Hotel Industry Commends President's Cybersecurity Initiative

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. February 17, 2015

February 17, 2015 - As President Obama hosts a summit on Cybersecurity and Consumer Protection, the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) today commended his proactive approach, and called for additional collaboration with the technology, telecommunications and public sectors to ensure consumers are protected from a growing network of cyber threats.

“No one is immune to today's increasing cyber threats, and with some five million guests checking into hotels each day, we have a responsibility to ensure they have access to secure network. Because of our commitment to protecting our guests, we have convened a cybersecurity task force which allows for experts from various fields to come together and find common-sense solutions,” said Katherine Lugar, president and CEO of AH&LA. “We applaud today's announcement and the President's dedication to this issue, and look forward to continuing to collaborate across the government, and with the technology and telecommunications industry, to protect guest information and ensure positive experiences at our hotels.”

The Cybersecurity Summit, which is taking place at Stanford University, brings together leaders from across various sectors of the economy, including the hotel industry, tech companies, law enforcement, consumer and privacy advocates, law professors and students — to discusses best approaches to bolster cybersecurity. This year, AH&LA convened a Cybersecurity Task Force in order to help resolve outstanding questions regarding how best to protect consumers and maintain secure networks. Comprised of representatives from a number of companies in collaboration with partners in the technology, telecommunications, government officials and agencies, the task force aims to develop practical, market-based solutions in an effort to provide comprehensive recommendations to the broader hotel industry.

Serving the hospitality industry for more than a century, the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) is the sole national association representing all segments of the 1.8 million-employee U.S. lodging industry, including hotel owners, REITs, chains, franchisees, management companies, independent properties, state hotel associations, and industry suppliers. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., AH&LA provides focused advocacy, communications support, and educational resources for an industry generating $155.5 billion in annual sales from 4.9 million guestrooms.