GDPR Starts at the End of May – Are You Ready?

Do you know what GDPR is, and how it could impact your hospitality business? Here’s an overview of what you need to know. The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a law passed by the European Union (EU) regarding the management of the personally identifiable information (PII) belonging to citizens of its member countries. This legislation will go into effect May 25, 2018.

The hospitality industry processes massive amounts of personal data, making it vital that your hotel, restaurant or resort is well prepared. The risk is high, and the rules complex. For example, you’ll have just 72 hours to notify the Privacy Commission of any data breaches. A breach can result in fines of up to four percent or $24 million of an organization’s revenue.

Consider the Following GDPR Best Practices:

Train Your Management Team

Be sure all managers are aware of the GDPR, what it means and what steps and procedures are being put in place to address it. They, in turn, should train the rest of the staff.

Document the Data You Store

Note the kind of information you retain, where it is stored, where it was obtained and who you share it with. Review the policies and procedures regarding collection and storage of this data to ensure it complies with GDPR.

Obtain Guest Consent

At all times, there must be a clear “opt-in” given by the guests. There can be no pre-checked boxes. Consider adding it to your current online or in-person check-in process. Revise any legal disclaimers to conform to the new legislation. Disclose what you will be doing with the data and how long you expect keep it. Keep a record of this consent.

Know Guest Rights

GDPR applies to all EU citizens, no matter where they are located. Their rights under this regulation include:

  • the right to access their data;
  • the right to rectification;
  • the right to erase;
  • the right to restrict processing;
  • the right to transfer their data to another party;
  • the right to object; and
  • the right to be excluded from automated marketing or profiling.

Is Your Team In Need of Finding the Best Hospitality Talent?

At Horizon Hospitality, our team of hospitality recruiters is ready to find the best match for your hospitality job openings. Contact our team today to get started!

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