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Cybersecurity might not always be top of mind for hoteliers, but with threats becoming more sophisticated, independent operators are being urged to strengthen their digital defences.

IT specialists at BWH Hotels GB, Great Britain’s largest group of independent hotels, including Best Western and WorldHotels, say that while independent hotels face growing risks, they don’t have to face them alone.

By partnering with BWH Hotels, hoteliers gain access to expert IT teams dedicated to safeguarding their businesses. From practical advice to hands-on support, it’s specialist protection designed around the needs of independent hotels. That includes the kind of cybersecurity and compliance support most independents would struggle to resource on their own.Michael Craven, head of IT for BWH Hotels GB, says: “The image of a high-tech hacker breaking through firewalls is often a myth.

“Most breaches start with something as simple as a phishing email opened by an unsuspecting staff member, often from links that look like it’s from a trusted site. Their details get compromised and the attacker gains access through them, as we have seen recently with high profile attacks becoming more common.

“It is individuals that are getting attacked, not some person in a dark room running random lines of script, hacking a firewall and breaking into systems that way. That takes lots of time and effort and it’s much easier to send an email.”

Craven adds that hotel reception inboxes are increasingly targeted on Friday afternoons, one of the busiest, most distracted times of the week.

While it’s vital to train staff to recognise unsafe emails there are also other steps that can be taken to keep your systems and data safe.

As part of BWH Hotels’ support network, built to equip independents with global-quality systems, visibility and protection, hotel owners can gain access to a specialist IT team that works behind the scenes to proactively scan for risks, simplify compliance and help them navigate issues with confidence.

“A lot of independent hoteliers simply don’t have the time or in-house resources to stay on top of this and that’s where we can step in,” says Craven.

“We carry out vulnerability scans, help with GDPR and PCI compliance and explain clearly what’s required. The penalties for getting this wrong can be severe and our job is to make sure they’re protected.”

Vulnerability scanning exemplifies this challenge, being mandated under both regulatory frameworks – but very few hotels proactively conduct these essential security assessments.

Michael Craven said: “A significant aspect of our service involves educating hoteliers about their specific compliance obligations. We begin with preliminary vulnerability assessments, followed by tailored guidance on PCI compliance requirements and GDPR compliance.

“Given the potential financial penalties of an accidental breach of GDPR which could be serious enough to seriously rock a small or medium sized business, this is vital for hoteliers to take seriously.”

BWH service is more than just consultancy though as they help with practical implementation including comprehensive network infrastructure support delivered either remotely or through on-site visits.

Tim Rumney, CEO of BWH Hotels GB, said: “Our technical support is an integral part of the service that we offer our partner hotels. We bring the strength of a global brand, but we’re still small enough to care. Our partners know we’re easy to get hold of, we listen and are always on hand to help.”

“As a former hotelier myself, I know how tough it can be to juggle everything. That’s why I’m proud that we can offer this level of support to hotels across Britain.

“This is exactly our ethos of the Power of Two in action. Hotel owners bring their individuality and local insight, while BWH provides the strength, scale and systems of a global brand.”

The high quality service offered by BWH Hotels GB is the key to their ambitious plans to grow their UK footprint. BWH is planning to add 100 hotels to its GB portfolio to give the group 20,000 rooms nationwide.

For more information about partnering with BWH Hotels visit: www.joinbwhhotels.co.uk