Holiday Inn hotels hit by cyber attack affecting bookings and reservations - The Mirror

Holiday Inn's owner Intercontinental Hotels Group was the target of a cyber attack which left customers unsure if their reservations were still in order and others unable to book

The owner of a large hotel chain has been hit by a cyber attack which targeted its "booking channels".

Concerned customers said they were unable to book rooms while others feared their reservations had been scrapped during the attack on Holiday Inn 's owner Intercontinental Hotels Group.

Among them was Josue Rivera who tweeted on Monday morning: " @HolidayInn is my reservation gone? Or is there a problem with the system? I need help."

Kim Sweat asked of the hotel company: "What is going on with your system? For at least 19hrs. Phones and apps not working- afraid to book anything. No customer service at all."

Have you been affected by the Holiday Inn cyber attack? Email us at webtravel@reachplc.com

IHG, which owns some of the largest hotel chains in the world, confirmed the company has been hit by a cyber-attack in a statement.

The firm said it was investigating "unauthorised access" to a number of its technology systems.

The UK-based company said its "booking channels and other applications" had been disrupted since Monday.

"InterContinental Hotels Group PLC reports that parts of the Company’s technology systems have been subject to unauthorised activity," a spokesperson for the company said.

"IHG’s booking channels and other applications have been significantly disrupted since yesterday, and this is ongoing.

"IHG has implemented its response plans, is notifying relevant regulatory authorities and is working closely with its technology suppliers. External specialists have also been engaged to investigate the incident."

They added: "IHG’s hotels are still able to operate and to take reservations directly."

The company manages some of the most recognisable hotel chains in the UK, including Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza and Regent hotels.

The spokesperson did not say whether any customer data had been lost in the cyber attack.

Last month, a Holiday Inn in Istanbul was breached by LockBit, which released data that it had stolen from the company, the BBC reported.

In 2017 the chain was targeted over the course of three months and 1,200 of its hotels were affected.