New Chairman Named to Head Boston's Lodging Security Association

Boston, MA, December 19, 2009 --(PR.com)-- The Executive Director of the International Lodging Safety and Security Association, H. Skip Brandt, CPP, is pleased to announce that Mr. Michael J. Soper, CLSD, has been named as the new Chairman of the International Lodging Security and Safety Association’s Boston Founding Chapter (ILSSABoston). The appointment will take effect on January 1, 2010. Mr. Soper has served as the association’s Vice-Chairman and Law Enforcement Liaison since 1998. As Chairman and Law Enforcement Liaison, Mr. Soper will take over the day-to-day operations of the Boston Chapter. Mr. Soper brings to this position over 16 years of experience in hotel security. Mr. Soper is a Certified Lodging Security Director, and a member of ASIS International, and the International Association of Private Officers. Mr. Soper is employed by the Boston-based JPA Companies as Director of Security for the Radisson Hotel Boston, a 356 Room, full-service hotel located in the heart of Boston’s Theater District.

Mr. Soper replaces H. Skip Brandt, CPP, who has been Chairman of the association since 1996. Mr. Brandt has assumed the newly created position of Executive Director. Brandt will focus on expanding the association’s information sharing network to other states and lodging security organizations, and re-engineering the groups’ website. Brandt stated, "We are excited to have Michael take over the reigns as we look to expand the significance of the association’s activities over the next few years. He brings to the position a wealth of experience and knowledge on current industry issues and operations that is simply hard to come by anywhere else and I trust that the Lodging Community, our Law-Enforcement Partners, and ILSSA will benefit from his new role," he added.

ILSSA Boston, a non-profit association, was founded in 1972, and is a public-private partnership between the member Boston area hotels and dozens of local, state and federal law enforcement agencies. ILSSA Boston operates the ILSSA IntelNET a program similar to a "crime watch" for hotels. This email alert system notifies member hotels and allied law enforcement agencies when an issue occurs, and enables properties to communicate with each other to prevent repeated criminal activity at hotels. Working in conjunction with local law enforcement agencies, and state and federal officials, thousands of alerts have been distributed through an extensive email network, resulting in the confirmed apprehension or identification of numerous criminals and prevention of a multitude of fraudulent or criminal activities targeting hotels and tourists.

In addition, ILSSABoston hosts numerous educational seminars on various security topics ranging from detecting methamphetamine labs to credit card fraud, to homeland security issues such as surveillance detection, and how to recognize suspicious materials and behaviors.

For more information about the International Lodging Safety and Security Association contact H. Skip Brandt, Executive Director at: skip.brandt@ilssa.org or visit http://www.ilssa.org

For more information about the JPA Companies visit http://www.jpacompanies.com

For more information about the Radisson Hotel Boston visit http://www.radisson.com/bostonma

PR Contact: H. Skip Brandt, CPP, Executive Director, ILSSA skip.brandt@ilssa.org 617-457-2358

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