GDPR in Hospitality: Vendor Compliance Query Template Available to Industry

Written by: Lucinda Hart, CAE, MBA and Carl Weldon, FIH, FHOSPA...As a professional association, Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®) created a group of hospitality industry experts to develop hospitality-specific guidelines to assist with preparation for General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) compliance.  The HFTP Hospitality DPO/GDPR Task Force and its members have been working on industry awareness along with tools and resources for the industry....As in several industries, data management in hospitality is coordinated with multiple vendors. The task force members felt that lodging organizations should begin by inquiring about GDPR compliance from their vendors. HFTP would like to provide our stakeholders with a Vendor Compliance Query Template. The template letter is now available to download on the HFTP website....The letter asks vendors to submit their current data security and privacy practices and to describe the steps they are taking to become compliant ahead of the GDPR deadline of 25 May 2018. The letter is meant to act as a starting point to be customized for any individual organization....In addition to providing tools for the industry, the task force is working on industry awareness. GDPR will be a key focus at HITEC Amsterdam 2018. The impact of GDPR on the hospitality industry is tremendous, and two sessions at HITEC Amsterdam will be dedicated to GDPR.  On Friday, 13 April 2018 the morning general session will begin with a panel of experts that will discuss the GDPR, DPO Introduction and Update. A separate dedicated Q & A session will follow on GDPR/DPO....To learn more, access HFTP's GDPR Resources.... Lucinda Hart is the chief operating officer (COO) of HFTP. Contact Lucinda at [email protected] or +1 (512) 220-4020.... Carl Weldon is the COO of Europe for HFTP. Contact Carl at [email protected] or +1 (512) 220-4164.