Sometimes, the most disruptive moments in our respective careers are the ones that derive the most meaning, setting us on course for incredible development and professional alignment. And contrary to popular belief, mergers and acquisitions can represent precisely that kind of moment.

Here are the exciting new features and content refreshes that took place over quarter one 2021.

Hoteliers, let me ask you a question. What does it mean to run a secure hotel? The answer may vary, depending on who you ask. Why? Because security, across any industry, is a multifaceted discipline and an essential consideration for brands that interact with customer data and information. Cybersecurity attacks are commonplace in today’s world, and hotels are increasingly attractive targets due to their association with a variety of sensitive data. In fact, two of the top five biggest data breaches made public in 2020 were at hotel chains. Globally, cybercrime damages are expected to reach $6 trillion by 2021.

In any industry, hiring, training, and effectively onboarding new staff is a significant undertaking that is often wrought with nuanced challenges. In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, however, we find ourselves in an entirely new landscape.

Just as you can’t “pour from an empty cup,” hotels can’t provide great service without the help of great staff – hospitality professionals know this to be unequivocally true. Hospitality is, in many ways, defined by its providers. Great hospitality isn’t simply the provision of a singular service; instead, it’s an experience, one that is continuously curated and delivered in a meaningful way via engaged staff, a pristine property, and the best available technological advances.

Sometimes, the biggest threats are the ones we can’t see. Surely, this sentiment rang true over the last year, as the COVID-19 virus swept across the nation, ushering in widespread fear and regulatory change in its wake. But now, as hospitality prepares for a long-awaited period of recovery, we must direct our attention to another unseen threat – data breaches. As our industry continues to adopt self-service technology to digitize the guest experience, guest data protection must be top of mind for every hotelier.

A saying reads, “The true test of leadership is how well you function in a crisis.” In this way, 2020 proved to be a revelatory time for hospitality. Over the course of the pandemic, the industry at large faced, perhaps, its biggest challenge yet. And although we still have our work cut out for us, it’s essential to recognize that this year put hospitality leadership front and center.

Changing Rules for a Changing World: Why Doing Good is Now Very Good for Business
In the world of professional sports, athletes dedicate hours honing their particular craft through the meticulous acquisition and practice of a specialized set of skills. But before they step foot on their arena of choice, they have to learn the rules of the game. After all, you can’t play the game — certainly, you can’t play to win — if you don’t know how the game is played. In the realm of business, the same rules apply.

We ran out of time during the 19th of August’s webinar on Email Protection to answer all the questions. Below we give a bit of attention to areas the attendees sought more coverage:

The time is now! Cyber-attacks are up by as much as 131% since the start of the pandemic. Occupancy rates struggle to achieve 50%. Approximately 87% of hotels are having to furlough staff. It is imperative to act today to achieve a superior data security posture AND save money.