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.

Like it or not, the fate of your hotel is in the hands of OTAs
Opinion / Distribution
Like it or not, the fate of your hotel is in the hands of OTAs
By Dori Stein - Fornova | June 3, 2020
Here’s why OTAs will provide a key source of near-term bookings and what hoteliers can do to ensure they’re capitalizing on the right opportunities. Read More
VIDEO: New Reality With... Maud Bailly of Accor
News / Distribution
VIDEO: New Reality With... Maud Bailly of Accor
By PhocusWire | June 2, 2020
The next guest on the New Reality With... series is Maud Bailly, chief digital officer at Accor, one of the most high-profile hospitality brands in the world. Read More
REPORT: COVID-19 Hotel Forecast - Key West
News / Distribution
REPORT: COVID-19 Hotel Forecast - Key West
By PhocusWire | June 2, 2020
The inverse relationship between COVID-19 cases and RevPAR is not nearly as predictive as the ramifications of local political lockdown decisions. Read More
marriott-sorenson-goldman-sachs
News / Online
Marriott’s Sorenson: Open hotels pass 20% occupancy, new construction projects will continue
By Mitra Sorrells | June 2, 2020
Marriott International CEO Arne Sorenson gave business updates during Goldman Sachs' Travel and Leisure Conference. Read More
How an all-women engineering team is helping hotels through COVID-19
News / Technology
How an all-women engineering team is helping hotels through COVID-19
By Jill Menze | June 1, 2020
A team of Duetto engineers recently won an all-women hackathon event for their Hotel Haven concept, which connects those in need with places to stay. Read More
Google expands pay-per-stay hotel ad product to quell risk aversion
News / Online
Google expands pay-per-stay hotel ad product to quell risk aversion
By Mitra Sorrells | June 1, 2020
Hotel partners using the commission-per-stay option only pay for a Google ad after a guest has completed a stay. Read More
Possible futures for a post-pandemic travel industry, part 4
Opinion / Online
Possible futures for a post-pandemic travel industry, part 4
By Mario Gavira | May 29, 2020
Post-crisis tourism will have certain similarities to society 200 years before: a two-tier world where only the upper classes were able to travel internationally to experience new places firsthand. Many... Read More
cabana-3.5M-funding
News / Startups
Mobile hotel company Cabana raises $3.5M to expand fleet of camper vans
By Mitra Sorrells | May 29, 2020
Cabana says it is merging “van life with boutique hotel comfort,” at a rate of about $200 per night. Read More
Expedia Group pledges $275M to coronavirus recovery, gives lodging partners “free” marketing
News / Online
Expedia Group pledges $275M to coronavirus recovery, gives lodging partners “free” marketing
By Jill Menze | May 28, 2020
Expedia Group is dedicating more than a quarter of a billion dollars to help its lodging partners, destinations and the travel industry rebound from the impact of the coronavirus. Read More
InPhocus, episode 12 - Right place, right time for a travel startup
News / Startups
InPhocus, episode 12 - Right place, right time for a travel startup
By PhocusWire | May 28, 2020
Some travel startups are using the current climate to shore up their strategy and take advantage of the support that a few governments have offered in order to prop up young businesses. Read More
VIDEO: New Reality With... Axel Hefer of Trivago
News / Online
VIDEO: New Reality With... Axel Hefer of Trivago
By PhocusWire | May 27, 2020
The next guest on the New Reality With... series is Axel Hefer, CEO of Trivago, the Germany-based hotel search service. Read More
React Mobile gets $6M in funding to develop hotel panic-button tech
News / Technology
React Mobile gets $6M in funding to develop hotel panic-button tech
By Jill Menze | May 27, 2020
The company, which provides panic-button technology for hotel workers, has raised $6 million in funding through a strategic partnership with Brady Corporation. Read More
Possible futures for a post-pandemic travel industry, part 3
Opinion / Online
Possible futures for a post-pandemic travel industry, part 3
By Mario Gavira | May 26, 2020
This scenario sketches a fundamentally different outcome to the previous scenarios: the virus proves to be more resilient than expected and the discovery and mass production of an effective vaccine only... Read More
REPORT: COVID-19 Hotel Forecast - Dallas
News / Distribution
REPORT: COVID-19 Hotel Forecast - Dallas
By PhocusWire | May 26, 2020
Phocuswright has discovered political decisions and the resulting social response may have a greater impact on hotel performance than raw case count or unemployment statistics. Read More
McKinsey: Consumers to travel less in short- and long-term, vaccine vital to flying again
News / Online
McKinsey: Consumers to travel less in short- and long-term, vaccine vital to flying again
By Mitra Sorrells | May 26, 2020
McKinsey's latest weekly survey of U.S. consumers finds travel behind other categories as far as intent to spend now and in the future. Read More