Hotel Industry News

PhocusWire's in-depth coverage of the hotel sector, featuring news, analysis, interviews, research and more on B&Bs, hotels, guesthouses and other property types.

The hotel sector is undergoing significant transformation, powered by new technologies, evolving guest expectations, and a renewed focus on direct booking and operational efficiency. PhocusWire delivers the latest hotel industry news, covering the strategies and innovations shaping the future of global hospitality.

Hotel chain developments, hospitality trends, and market shifts

Stay updated on how hotel brands are expanding, restructuring, and embracing digital platforms to elevate the guest experience. From contactless check-in and AI-powered pricing to loyalty evolution and branded residential offerings, our coverage tracks the industry’s response to changing demand and competitive pressure.

marriott-partners-ori
News / Technology
Marriott partners with robotics startup to reimagine guest rooms
By Jill Menze | January 18, 2022
As part of the hotel’s new Marriott Design Lab, Marriott is partnering with Ori to create flexible and multi-functional guest rooms. Read More
STARTUP STAGE: Staypia uses AI to give travelers maximum discount on hotels
Interview / Startups
STARTUP STAGE: Staypia uses AI to give travelers maximum discount on hotels
By Jill Menze | January 18, 2022
Staypia searches for the lowest price for 3.16 million hotels and beats that by as much as 30% more in discount. Read More
Even top hotel brands need to improve distribution and marketing performance in 2022
From Our Partners / Distribution
Even top hotel brands need to improve distribution and marketing performance in 2022
By Dori Stein - Fornova | January 17, 2022
In such turbulent COVID times, it will come as little surprise that hotels are struggling to find their feet when it comes to optimizing their distribution. Read More
Origin raises $5M for membership-based trip-planning app
News / Startups
Origin raises $5M for membership-based trip-planning app
By Jill Menze | January 14, 2022
Origin's travel curators have local expertise and use machine learning to help travelers find, plan and book their trips, including flights, accommodation and experiences. Read More
VIDEO: How hotel marketing tactics are shifting
News / Distribution
VIDEO: How hotel marketing tactics are shifting
By PhocusWire | January 12, 2022
PhocusWire talks to Peter O'Connor, professor of strategy at the University of South Australia, on hotels are nurturing direct bookers and how distribution is swinging back in favor of OTAs. Read More
phocuswire-pulse-loyalty-tokens
News / Technology
VIDEO: How DeFi tokens can reinvent travel loyalty
By PhocusWire | January 11, 2022
Coras CEO Mark McLaughlin explains how blockchain-based tokens can solve problems inherent in existing loyalty programs. Read More
Tourism startup LynKey launches NFT solutions for travel experiences
News / Startups
Tourism startup LynKey launches NFT solutions for travel experiences
By Jill Menze | January 11, 2022
LynKey aims to connect people with property tech and smart tourism experiences from resorts and cruises with NFTs and metaverse AR and VR solutions. Read More
startup-stage-katanox
Interview / Startups
STARTUP STAGE: Katanox aims to simplify hotel distribution
By Mitra Sorrells | January 10, 2022
Katanox is focused on opening hospitality distribution to enable hotels to capture more direct bookings through multiple channels and to provide more choice for travelers. Read More
How to prepare for the Omicron wave with hotel business intelligence data
From Our Partners / Distribution
How to prepare for the Omicron wave with hotel business intelligence data
By Dori Stein - Fornova | January 10, 2022
Building a tech stack that collates hotel and guest data, competitor pricing and e-commerce tools will give revenue, distribution and marketing teams the opportunity to navigate their way to revenue... Read More
Social media-powered Luxury Travel Hackers raises $250K via crowdfunding
News / Startups
Social media-powered Luxury Travel Hackers raises $250K via crowdfunding
By Jill Menze | January 6, 2022
Luxury Travel Hackers puts together bookable trips using influencer-produced content. Read More
Spectaflow adds €1.7M for hotel operations tech
News / Startups
Spectaflow adds €1.7M for hotel operations tech
By Linda Fox | January 6, 2022
Iceland-based Spectaflow has raised a total of €2.5 million, created in 2019, including this latest funding. Read More
TheUp touts hospitality super app development with £7M investment
News / Startups
TheUp touts hospitality super app development with £7M investment
By Linda Fox | January 6, 2022
London-based TheUp, which started as mobile phone charging business ChargeUp, before pivoting to a mobile order and pay application, ServedUp, wants to create a “super app” for hospitality. Read More
startup-founders-on-fundraising
News / Startups
Travel startup founders on the complexities of fundraising
By Mitra Sorrells | January 6, 2022
With investors showing more interest in travel, founders explain how they make decisions about fundraising. Read More
travala launches nft rewards program
News / Technology
Travala builds NFT-based travel rewards program
By Jill Menze | January 5, 2022
The “Travel Tigers” NFT collection gives users access to Travala’s Smart Diamond membership program. Read More
VIDEO: Being innovative with sustainability challenges
News / Technology
VIDEO: Being innovative with sustainability challenges
By PhocusWire | January 4, 2022
The sector has an important role that it could play, whether its accelerating the deployment of sustainable fuel and designs for commercial aircraft or, more simply, providing services that adhere to a... Read More
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