STAMFORD, Conn., Nov. 21 (UPI) — The popular hotel chain Starwood, which operates brands that include W Hotels, Sheraton and Westin, announced payment systems at 54 locations in North America were hacked, but no customer information has been compromised.
Hackers placed malware at onsite restaurants and gift shops to collect payment card data at cash registers and other point-of-sale terminals. Starwood said guest reservation and preferred guest membership systems were not involved in the hack.
The company said the malware was designed to collect cardholder names, payment card numbers, security codes and expiration dates. “There is no evidence that other customer information, such as contact information or PINs, were affected by this issue,” the company said.
“We have been working closely with law enforcement authorities and coordinating our efforts with the payment card organizations to determine the facts. We want to assure you that protecting the security of our customers’ personal information is a top priority for Starwood,” Sergio Rivera, who leads the company’s operations in the Americas, said.
Starwood operates more than 1,270 properties in 100 countries, with some 600 in North America.
