Canadian hotels may be part of security breach, Marriott says

TORONTO Marriott International says Starwood-branded properties in Canada are among those potentially affected by a recent security breach.

A spokesperson for the hotel giant behind brands including W Hotels, St. Regis, Sheraton and Westin said in email to The Canadian Press that the company operates 77 former Starwood branded hotels in Canada.

The spokesperson refused to share the number of Canadians who have stayed there and may be affected by the breach.

Marriott, which purchased Starwood two years ago, previously said hackers stole credit card and passport numbers and other personal data belonging to as many as 500 million guests over four years.

The company set up a website and call centre for guests who believe their data may have been stolen.

A spokesperson with the Canadian Office of the Privacy Commissioner says Marriott informed the office of the breach on Friday and the office is “following up” with the company, but has not opened a formal investigation or received complaints around the breach.

On Sunday, a New York Democrat senator said Marriott hotel officials should pay for new passports for U.S. customers whose passport numbers were hacked as part of a massive data breach.

Sen. Charles Schumer said Marriott should immediately notify customers who are at greatest risk of identity theft and pay the US$110 cost of a new U.S. passport if the customers request it.

Marriott says the State Department hasn’t contacted the company. It said it would reimburse customers who experience passport fraud related to the data breach.