Convincing customers they're not being spied upon

Pre-emptive action, use of trusted partners and influencers as advocates are key

Last week, New York’s famed Waldorf Astoria hotel closed for two years of renovations amid ongoing concerns that the Chinese government could be spying on guests. For decades, US government officials stayed at the hotel during the United Nations General Assembly. But in 2015, after the Waldorf was sold to the Chinese Anbang Insurance Group Ltd, President Obama and State Department officials moved elsewhere, citing security concerns. Last month, New York Post gossip columnist Cindy Adams speculated that the reason for the renovations is that the hotel “is getting hardwired”.
 
Plenty of other hotels are likely to be up against