert Peel and his Nine Peelian Principles, though, they are the basis of policing and when connected to strategic technology and change agency, times change for the betterment of all, this includes of course community and law enforcement agencies. 

That is the CommSmart Way!

Contact and discuss…    

Email: analytics@commsmartglobalgroup.com

Or call… +1 (330) 366.6860

www.commsmartglobalgroup.com

Copyright 2017

Can You See The Whole Food Facts Through The Amazon Forest? This is Not The Demise of Local Supermarkets, It Is The Beginning of a Winning Adventure!

Can You See The Whole Food Facts

Through The Amazon Forest?

This is Not The Demise of Local Supermarkets,

It Is The Beginning of a Winning Adventure!

by Nicholas Ashton, CEO/CIO, CommSmart Global Group

I was the kid on the delivery bike with boxes of groceries in the front basket, riding through the village delivering your food supply.  The early 1960s, a whole different world than today.  A world of trust, respect and a small selection on the shelves of any grocery store.  How things have changed!

Why the stock market acted in such a manner on the announcement of Amazon’s purchase of Whole Foods was a supposed death knell to local and regional supermarkets I will never know! 

But I do!

Grocery shopping has radically changed is a firm fact.  Walmart is not my favorite store.  I grew up in the U.K. and Sainsbury’s was the King!  Even that has changed!

When Tesco’s came on the scene and it became aisles of cans, breakfast cereal, and the sugar was always at the back of the store to draw you in, past all the other merchandise.  There were no more big slabs of butter that was prepared for you whatever quantity you deserved, it was now a world of prepackaged food in odd sizes.

Well, the delivery bike is sitting rusting behind a building somewhere and we drive to the local store.  Shopping carts greet us with flyers for the in-store bargains and price matching coupons.  You join the line of people pushing their carts, carrying their important list of necessities and then, you are bombarded with special offers, ‘2 for one’ specials of the day and the smell of freshly baked bread’ to entice your inner hunger to buy and buy more than you require.

You can’t get that from a computer screen or keyboard on your Smartphone!

Or can you? 

Shopping is a chore and disliked by most.  Back in the day, my personal delivery service with the bike was something that was so different, personal and cost effective.  Today some stores offer home delivery for ‘free’, as long as you spend $100 or more and deliveries happen on certain days of the week at predetermined times.  So we have come full circle, so to speak.

We choose the supermarket we shop at for many reasons, price and quality are always at the top of the list. I can name my favorite stores from different parts of the US.

Florida – Publix, Goodings & Winn Dixie

Utah – Harmons & Smiths

Indiana – Aldi & Krogers (or local name)

Ohio – Aldi, Kroger, Giant Eagle & Meijer

Iowa – Fareway, Hy-Vee & Aldi

Notice NO Walmart or Whole Foods!

The purchase by Amazon of Whole Foods opens a whole new competitive world for us with technology foresight.  The Smartphones and computers will play a major role.  Fingers & Thumbs will walk the aisles of our favorite stores, but it is ingrained in us all to physically shop!

Shopping is about control of the shopper, through our eyes, the sound and beat of the music and all importantly, aromas.  Yes, we can be led by the nose to increase the amount we plonk into the shopping trolley as we are offered specials and bargains through social media interaction as the shopper is guided through the store.

It is CommSmart Global Group, a LexisNexis Risk Solutions Partner that we have the facts, current statistics and importantly the communications skills to lead the way with a trolley that does not have a squeaky or fault wheel, just one that glides down the right aisles with important information in the palm of the shopper’s hands.

Some shopping facts - We brought you ‘sound’ to enhance a shopper's experience and pace their shopping time.  Aromas to attract them to the fresh vegetables with moist fresh veggies that had the aroma of a thunderstorm.  The fish and meat department that had the sound and aroma of an ocean.  With the ultimate draw of the fresh bread with a dash of sweetness to entice and succeed.

We encompass the smart shoppers’ technology of interactive screens, Wi-Fi capability and direct connections with anyone with a Smartphone entering the store. 

Loyalty programs must have a place, it always has to be a quality two-way street.  It is the fine line of friendly information and not one of ‘in your face’.  In fact, we can go so far as tracking their shopping habits by creating grids, showing how much time is spent in each area.  Yes, we can intrude and be rude, we are not, it is for the betterment of all to make shopping a true experience instead of just dashing in and out trying to find the diapers or the sugar.

Remember when self-service gas pumps were first introduced?  The gas convenience store did not shut up shop, it adapted is thriving and so will you!

Contact our team and discuss how we can take you ten paces forward in enhancing your shopping experience for your true customers.

www.commsmartglobalgroup.com

Email: aislesofsmiles@commsmartglobalgroup.com

Telephone:

US: (515) 300.6130 or (330) 366.6860

Copyright 2017