PII Management & GDPR - Insights

The movement toward high-tech solutions to engage guests has greatly increased in the hospitality industry and has especially accelerated during the global pandemic as hospitality enterprises implemented health safety protocols to address distancing guidelines. As a result, the implementation of property-wide technologies using personal identifiable information (PII) has presented a conundrum to hospitality organizations: how to safely manage this data — to use it for meaningful guest services, while also protecting it from malicious cyber activity.

Opinion Article

April 7, 2023

Forget Gaming: Why the Metaverse Has Its Real Application in B2B

While the media focus has primarily been on the B2C space, B2B Metaverse has many potentials and offers several benefits to businesses. The B2B Metaverse differs from the B2C Metaverse in several ways, including user base, goals, services offered, revenue models, and data privacy concerns. While the B2B Metaverse is gaining traction, it is still in its early stages and requires more development. However, as technology and infrastructure continue to evolve, more and more businesses will explore the potential of the B2B Metaverse to drive business growth. This article will explore the advantages of the B2B Metaverse and explain how it differs from the B2C space.

By Simone Puorto, Head of Emerging Trends and Strategic Innovation, Hospitality Net

Opinion Article Operations & Strategy

March 22, 2023

Data Security and Privacy in Hospitality – Who’s Paying the Bill?

One of the most valuable assets of a hotel brand is information – detailed personal information about guests at their hotels, participants in their loyalty programs, and visitors to their websites. This information allows hotel brands to focus on creating guest loyalty, acquiring potential guests, engaging in effective marketing, expanding market share, and creating properties and services that entice and satisfy hotel guests. Because of this, hotel brands have long contended that they “own” hotel guest data and have unencumbered rights to use it, without respect to the interests of hotel owners and even the guests themselves.

By Robert Braun, Partner, Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell, LLP, JMM

United States

Opinion Article Sales & Marketing

March 20, 2023

Hospitality Marketing in the Cookie-Less Future

It’s no secret that the cookie-less world is coming. And while it may still be a few years off, the impact it will have on hospitality marketing is already being felt. The HSMAI Marketing Advisory Board recently met to discuss the looming cookie-less world.

By Isaac Gerstenzang, Vice President Digital Marketing & CRM, Atlantis Paradise Island, HSMAI Marketing Advisory Board Member, Kerzner

Supplier News Technology

February 7, 2023

D-EDGE further positions itself to become a major payments solutions’ player for the hospitality industry

D-EDGE Hospitality Solutions, a leading hospitality technology provider, is extending its Payment Solutions offer with an integrated and automated payment system, to simplify and enhance the payment experience for hotels as well as their guests. Now, every hotel customer of D-EDGE can choose to use one of the 38 PSPs already connected to D-EDGE or opt for an all-in-one payment solution, D-EDGE Pay.

Press Release Operations & Strategy

July 14, 2022

Cybersecurity revenues in tourism sector poised to exceed $2 billion in 2025, says GlobalData

As the tourism sector has undergone a digital transformation, the wealth of personal customer data that the industry stores has exploded, leaving the industry ripe for cyberattacks. Against this backdrop, cybersecurity will generate revenues of $2.1 billion in 2025 in the travel and tourism industry, up from $1.4 billion in 2021, forecasts GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

GlobalData Plc

Supplier News Operations & Strategy

April 13, 2022

How to Optimize Data Security at Hotels

Data – it’s the currency of the modern age. The truth is that information is far more valuable than cash, which is why a growing number of criminals are far less interested in penetrating a business’s bank accounts than they are in stealing the information contained on its hard drives.

Hotelogix

External Article Operations & Strategy

April 12, 2022

Hotels in hackers’ sights as technology replaces personal touch

Hotels and hospitality businesses are now the third most targeted by cyber attackers of all industry sectors. Despite being bricks-and-mortar enterprises — set up for physical enjoyment of their amenities — they have become a rich mine of data for hackers with nefarious intentions.

Financial Times

Opinion Article Technology

February 22, 2022

Focus on your system in 2022: future-proof PMS for Europe

The light at the end of the tunnel is, at last, getting brighter, countries are loosening their restrictions, and travel is on its way back. Some say that the pandemic has become endemic, therefore what we need to do is blow the dust off our PMS (Property Management System) and get it started again. If your system already runs in the cloud then you will not need to do that, but if not, let me share some thoughts with you on why the ‘PMS in the cloud’ is here to stay, and what is required to make it future proof.

By Wolfgang Emperger, SVP For Europe, Africa, And UK & Ireland, Shiji

Opinion Article Technology

January 25, 2022

Keeping Your Data Safe: Ransomware, Crashes, and Backups, Oh My!

Is your hotel’s data protected? What if your hotel lost access to its data overnight? A situation like this would be more than an inconvenience, it would threaten your hotel’s operations and negatively impact your business in a myriad of ways. Loss of access to data could be the result of an on-premises system crash, which will be inconvenient, but which can be brought back into operation reasonably quickly with the help of your PMS and IT teams. The more serious threat to hoteliers is ransomware attacks, and unfortunately, thanks to their rising prevalence, should be a real concern to hoteliers.

