The digital transformation in the hotel industry brings enormous advantages, but also complex legal requirements. For hotel businesses in the DACH region, two sets of regulations are of crucial importance: the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Principles for the Proper Management and Storage of Books, Records, and Documents in Electronic Form and for Data Access (GoBD). Compliance with these regulations is not an option, but a legal obligation, and failure to comply can lead to significant penalties. A violation of the GDPR can result in fines of up to 20 million euros or 4% of the global annual turnover. At the same time, non-GoBD-compliant accounting can lead to substantial additional assessments by the tax office during an audit. The central challenge for hoteliers is to maintain an overview and efficiently implement the requirements of both regulations in daily operations. The solution lies in the combination of clear internal processes and the use of modern, legally compliant hotel software. A powerful Property Management System is the heart of every hotel operation today and the key to managing the complexity of GDPR & GoBD hotel requirements. It not only helps to meet the strict requirements but also to optimize business processes and ensure data security. This guide provides you with a practical checklist and shows you how to make your hotel legally secure for the future, setting the course for sustainable success.
Overview: GDPR vs. GoBD — What Hoteliers in the DACH Region Need to Know
For hoteliers in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, understanding the differences and overlaps between GDPR and GoBD is fundamental for legally compliant operation. Although both sets of regulations concern the processing of data, they have different focuses. The GDPR, implemented in Germany as the DSGVO, concentrates on the protection of personal data of guests, employees, and partners. It regulates how data must be collected, processed, stored, and deleted, and focuses on the rights of the data subjects. Every piece of information, from the email address during booking and the ID copy at check-in to dining preferences, falls under this protection. A hotel in Vienna, for example, must ensure that consent for the marketing newsletter is obtained explicitly and verifiably. The GoBD, on the other hand, are German administrative regulations that focus on digital bookkeeping and the immutability of tax-relevant data. They require that all digital business transactions—such as invoices, receipts, and booking data—are archived completely, traceably, immutably, and in an audit-proof manner. For a hotel in Berlin, this means that any invoice created in the hotel software can no longer be altered afterwards. So, while the GDPR protects the guest, the GoBD secures the integrity of financial data for the tax authorities. A modern PMS must meet both requirements: it must enable data protection-compliant processes while ensuring audit-proof accounting.
Data Transfers and Hosting Locations: A Critical Factor for GDPR
An often-underestimated aspect of GDPR compliance is the physical storage location of guest data. The regulation stipulates that personal data collected within the EU must enjoy the protection of European law. If this data is stored on servers outside the EU, for example in the USA, a legal gray area arises. The European Court of Justice, with its "Schrems II" ruling, invalidated the "EU-US Privacy Shield," which significantly complicates data transfer to the USA. For a hotel in Zurich using a cloud-based hotel software from a US provider, this poses a considerable legal risk. It must prove that the data in the third country enjoys a level of protection equivalent to that of EU law, which is practically impossible. This can lead to fines and loss of reputation. Therefore, the choice of hosting location for your PMS is of crucial importance. Hoteliers should explicitly insist on a server location within the European Union when selecting their software. This ensures that all data remains under the jurisdiction of the GDPR and that no complex international data transfer agreements are necessary. A provider like HotelFriend, which operates its servers exclusively in the EU, offers the necessary legal security. This significantly simplifies compliance with GDPR & GoBD hotel regulations and protects the business from incalculable risks. You can find a detailed discussion of this topic in our article on hotel cybersecurity.
Checklist for Hosting Location:
- ● Check Server Location: Are your PMS provider's servers guaranteed to be within the EU?
- ● DPA: Is there a Data Processing Agreement (DPA) in accordance with Art. 28 GDPR?
- ● Sub-processors: Are sub-processors used, and where are they based?
- ● Encryption: Is the data encrypted both during transmission and on the server?
- ● Certifications: Does the data center have recognized security certificates (e.g., ISO 27001)?
Technical and Organizational Measures (TOMs) in the PMS: Encryption & Access Management
Article 32 of the GDPR requires "appropriate technical and organizational measures" (TOMs) to ensure the security of personal data. A modern PMS is the central tool for implementing these requirements in daily hotel operations. One of the most important technical measures is end-to-end encryption. Data must be protected both during transmission (transport encryption, e.g., SSL/TLS) and at rest on the server (database encryption). This ensures that even with physical access to the hardware, no sensitive guest information can be read. Another crucial point is differentiated access management. Not every employee needs access to all data. A housekeeping employee only needs information about the room status, but not access to guests' billing or contact details. A PMS like HotelFriend allows for the setup of role-based access permissions. This enables a hotel manager in Munich to precisely define which employee group can view and edit which data. This minimizes the risk of internal data misuse and human error. Organizational measures complement the technology. These include regular employee training on data protection, the creation of internal guidelines for password management, and the implementation of a process for reporting data breaches. Secure hotel payment processing through integrations like Stripe, which tokenizes credit card data, is also an essential component of TOMs.
