A recent high-profile cyberattack on a major international hotel group serves as a stark warning about the vulnerabilities in our sector and the critical need for proactive security measures.
Having robust cybersecurity in place has become a necessity in today’s accommodation industry, largely due to the vast amount of guest data stored digitally on internet-connected devices and servers.
While there’s no silver bullet for cyber security, measures such as two factor authentication (2FA) - which requires people to use two different means of verifying themselves when logging into a secure system – can significantly reduce the risk that your business being compromised.
A major hotel group, which operates around 80 hotels across seven brands throughout New Zealand, Australia and Europe, experienced a significant cyberattack in March and is working through the recovery process – highlighting the complexity of restoring compromised systems.
The impact of the cyberattack has been far-reaching and severely disrupted the hotel group’s normal business operations.
The fact that the hotel group is still working to fully restore its systems emphasises the damage cyberattacks can cause and underscores that prevention is better than cure when facing sophisticated online threats.
Implementing two-factor authentication is a powerful way to boost cybersecurity and is one of the most effective steps accommodation providers can take to protect their data from malicious cyber threats.
While many of our competitors may not yet have adopted 2FA, the increasing frequency and sophistication of cyberattacks make its implementation critical. Such measures will soon become standard practice. Waiting until after an incident occurs can lead to significant operational disruption, financial losses and reputational damage – not to mention upset guests.
This industry cyberattack is an unfortunate example that reinforces the need for businesses to have robust cybersecurity measures in place to avoid the pitfalls of operating in today’s complex digital landscape. By implementing 2FA, accommodation providers can help safeguard their operations, protect guest data and maintain the trust that forms the foundation of the hospitality business.
At Seekom, we’re committed to providing the tools and support you need to operate securely online. This is why we will be rolling out a phased implementation of mandatory 2FA from 20 May, as an important step in our ongoing efforts to protect your business and your guests.
Rest assured, our support team is on hand to answer any questions you might have and help you implement 2FA smoothly.
When it comes to cybersecurity, being proactive isn’t just good practice – it’s good business.
We encourage you to opt in to 2FA as soon as possible rather than waiting until it becomes mandatory. Early adoption allows your team to become familiar with the new login process at a time that suits you.
Thank you for partnering with us in creating a more secure environment for your business and guests. Together, we're taking an important step forward in protecting what matters most.
If you have any questions about the 2FA implementation process, please read our 2FA user guide or contact our friendly support team.
Smarts to help you operate more effectively and efficiently. From guides of our systems and integrations to tips and tricks you can use every day - we've got you covered.
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PO Box 9300, Marion Square, Wellington 6141
Phone (NZ) : +64 4 974 9588
Phone (UK) : +44 20 3835 5939
Support: support@seekom.com
Websites: webhelp@seekom.com
Copyright 2024 © Seekom Limited (NZ owned)
We're thrilled to announce that two-factor authentication (2FA) is now available for all Seekom users! This important security enhancement is a significant step forward in our commitment to protecting your business data and your guests' information.
Starting today, you can enable 2FA for your Seekom account by simply filling out this form and submitting it to our support team. Once activated, 2FA will apply to all staff set up as users within your account, providing comprehensive protection across your entire team.
The opt-in period will run for just over one month and gives you the flexibility to implement 2FA at your convenience. You can choose when best to activate it based on your property's schedule and staff availability, ensuring a smooth transition.
While 2FA is currently optional, it will begin to become mandatory for all Seekom accounts from 20 May onwards to keep you, other clients and guests as secure as possible and futureproof online security. This rollout will happen in tranches, becoming mandatory for some accounts slightly earlier than others. The opt-in period currently underway gives you several weeks to prepare your team and implement the change when it works best for you.
In today's digital landscape, 2FA has become standard practice to safeguard companies’ data across all types of industries and protect them from the reputational damage that data breaches can cause. Businesses worldwide are choosing to adopt this critical security measure to protect sensitive information and prevent it from falling into the wrong hands.
By requiring a second verification factor beyond just a password, 2FA creates a substantial barrier against unauthorised access. This is particularly important for accommodation providers, which handle guests' personal and financial information daily, including banking information such as credit card details.
Implementing 2FA is easy and straightforward for users. After downloading either the Google Authenticator App or Microsoft Authenticator App on their smartphone, all they need to do is scan a QR code from your Seekom account and 2FA will be activated.
Once set up is complete, each user will need to use both their password and a time-sensitive code from their authenticator app to log in to your system. View our 2FA user guide for more information.
If you haven't already done so, now is an ideal time to ensure all your staff have their own individual Seekom logins – to make this easy we include unlimited user accounts with all plans.
Setting up individual logins prepares you for 2FA implementation and also improves accountability by tracking which team member performs specific actions in your system. To find out how to set up staff logins check out our handy guide.
