Front Office

News / Technology

Are hotel CEOs overestimating their AI edge?

By Matthew Parsons | June 2, 2026

Hotel brands are touting AI as a competitive advantage, but long-term differentiation may hinge on data, execution speed and control over distribution. Read More

Interview / Startups

Startup Stage: Opally targets hotel communication overload with AI receptionist platform

By Cathy Walsh | June 1, 2026

The startup’s AI platform manages hotel guest inquiries across channels, aiming to reduce repetitive communication work for front-desk staff. Read More

Interview / Startups

Startup Stage: First Wave AI automates hotel guest communications and revenue intelligence

By Cathy Walsh | April 20, 2026

The startup offers an AI platform that manages guest interactions across channels while providing staff support and operational insights. Read More

News / Technology

The biggest AI skills gap hotel teams can't afford to ignore

By Florian Montag - Apaleo | April 17, 2026

Florian Montag, SVP of revenue at Apaleo, argues that hotels must close the AI skills gap to adopt agentic AI successfully. Read More

News / Technology

Operto develops multi-agent system for hotel operations

By Linda Fox | February 23, 2026

The agents are centralized in a hub that includes hotel policies, operational documents and live reservation data. Read More

News / Technology

PhocusWire's weekly travel tech news briefs: Hilton, Navan, Civitatis and more...

By PhocusWire | January 16, 2026

Keep up with all the latest people, partner and product news from around the global travel industry. Read More

Interview / Startups

The Phocuswright Conference 2025 Launch Innovator: Acai Travel

By PhocusWire | December 1, 2025

Acai Travel received the People's Choice Award as part of Phocuswright’s Launch: Innovation program. Read More

News / Technology

TourRadar launches ‘AI Discovery’ ChatGPT, Instagram, MCP integrations

By Morgan Hines | September 15, 2025

The new tools are aimed at reimagining how travelers discover and book tours that span multiple days. Read More

News / Technology

The evolution of CRM in hotels

By Linda Fox | August 1, 2025

Executives from Penta Hotels and Smart Host discussed customer relationship management and the challenges of merging legacy data with new data in the PhocusWire studio. Read More

News / Technology

How travel marketers can navigate AI evolution of search

By Morgan Hines | July 21, 2025

During the latest installment of Phocuswright’s The New Age(nts) Trend Series, experts opened up about AI-driven marketing changes. Read More

News / Technology

Sophisticated scams are on the rise: How travel brands can secure trust

By Morgan Hines | June 23, 2025

The list of cyber threats to travel brands such as phishing, credential stuffing and nation state attacks is growing as artificial intelligence advances. Read More

Interview / Startups

Startup Stage: GuestOS provides an AI-powered concierge for hospitality, tourism, events

By Morgan Hines | May 5, 2025

GuestOS provides 24/7 multilingual voice support through a single phone number, giving guests instant access to hotel services, tour bookings and recommendations. Read More

News / Technology

From dirty data to performing miracles - hotel approaches to AI

By Linda Fox | May 5, 2025

Executives from Choice Hotels, Ennismore and Revinate shared tips on how to effectively use AI—and how to avoid pitfalls—at a hospitality industry event last week. Read More

News / Technology

Will the tours and activities sector turn to autonomous experiences?

By Morgan Hines | April 25, 2025

Like the rest of the travel industry, the future of the tours and activities sector is likely to be altered by artificial intelligence, though exactly how remains to be seen. Read More