GoBD-Compliant Accounting in Hotels: Requirements for POS and PMS
The GoBD place strict requirements on digital bookkeeping, which are binding for every hotel in Germany. The core principle is the immutability and traceability of all tax-relevant data. Once an invoice or receipt is created in the system, it must not be possible to change or delete it without a trace. Any correction must be logged as a cancellation and re-creation, so that the original transaction remains traceable. A hotel in Hamburg using outdated software without an audit-proof journal risks significant problems during a tax audit. The tax office could dismiss the entire bookkeeping as improper and estimate the revenue, which usually leads to high back payments. A GoBD-compliant GDPR & GoBD hotel PMS ensures that all bookings, invoices, and payments are recorded in a tamper-proof manner. A crucial point is also the interface to financial accounting. High-quality hotel software offers a DATEV export interface. This allows the hotelier or their tax advisor to export the booking data with just a few clicks and in the correct format. This not only saves an enormous amount of time and reduces manual transfer errors but is also seen by auditors as a sign of professional and proper bookkeeping. The investment in such a system quickly pays for itself through the legal security and efficiency gained.
Checklist for GoBD Compliance:
- ● Audit-Proofing: Does your PMS log all changes to bookings and invoices completely?
- ● Immutability: Can once-created invoices be deleted or overwritten without a trace? (This should not be possible!)
- ● DATEV Export: Does the software offer an official interface for exporting booking data?
- ● KassenSichV: Is a certified Technical Security Device (TSE) connected to the cash register?
- ● Procedural Documentation: Do you have documentation describing how digital receipts are recorded, processed, and archived?
Data Protection Impact Assessment and Record of Processing Activities: Obligations for Hoteliers
Two central documentation obligations of the GDPR are the Record of Processing Activities and, in certain cases, the Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA). Every hotel, regardless of size, must maintain a Record of Processing Activities. This is a comprehensive list of all processes in which personal data is processed. It must include the purposes of processing, the categories of data subjects (guests, employees), the data categories (contact data, payment data), and the planned deletion periods. For a boutique hotel in Geneva, this means listing exactly what data is processed in the PMS, the newsletter tool, and the personnel database. This record must be made available to the supervisory authority upon request. A DPIA is required if a data processing activity is likely to result in a high risk to the rights and freedoms of natural persons. This could be the case, for example, with the introduction of extensive video surveillance with facial recognition or the systematic processing of particularly sensitive data (e.g., health data in the spa area). The DPIA is a systematic analysis that assesses the risk and defines measures to minimize it. A modern Hotel Management System can significantly facilitate the creation of the Record of Processing Activities, as it already provides a structured overview of the processed guest data and often includes functions for managing deletion periods.
Guest Data, Marketing, and Consent: GDPR & GoBD in Daily Hotel Operations
The correct handling of guest data in marketing is a balancing act between personalized guest loyalty and strict GDPR requirements. The basic rule is: for promotional emails, such as newsletters or special offers, explicit, voluntary, and verifiable consent from the guest is almost always required. A simple pre-ticked checkbox on the registration form is not sufficient (prohibition of tying). Instead, the guest must actively agree (opt-in). A hotel in Berlin that allows guests to book through its Booking Engine must integrate a separate, unticked checkbox for newsletter registration. The consent must also be logged (who, when, for what). Another gray area is the use of photos. If a hotel wants to use pictures from an event where guests are clearly recognizable for its social media channels, written consent from the depicted persons is also necessary. The principle of data minimization applies to data storage. Only the data that is absolutely necessary for the performance of the contract (the booking and the stay) or due to legal obligations (e.g., registration law) may be collected and stored. Data on guest preferences may only be stored with their consent. A PMS should offer functions to document consent and implement deletion concepts so that data is automatically deleted after the legal retention periods have expired. This is a central aspect of a functioning GDPR & GoBD hotel concept.