We encourage you to opt in to 2FA as soon as possible rather than waiting until it becomes mandatory. Early adoption allows your team to become familiar with the new login process at a time that suits you.
Thank you for partnering with us in creating a more secure environment for your business and guests. Together, we're taking an important step forward in protecting what matters most.
If you have any questions about the 2FA implementation process, please read our 2FA user guide or contact our friendly support team.
Smarts to help you operate more effectively and efficiently. From guides of our systems and integrations to tips and tricks you can use every day - we've got you covered.
Sign Up For Updates
Contact Us
PO Box 9300, Marion Square, Wellington 6141
Phone (NZ) : +64 4 974 9588
Phone (UK) : +44 20 3835 5939
Support: support@seekom.com
Websites: webhelp@seekom.com
Copyright 2024 © Seekom Limited (NZ owned)
Get ready for a significant security upgrade! We're excited to announce that two-factor authentication (2FA) will be rolling out to all Seekom users in the next quarter. This enhancement will help protect both your business and your guests' information with minimal effect on your operations.
2FA is a security protocol that requires two forms of verification to be provided before access is granted to a user account or system – like requiring two keys to unlock a door rather than just one. This added layer of security ensures that only authorised users can gain access, even if someone else knows the password.
Enabling two-factor authentication (2FA) is important because it adds an extra layer of security to your account, making it much harder for unauthorised users to gain access:
2FA is a simple and effective way to significantly improve your online security and protect both your and your customers' personal information, as well as limit the chance of reputational damage to your business.
Setting up 2FA is quick, easy and typically takes less than five minutes per user. Each user on your Seekom account will just need to download either the Google Authenticator App or Microsoft Authenticator App on their smartphone, scan a QR code from your Seekom account, and they’ll be ready to go with an extra layer of security armour protecting your data.
We regard 2FA as such an essential part of our online security approach that all Seekom staff are required to use 2FA and cannot access our Seekom iBex system without it.
Rest assured we will try to make the upgrade to 2FA go as smoothly as possible for you.
Make sure everyone is set up with their own individual logins. We offer unlimited user logins with all our plans to make this easy (unlike some of our competitors who charge for additional users). A user guide on how to set up staff logins can be viewed here.
Having all staff set up with their own login is best practice, as it allows you to see who has done what on the system, whether making a booking, upselling an item or actioning a rate change.
2FA works for both Google Authenticator app and Microsoft Authenticator App, with each user needing access to their own smartphone to activate their unique code.
When 2FA is first rolled out it will be a ‘soft launch’, which means you’ll be able to opt in and set up 2FA at a time that’s convenient for you and your accommodation property, rather than being made to do it immediately, including potentially during peak check-in times. The opt in option will be available for a few weeks, after which it will become compulsory and will be switched on for all accounts.
For the time being we just want to make you aware of the forthcoming 2FA roll out. No action is required on your part for now, although it’s an ideal time to make sure all your staff have their own individual logins.
We’ll confirm the start date of the soft launch roll out closer to the time and will look forward to taking the next step in our mission to keep your business and the data it holds safer and more secure than ever before.
Smarts to help you operate more effectively and efficiently. From guides of our systems and integrations to tips and tricks you can use every day - we've got you covered.
Sign Up For Updates
Contact Us
PO Box 9300, Marion Square, Wellington 6141
Phone (NZ) : +64 4 974 9588
Phone (UK) : +44 20 3835 5939
Support: support@seekom.com
Websites: webhelp@seekom.com
Copyright 2024 © Seekom Limited (NZ owned)
In today’s fast-paced hospitality industry, guests expect seamless communication and real-time updates. Our SMS solution helps you deliver just that.
Our built-in Seekom guest messaging SMS solution helps you deliver just that, and we're giving you the chance to try it at your accommodation by signing up to receive three months of free SMS credit.
Read on to discover the benefits and sign-up for the special offer (offer expires on 31 March, so get in quick!).
Never tried SMS before? Enjoy three consecutive months of free messaging (up to $40/month value)*. This is equivalent to over 200 messages per month. Experience the power of SMS with no obligation. Set up is fast, and our team can help you create scheduled templates. See first-hand how SMS can elevate your guest experience and streamline operations.
*Terms and conditions apply.
Check out our SMS upgrade guide, or contact our support team and they will be happy to assist you in getting things set up. Just email them at support@seekom.com.
In order to receive your credit (applied retrospectively - see terms and conditions) and take advantage of this three-month promo period, you will need to opt-in before 31 March by clicking here.
Smarts to help you operate more effectively and efficiently. From guides of our systems and integrations to tips and tricks you can use every day - we've got you covered.
