Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®) announced today that it has joined the PCI Security Standards Council (SSC) as a new participating organization. As a participating organization, HFTP will work with the Council to evolve the PCI Data Security Standard (DSS) and other payment card data protection standards. Recognizing the need for the hospitality industry to have a voice regarding PCI compliance, HFTP joined the Council as an industry advocate.

The PCI DSS, endorsed by American Express, Discover Financial Services, JCB International, MasterCard Worldwide and Visa Inc., requires merchants and service providers that store, process or transmit customer payment card data to adhere to information security controls and processes that ensure data integrity. More information on the council and the standard can be found at www.pcisecuritystandards.org

As a Participating Organization, HFTP will now have access to the latest payment card security standards from the Council, be able to provide feedback on the standards and become part of a growing community that now includes more than 600 organizations. In an era of increasingly sophisticated attacks on systems, adhering to the PCI DSS represents an entity's best protection against data criminals. By joining as a Participating Organization, HFTP is adding its voice to the process.

"Hospitality companies attract credit card hackers and our segment requires special solutions to PCI compliance. It is important for HFTP to be a part of the PCI SSC and represent the hospitality industry," said Frank Wolfe, CAE, CEO of HFTP. "There is a general lack of understanding of how the hospitality industry operates and that creates problems. Our participation on the Council will help initiate a dialogue between all parties and give the industry a voice regarding PCI compliance."

"The PCI Security Standards Council is committed to helping everyone involved in the payment chain protect consumer payment data," said Bob Russo, general manager of the PCI Security Standards Council. "By participating in the standards setting process, HFTP demonstrates they are playing an active part in this important end goal."
Russo will be speaking at HITEC 2011 during the "PCI Compliance Roundtable Update" and discussing how the PCI SSC is handling security issues within the hospitality industry. The "PCI Compliance Roundtable Update" is on Monday, June 20 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Austin Convention Center in Austin, Texas. This session is open to anyone – conference organizers recognize the importance of the subject matter and are allowing all interested parties to attend, HITEC badges are not required. Visit www.hitec.org for complete information about all conference and exhibition events.

HFTP will work with the Council to continue its efforts to educate the hospitality industry on credit card security. For more information about HFTP's initiatives, please contact Katy Walterscheidt, HFTP public relations and social media manager at [email protected], (800) 646-4387 or +1 (512) 249-5333 x27.

About PCI Security Standards Council

The mission of the PCI Security Standards Council is to enhance payment account security by driving education and awareness of PCI security standards. For more information, please visit www.pcisecuritystandards.org

About HFTP

Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®), established in 1952, is a hospitality nonprofit association headquartered in Austin, Texas USA with offices in the EU and Middle East. HFTP is recognized as the spokes group for the finance and technology segments of the hospitality industry with an international network of members and stakeholders. HFTP uniquely understands the industry's pressing issues, and assists its stakeholders in finding solutions to their challenges more efficiently than any organization. HFTP offers expert networks, educational resources, career development programs, research, leadership opportunities and conferences and events. HFTP produces international events throughout the year, including the world's largest hospitality technology tradeshow and conference brand: HITEC. In addition, it oversees the hospitality-specific Pineapplesearch.com® and the Uniform System of Accounts for the Lodging Industry (USALI). For more information about HFTP, visit www.hftp.org. For the latest news, visit the HFTP News page at news.hftp.org and the HFTP Connect blog at blog.hftp.org.

Katy Walterscheidt
Communications Specialist
+1 (512) 249-5333 (Ext 27)
HFTP