MANHATTAN, NEW YORK: Baccarat Hotels, which is owned by China Insurer Sunshine Insurance Group, has informed clients that their personal details could be at risk as the opulent hotel has been hit by a vicious cyber-attack.
On Tuesday, September 26, 2023, an email from the CEO revealed that the attack is affecting Manhattan's revered Baccarat hotel, and the historic French crystal firm of the same name, according to Daily Mail.
The hotel, which is tucked away on a Fifth Avenue corner next to the Museum of Modern Art, first opened its doors in March 2015 and offers more than 114 luxurious rooms with rates starting at $899 a night.
A-list celebrities, including Kim Kardashian, Serena Williams, and Cara Delevingne, are frequent visitors of the opulent hotels.
How Baccart’s cyber-attack can harm clients’ personal info
In a statement, Maggie Henriquez, the head of the preeminent crystal factory, cautioned clients, who pay up to $5,000 for a single cocktail, to be conscious of any suspicious messages from parties posing as Paris-based businesses.
"Your loyalty is our priority at Baccarat and I am contacting you to share an important message. As a matter of anticipation and risk prevention, I must inform you on behalf of Baccarat that our Maison is currently facing a cyberattack. As a result, a portion of our activity is constrained," the email stated.
The message, which was obtained by Daily Mail, does not describe the nature of the attack but tries to allay fears by claiming that "at this time, there is no indication that any of our customers’ personal or confidential data has been compromised.'
'Nevertheless. We ask that you exercise the utmost vigilance with regard to any unusual message you may receive from Baccarat,’ it added.
In addition, Henriquez, who took over as CEO of the 257-year-old French crystal manufacturer in 2021, warned, "If you receive an unusual request from our Maison, please do not hesitate to contact us by phone to verify its authenticity."
"The protection of your data is our priority, and all our teams are working to this end. We thank you for your trust and loyalty and we are available to answer any questions you may have," she continued.
However, the Baccarat hotel has yet to issue a public statement concerning the recent cyber-attack.
Previous cyber-attacks at Las Vegas resorts
This breach follows another cyberattack this month that created pandemonium at numerous Las Vegas resorts, preventing visitors from entering the renowned Bellagio's 3,933 rooms and leaving the ARIA casino totally vacant due to malfunctioning slot machines.
MGM Resorts International hotels, which have around 48,000 rooms on The Strip and include Mandalay Bay, Luxor, and MGM Grand, were among those affected by the attack, which is presently being investigated by the FBI.
The outage, first detected on Sunday, September 10, reportedly affected company emails, reservations, room keys, and casino slot machines.
'We also notified law enforcement and took prompt action to protect our systems and data, including shutting down certain systems. Our investigation is ongoing, and we are working diligently to determine the nature and scope of the matter,’ the company said in a statement at that time.
