Hospitality Cybersecurity: 2025 Threats and Trends

Hospitality Cybersecurity: Key Findings for 2025

• 31% of hospitality businesses have experienced a data breach — and 89% of them were hit more than once in a single year.
• 32% of cyberattacks in 2025 are caused by unpatched software and outdated systems.
• 70% of hotel staff have access to sensitive systems without regular cybersecurity training, increasing internal risk.
• The average cost of a hospitality breach is now $3.82 million, with major incidents exceeding $5 million.

As hotels adopt more digital tools like online check-ins and smart room controls, their exposure to cyber threats is growing. This article explores the latest trends, statistics and strategies shaping hospitality cybersecurity in 2025.

Hospitality Cybersecurity Risks in 2025

Digital transformation has empowered hospitality — from hotels and resorts to restaurants and cruise ships — but it has also widened the attack surface. 

According to a report, 31% of hospitality organizations globally have experienced a data breach, with 89% of those suffering repeat breaches within a single year. 

The average cost per breach surged to $3.36 million in 2023, up from $2.94 million in 2022. 

Additionally, Trustwave flags over 14,000 publicly exposed vulnerabilities in hospitality systems, with 61.5% of breaches traced to these openings. 

These statistics underscore that cyber security in hospitality industry operations isn’t optional — it’s mission-critical and financial and reputational risks are growing.

Trends in Hospitality Cybersecurity

Cyber threats in hospitality are shifting fast. Here’s what’s shaping hotel cybersecurity in 2025.

AI-Powered Attacks

One of the most pressing cybersecurity trends in hospitality for 2025 is the rise of AI-powered attacks. 

Generative AI is being used to automate phishing schemes, voice scams and malware creation with alarming precision. 

In fact, 50% of cybersecurity executives believe AI will significantly escalate adversary capabilities this year. 

A notable example is the MGM Resorts breach in September 2023, which reportedly caused over $100 million in damages and was driven by AI-enhanced social engineering and phishing tactics. 

As these threats grow more sophisticated, hospitality businesses must implement real-time defenses — including voice authentication filters and deepfake detection — while also ensuring staff receive consistent training to counter social engineering.

Human & Machine Blurring

With employee churn and interconnected systems, the risk of credential misuse continues to rise. 

By 2025, an estimated 70% of hotel staff will have access to sensitive systems without receiving consistent cybersecurity training. 

Meanwhile, the expanding "identity surface" — including IoT devices, PMS integration and machine accounts — requires hotels to adopt zero-trust models and implement stronger identity governance protocols. 

This means investing in continuous training for employees, along with deploying tools like machine-identity detection and privileged-access management to secure every layer of access.

Outdated Software

Unpatched software remains one of the biggest entry points for attackers — 32% of cyberattacks in 2025 are linked to these known vulnerabilities. 

Outdated PMS systems, third-party dependencies and widespread smart devices like door locks and in-room IoT amplify the risk.

Many hotels struggle to keep up with security patches due to vendor reliance or compatibility issues. 

Addressing this requires adopting automated patch management tools, running regular vulnerability scans and maintaining an accurate inventory of all systems to identify and close gaps before they can be exploited.

Real-World Case Studies: Cybersecurity Lessons from the Field

Recent hospitality cyber incidents underline systemic weaknesses:

• Marriott International (2020): 5.2 million guest records were exposed due to stolen credentials. The breach revealed poor privilege access management.

• Booking.com (2022): Targeted with phishing schemes using fake reservation links to trick hotels into revealing portal credentials.
• Red Roof Inn (2023): Cyberattack exposed franchisee POS systems, forcing system-wide audits and protocol upgrades.

These case studies highlight the urgent need for hospitality cybersecurity strategies that prioritize endpoint protection, staff training and third-party risk mitigation.

Navigating Compliance: Regulations & Hotel Cybersecurity Obligations

The EU AI Act takes effect on February 2, 2025, signaling a shift toward stricter data privacy and transparency regulations. 

Similar measures are emerging across U.S. states and other regions, creating a fragmented legal environment that hospitality businesses must navigate carefully. 

The sector is especially vulnerable to copycat domain registrations, phishing scams and fake booking sites — areas often overlooked in compliance audits. 

To stay compliant and competitive, hospitality organizations need to audit their data flows, implement privacy-by-design principles and align with evolving AI regulations. 

Monitoring domain misuse, deploying DMARC and HTTPS protocol  and running regular phishing simulations should be part of any hotel’s cybersecurity playbook.

Final Thoughts On Cybersecurity in the Hospitality Industry 

Cyber threats in hospitality are becoming more sophisticated, costly and frequent. 

As guest-facing technologies evolve, so do the risks — ranging from AI-driven phishing to identity misuse and unpatched legacy systems. 

In 2025, cybersecurity is a core business function, not just an IT issue. Hotels that prioritize real-time threat detection, zero-trust access controls and compliance with emerging regulations will be better positioned to protect their data, operations and reputation. 

Building a resilient cybersecurity posture is now essential to delivering a secure and seamless guest experience.