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.

oyo-7.4m-series-f
News / Online
OYO raises $7.4M as part of Series F round
By Mitra Sorrells | January 11, 2021
The new capital comes from Hindustan Media Ventures.  Read More
Here's what happened in 2020, now be prepared for 2021
News / Online
Here's what happened in 2020, now be prepared for 2021
By PhocusWire | January 8, 2021
While many are eager to banish 2020 to a tightly sealed box, how the industry considers its options for the year ahead is based almost exclusively on what has come before. Read More
startup-stage-rebound-travel
Interview / Startups
STARTUP STAGE: Rebound Travel has a cash-retention solution for travel suppliers
By Mitra Sorrells | January 8, 2021
The company, one of PhocusWire's Hot 25 Startups for 2021, is founded by Tobias Wessels, a former Google[x] CFO and senior vice president at Adara. Read More
WATCH: Visualization of digital travel revenues during initial recovery phase
News / Online
WATCH: Visualization of digital travel revenues during initial recovery phase
By PhocusWire | January 6, 2021
Some of the publicly listed players in the sector talked of early signs of a recovery in their revenues in the third quarter, as the latest version of the chart below indicates. Read More
STARTUP STAGE: The Tarzan Way wants to celebrate the uniqueness of every traveler
Interview / Startups
STARTUP STAGE: The Tarzan Way wants to celebrate the uniqueness of every traveler
By Jill Menze | January 6, 2021
The India-based startup wants to revamp the traveler experience by making it more streamlined and customer-friendly. Read More
What will dominate 2021 hospitality tech trends? Digitization and data
Opinion / Technology
What will dominate 2021 hospitality tech trends? Digitization and data
By Andrew Metcalfe - Guestline | January 6, 2021
The increased adoption of both data analysis and digitization will be driven by not only the need to manage operations correctly, but also the need to manage operations more efficiently. Read More
andrea-kates-phocuswright-2020
News / Online
VIDEO: How travel companies can move toward “future-proofing”
By Mitra Sorrells | January 6, 2021
Andrea Kates, managing director of consultancy Futureproofing: Next, explains the "pyramid of possibilities" at The Phocuswright Conference 2020. Read More
VIDEO: How the pandemic might impact travel loyalty programs
News / Distribution
VIDEO: How the pandemic might impact travel loyalty programs
By Linda Fox | January 5, 2021
Travel loyalty programs will have to add flexible elements to their schemes to keep members with them. Read More
VIDEO: Kayak's Steve Hafner on pandemics, strategy and survival
News / Online
VIDEO: Kayak's Steve Hafner on pandemics, strategy and survival
By PhocusWire | January 5, 2021
Honest and interesting - just with fewer wisecracks than during normal years. That was Kayak CEO Steve Hafner's appearance at The Phocuswright Conference 2020. Read More
What vacation rentals can learn from hotels about growth
Opinion / Distribution
What vacation rentals can learn from hotels about growth
By Connor VanDaveer - Koddi | January 4, 2021
While the vacation rental and alternative accommodation markets have flourished recently, property owners and technology intermediaries can learn from their counterparts in the hotel space to keep this... Read More
VIDEO: Why the digital travel sector fails for diversity and inclusion
News / Online
VIDEO: Why the digital travel sector fails for diversity and inclusion
By Linda Fox | December 30, 2020
Martinique Lewis, a diversity in travel consultant, says travel companies need to look across everything they touch internally and externally and grade themselves on their diversity.  Read More
Why it’s still the Roaring ‘20s for hotel revenue management
Opinion / Distribution
Why it’s still the Roaring ‘20s for hotel revenue management
By Klaus Kohlmayr - IDeaS | December 30, 2020
What if we could look at the COVID‐19 crisis as the vehicle to lead to a fundamental shift in how the industry generates and optimizes revenues? Read More
Four trends that will shape business travel in 2021
Opinion / Online
Four trends that will shape business travel in 2021
By Alex Kaluzny - Egencia | December 30, 2020
For C-suites and travel managers, acknowledging and adapting to these trends will be an essential part of building traveler confidence and reintroducing in-person meetings. Read More
VIDEO: How travel execs confronted the crisis - and their staffs
News / Online
VIDEO: How travel execs confronted the crisis - and their staffs
By PhocusWire | December 29, 2020
At the Phocuswright Conference, travel leaders discuss how confronting the threat – and often inevitability – of staffing reductions has been the most difficult part of the pandemic. Read More
VIDEO: Peter Kern on how COVID gave Expedia Group “courage”
News / Online
VIDEO: Peter Kern on how COVID gave Expedia Group “courage”
By Jill Menze | December 29, 2020
Speaking at his first Phocuswright Conference since assuming leadership of Expedia Group, Peter Kern discussed the company's multi-brand strategy, Google and more. Read More
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