Sign Up For Updates
Contact Us
PO Box 9300, Marion Square, Wellington 6141
Phone (NZ) : +64 4 974 9588
Phone (UK) : +44 20 3835 5939
Support: support@seekom.com
Websites: webhelp@seekom.com
Copyright 2024 © Seekom Limited (NZ owned)
Continuing our mission to make your life easier, we’ve wrangled a swathe of popular Australian and New Zealand music, sports, cultural and other entertainment events into a handy calendar to help you plan your accommodation marketing efforts to attract the crowds.
Whether your guests are flocking to stomp to Shihad, swoon to Katy Perry, experience the cultural phenomenon that is Wellington’s CubaDupa, or represent the Barmy Army at the Ashes, they’ll appreciate a well-timed deal and some local knowledge during their stay.
This calendar complements our earlier ‘key dates for 2025’ calendar identifying public holidays, days of significance and school holiday dates for accommodation providers to consider in their marketing and promotion plans for the year ahead.
As the dust settles from the terrific tennis tussle that is the Australian Open and Chinese New Year celebrations continue, there’s a host of gigs, festival action and a three-day golf bonanza happening in February as summer gets into full swing.
Gigs and festivals rock, roll and pop off throughout March, with the WOMAD festivals attracting tens of thousands of world music enthusiasts and some huge names in music, both old and new, drawing in fans across Australasia.
April keeps the grooves going strong with legendary New Zealand funkateers’ The Phenomenon Tour in full effect and ZZ Top rocking Australasia. Some of Supergroove’s 12 gigs have already sold out and demand for accommodation is likely to spike as the band rolls through New Zealand cities.
The Australasian gig scene bubbles along nicely in May, with some iconic names gracing our shores and fittingly playing at venues that can accommodate thousands of fans, many of whom will be looking for a place to stay. On the other hand, the fiercely fought State of Origin battles will be a major drawcard for rugby league fans.
Entertainment acts including stellar pop sensation Katy Perry pack out high-capacity venues across Australia in June. In Hamilton, New Zealand the southern hemisphere’s largest agricultural event Fieldays usually hosts over 100,000 rurally inclined punters over four days.
From a live-music perspective, July is all about 10cc and their Ultimate Ultimate Greatest Hits Tour – maybe all the other bands are taking a ‘dreadlock holiday’. In any case, many of the band’s fans will be revving for the ultimate accommodation solution. Additionally, Melbourne will be under the spell of the Melbourne Magic Festival – the largest of its kind in the southern hemisphere.
August attracts visitors to Brisbane and Hamilton Island with Australia’s largest offshore keelboat regatta, while Sydney expects to host an estimated 90,000 fun runners – with a bit of leg work some of them could be your guests.
With the AFL Grand Final and rugby union Bledisloe Cup clash having topped the 100,000-attendance mark previously, the ball is in your hands if you want to make a pass for the hordes of fans looking to stay in September.
Melbourne is the place to be for league fans in early October, and with attendance records for NRL fixtures increasing year-on-year it’s a smart move to make a play for their custom so you can be ahead of the game. All Blacks and Wallabies supporters will pack out Perth’s Optus Stadium to witness the epic Bledisloe Cup around the same time.
In November Melbourne hosts the quintessential Australian sporting event – the race that stops a nation – with hundreds of thousands attending over the four-day Melbourne Cup Carnival around cup day on the fourth of November. Gigs to suit all types of music afficionados welcome fans, while the first Ashes test kicks off late in the month and you can bet on England’s Barmy Army looking for somewhere to stay.
High-profile cricket matches are the sporting order of the month in December, while the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race will bring in thousands of spectators plus sailors and support crews to Sydney. Dates for the start of Auckland’s ASB Classic tennis tournament at the end of 2025 have not been announced yet, but New Zealand’s biggest annual sporting event will be a magnet for tennis fans across New Zealand looking for accommodation.
Seekom’s flexible functionality makes running and promoting special offers simple all-year round.
Our user-friendly platform lets you send automated or group emails and SMS messages to let people know about your special offers, use promo codes for seasonal deals, or create banners to advertise offers or promotions on your online booking screens.
If your new year’s wish is for data-driven pricing to magic up your profit margins, revenue-management system RoomPriceGenie can help. This savvy service can monitor bookings to identify demand patterns, optimise pricing to increase profits and track your competitors’ moves for you. RoomPriceGenie can be easily integrated with Seekom to make your life easier, and more profitable, than ever.
Contact our friendly team today to discover how Seekom can boost your marketing and promotions throughout 2025 and beyond.
Smarts to help you operate more effectively and efficiently. From guides of our systems and integrations to tips and tricks you can use every day - we've got you covered.
Sign Up For Updates
Contact Us
PO Box 9300, Marion Square, Wellington 6141
Phone (NZ) : +64 4 974 9588
Phone (UK) : +44 20 3835 5939
Support: support@seekom.com
Websites: webhelp@seekom.com
Copyright 2024 © Seekom Limited (NZ owned)