An IT specialist is warning hotels they need to become much more conscious of the security implications surrounding the latest internet technology.

More and more hotels are offering guests access to wireless broadband technology, meaning they can access the internet anywhere in the building.

But this technology is also a prime target for hackers, argued Phil Robinson, chief technology officer at IT security firm Information Risk Management.

“A lot of them have very good security systems while others can be poor,” he said.

“Offering a wireless point is dubious at best and a lot of hotels seem to.

"Another reason that hotels are a good target for hackers is the fact that they are not as security-aware as, say, an internet café would be,” he added.

A further issue would be who would be liable in the event of a guest’s computer being hacked at a hotel, IRM argued.

Although some legal experts have argued it would probably be hard to pin liability on the hotel, it is an area that has yet to be tested in the courts.

by Nic Paton

Buy this week's Caterer magazine for more industry news and analysis