By Warren Dehan, President and Co-Owner of Maestro PMS, Maestro

Opinion Article Technology

January 3, 2022

Hotel Data Security: Challenges to Address in 2022

As hotels find new ways to use technology to attract guests and enhance their properties, they need to remain aware of the security challenges these technologies present.

By Robert Braun and Jim Butler

Press Release Technology

December 13, 2021

HFTP and NCA Publish Resource: “Comprehensive Practices in Club Cybersecurity”

Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®) and the National Club Association (NCA) have partnered to develop a resource designed to provide members with a detailed guide on data and network security. “Comprehensive Practices in Club Cybersecurity” is a full-range report that helps club leadership identify cybersecurity risks, data regulation review, the tools to protect against cyberthreats, IT governance best practices, and response guidance in case of a breach.

HFTP

Opinion Article Technology

December 3, 2021

Hospitality and the Technology Concerns Behind that Welcoming Smile that Greets You When You Walk Through the Door

As we move towards the end of a roller coaster of a year for our industry, the ever so popular pineapple, the early symbol of hospitality, has taken a hit as we pivot around so many obstacles that go against the normal traits that come so naturally for those of us serving guests in hospitality.

By Jonathan Morales, Information and Technology Director for Heritage Hotels and Resorts, Heritage

Press Release Operations & Strategy

October 19, 2021

Playing Your Cards Right: Everything you need to know about strong customer authentication

You have likely experienced strong customer authentication (SCA) in your personal credit card transactions. Think about when you are asked to add a special code or add a password of some kind before you can complete a transaction.

CWT

Opinion Article Sales & Marketing

October 1, 2021

How to prepare for Apple’s Mail Privacy Protection

As of September 20, 2021, Apple released their latest operating systems: iOS 15, iPadOS 15, watchOS 8, and macOS Monterey. With these updates, many users will start using Apple’s latest Mail Privacy Protection feature, which you may have already read about and anticipated over the past few months.

By Nicki Graham, Vice President of Marketing, Cendyn™

Supplier News Sales & Marketing

September 23, 2021

Groups360 Achieves SOC 2 Type 2 Compliance as Part of Continued Commitment to Customer Confidentiality and Data Protection Worldwide

Groups360, the leading online marketplace for meetings and events, today announced that GroupSync™, the company’s cloud-based solution for meeting planners and suppliers has achieved SOC 2 compliance. This recognition represents the highest level of security and trust for service organizations and is especially critical in the meetings and events industry due to the vast amounts of data processed for group travel.

Groups360

Opinion Article Sales & Marketing

September 15, 2021

The Importance of Clean Guest Data

Data is like gold for hotel marketers — but only if it’s good data. Learn all about how bad data can make your marketing fall flat, and discover our step-by-step process for cleaning up your database.

By Elena Ivanova, Director eConnectivity Data Integrations, Cendyn™

Opinion Article Sales & Marketing

September 15, 2021

The Looming Death of Third Party Cookies and Its Impact on Hotel Marketing

Many hoteliers leave marketing up to the experts. They have enough to manage without having to know the ins and outs of SEO, open rates, and conversion metrics. Yet, some things are worth the attention. Google Chrome’s planned removal of third party cookies in 2023 is perhaps the most impactful marketing event to happen in the last five years.

By Simone Puorto, Head of Emerging Trends and Strategic Innovation, Hospitality Net

Opinion Article Technology

September 8, 2021

Going to HITEC 2021? What You Should Know About Travel and Event Cyber Security Risks

As anyone in the hospitality industry is undoubtedly aware, it is finally that time of year again. The Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference (HITEC) is just around the corner, marking the long-awaited return of in-person events and tradeshows. This year, HITEC will take place in Dallas, Texas, at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center from September 27-30th.

By Jeff Venza, Chairman and CEO, Venza

United States

Supplier News Sales & Marketing

September 2, 2021

Groups360 To Partner With PCI Security Standards Council To Help Secure Payment Data Worldwide

Groups360, the leading online marketplace for meetings and events, announced today that it has joined the PCI Security Standards Council (PCI SSC) as a new Participating Organization. Groups360 will work with the PCI SSC to help secure payment data worldwide through the ongoing development and adoption of the PCI Security Standards.

Groups360

Opinion Article Sales & Marketing

July 9, 2021

How Privacy Protection is Changing Email Marketing

Privacy is the issue on most people’s minds these days when it comes to technology, and companies are responding by giving users more control over their data. While consumers see these recent changes as beneficial, marketers are more than a little concerned. That is because these changes are on course to alter the foundation upon which virtually all digital marketing is based. While there is a future for email marketing, hoteliers need to be aware of what is happening so that they can adjust their strategies accordingly. In fact, hotels that prepare properly can get ahead of the competition and use this as a way to get back to the core of hospitality — creating meaningful relationships with their guests.

By Robert Schimmel, Vice President of Product Management, Cendyn™