Backup Strategies and Audit Logs: Data Security and Traceability
A robust backup strategy is not only a business necessity but also a requirement of the GDPR. Under the principle of "integrity and confidentiality" (Art. 5(1)(f) GDPR), hotels must ensure that personal data is protected against loss and destruction. This requires regular, automated, and tested backups. A hotel in Vienna whose local server fails due to water damage must be able to quickly restore guest data to maintain operations and ensure data integrity. Cloud-based PMS solutions like HotelFriend offer a clear advantage here, as the provider takes care of professional, geo-redundant backups in secure data centers. In parallel, the GoBD require complete traceability of all booking-related transactions. This is where audit logs come into play. An audit log records in a tamper-proof manner which user created, changed, or deleted which data in the system and when. If a tax auditor asks why an invoice was canceled, the hotelier can prove it exactly with the log. This function is essential to demonstrate the audit-proof nature of the bookkeeping. A PMS that does not keep detailed audit logs does not meet the GoBD requirements. The combination of secure backups and complete audit logs forms the technical backbone for compliance with GDPR & GoBD hotel regulations and protects the business from data loss and legal consequences. A comparison of different systems often shows significant differences in these core functions, as our Property Management Software comparison illustrates.
Practical Checklist: Immediate Actions for Hoteliers for GDPR & GoBD Compliance
Implementing the GDPR & GoBD hotel requirements can seem overwhelming. This checklist summarizes the most important immediate actions that every hotelier can take to minimize the biggest risks and create a solid foundation for compliance. Start with an inventory: What data is processed where and for what purpose? This is the basis for your Record of Processing Activities. Next, review your contracts with external service providers (such as PMS providers, newsletter tools, or external accounting services) and ensure that a Data Processing Agreement (DPA) according to Art. 28 GDPR is in place for all of them. Train your employees regularly on the correct handling of sensitive guest data and define clear internal guidelines, especially for the reception and reservation departments. An important technical step is to review the access permissions in your hotel software . Ensure that employees can only access the data they need for their respective tasks. In the area of accounting, you should verify the GoBD compliance of your POS and invoicing systems. Does your PMS offer audit-proof logging and a DATEV interface? Also, check your website and the Booking Engine : Is the privacy policy up-to-date and easy to find? Is consent for cookies and newsletters obtained correctly and verifiably? Working through these points not only creates legal security but also optimizes your internal processes and strengthens the trust of your guests.
Checklist for Immediate Actions:
- ● Create a Record of Processing Activities: Document all data processing processes.
- ● Check DPAs: Conclude DPAs with all external service providers.
- ● Train Employees: Conduct regular data protection training.
- ● Restrict Access Rights: Implement a role-based permission concept.
- ● Ensure GoBD Compliance: Check your PMS for audit-proof logging and DATEV export.
- ● Adapt Website: Update the privacy policy and cookie banner.
- ● Manage Consent: Switch to an active opt-in procedure for marketing.
- ● Define Deletion Concept: Set deadlines for the deletion of data.
How HotelFriend Supports You in Complying with GDPR and GoBD
Complying with the complex GDPR & GoBD hotel regulations requires a powerful and specialized tool. HotelFriend was developed with a clear focus on the needs and legal frameworks of the DACH market and offers an integrated solution that actively supports hoteliers in their compliance efforts. Our servers are located exclusively in the EU, which ensures compliance with GDPR requirements for data transfer and hosting from the ground up. The system is fully GoBD-compliant and guarantees the audit-proof and immutable nature of invoices and booking data required by German tax authorities. With the integrated DATEV export interface, collaboration with your tax advisor becomes child's play, and tax audits lose their terror. The differentiated role and rights system allows you to control data access for each employee individually, thus implementing the principle of data economy. Through the secure connection of payment service providers like Stripe, sensitive credit card data is tokenized and processed securely. Furthermore, functions for managing guest profiles help to document consent and keep an eye on deletion periods. An integrated Channel Manager ensures secure and consistent data transmission to OTAs. Our German-speaking support team in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland is also available to assist you with any questions. HotelFriend is more than just software; it is your reliable partner for a legally secure and efficient hotel operation.
Conclusion
The requirements of GDPR and GoBD are not temporary hurdles for the modern hotel industry in the DACH region, but a permanent part of corporate responsibility. Consistent compliance with these regulations not only protects against significant fines and tax back payments but is also a crucial factor for guest trust and the professionalization of one's own business. Manually managing these tasks is error-prone and extremely time-consuming. A modern GDPR & GoBD hotel PMS tailored to the DACH market is therefore not purely a matter of cost, as discussed in the article on the cost of a PMS, but a strategic investment in legal security, efficiency, and future viability. A solution like HotelFriend takes the technical complexity off your hands by combining GoBD-compliant accounting, GDPR-compliant data management, and secure hosting in one integrated platform. This allows you to focus on what you do best: being excellent hosts. Secure your business for the future and discover how our hotel software can make your daily life easier. Learn about our transparent prices and schedule a non-binding demo today.
