EDITOR ’ S DIARY
PASSION FOR HOSPITALITY
EDITORIAL Jeff Weinstein , Editor In Chief 1.312.274.2226 E-mail : jweinstein @ hotelsmag . com Barbara Bohn , Managing Editor 1.312.274.2209 E-mail : bbohn @ hotelsmag . com Chloe Riley , Associate Editor 1.312.274.2229 E-mail : criley @ hotelsmag . com Bert Ganzon , Senior Art Director 1.312.274.2227 E-mail : bganzon @ mtgmediagroup . com Steve Vanden Heuvel , Senior Art Director 1.312.274.2218 E-mail : svandenheuvel @ mtgmediagroup . com Brittney Hackbart , Associate Art Director 1.312.274.2216 E-mail : bhackbart @ mtgmediagroup . com Michelle Villadolid , Freelance Design E-mail : mvilladolid @ mtgmediagroup . com Bill McDowell , Vice President , Editorial Director 1.312.274.2201 bmcdowell @ mtgmediagroup . com
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Judith Crown , Megan Rowe , Juliana Shallcross , Erin Sund
PUBLISHING David Wood , Publisher 1.312.274.2225 dwood @ hotelsmag . com Bill Kinross , Vice President , Group Publisher 312 / 274-2214 bkinross @ meatingplace . com
INTERNATIONAL ADVISORY BOARD Nakul Anand Executive Director , ITC Ltd ., Gurgaon , India Stephen Bartolin President , Broadmoor Sea Island Co ., Colorado Springs , Colorado Alex Kyriakidis President and Managing Director , Middle East and Africa , Marriott International , Dubai Christopher Nassetta President and CEO , Hilton Worldwide , McLean , Virginia Monika Nerger Chief Information Officer , Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group , Atlanta Paul Sistare President and CEO , Atlantica Hotels International , São Paulo Susan Terry Vice president of culinary and food and beverage operations , Marcus Hotels & Resorts , Milwaukee , Wisconsin
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Get proactive on DATA SECURITY
Just after New Year ' s Day , Marriott International revised downward the number of guests whose passport numbers and payment card numbers were involved in the September Starwood reservations database security incident . It also finished phasing out the Starwood reservations database with all reservations now running through the Marriott system .
I expect Marriott is continuing its work to create a higher level of data security across its system . I only hope the Starwood breach has served as a wake-up call for all hoteliers to create more
Editor In Chief secure solutions so guests can better trust their hosts with personal data . You ask guests to share more and more information to personalize their experiences , but expect fewer of them to cooperate if they don ’ t trust your ability to protect them .
In December , HOTELS asked trusted hospitality industry consultant John Burns to write an article about what the greater hotel industry should do in response to ongoing data security issue and earn greater trust from consumers and keep potential regulators satisfied . He responded with some very strong , decisive and smart commentary ( read an excerpt of it in this month ’ s Trending section ).
What Burns suggests is no doubt easier said than done — for travel and tourism leaders ( including airlines , car rental companies , OTAs and cruise lines ) to devise and implement more stringent guest data security standards . But the alternative , more destructive headlines about similarly sensational breaches , could prove even more expensive and damaging .
Burns suggests that a data security workgroup led by key technology-based associations first meet to define actions and aggressive timelines to implement standards . A plan can then be presented with the hope that industry-wide cooperation and collaboration will send a signal of resolve and cooperation to create better traveler data security . “ The security of our guests ’ data is inseparable from our own security and success ,”
Burns wrote .
Allow recent events — not just the Starwood breach — to act as a catalyst to improve security before regulators tell you exactly how to do it . Understanding consumers will appreciate the effort and it will serve to improve trust — and what could be more important than that ?
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