GDPR and the hospitality space: What you need to know

For Europeans who travel abroad, the United States remains a popular destination, which is great news for domestic hotel and resort owners. But bookings from the European Union, while good for business, may soon create real headaches for hoteliers in the U.S in the form of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

The EU adopted the GDPR in 2016, establishing the rights of EU residents with regard to how their personal data is collected, processed, shared and retained. In response, consumer-facing companies around the world, including those in the hospitality space, are struggling to understand how the GDPR will affect business operations and the extent of their compliance obligations. As the 25 May 2018 deadline for compliance is fast approaching, the following answers to some frequently asked questions about GDPR should prove helpful.