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.

impala-11-million-investment-2
News / Technology
Impala checks in with $11M investment to scale up hotel data platform
By Kevin May | October 2, 2019
The U.K.-based company was launched in 2017 and had previously raised $1.8 million in April 2018. Read More
STR hotel data giant sold to CoStar Group for $450M
News / Technology
STR hotel data giant sold to CoStar Group for $450M
By Kevin May | October 1, 2019
STR was created in 1985 by Randy and Carolyn Smith as a benchmarking and analytics service for hotels. Read More
VIDEO: OpenJaw Technologies on airlines finding the path to retailing
News / Distribution
VIDEO: OpenJaw Technologies on airlines finding the path to retailing
By Kevin May | October 1, 2019
It would be fair to say that some airlines - some very big airlines, in fact - were unsure about the role of retail in their business models. Read More
Secret Escapes acquires LateRooms and LateLuxury websites
News / Online
Secret Escapes acquires LateRooms and LateLuxury websites
By Linda Fox | October 1, 2019
LateRooms was part of Malvern Group, which brought in a third-party administrator to handle its operations in early August after running into financial difficulties. Read More
VIDEO: Volaris on building next-generation loyalty models
News / Online
VIDEO: Volaris on building next-generation loyalty models
By Kevin May | September 30, 2019
PhocusWire spoke to Carolyn Prowse, chief commercial officer at Volaris, to find out how the airline approaches the retail model and where it can go next. Read More
HalalBooking lands $2M in funding, plans marketing push
News / Distribution
HalalBooking lands $2M in funding, plans marketing push
By Linda Fox | September 27, 2019
The funding was led by Azar Gurbanov, co-founder of wellness specialist FSAstore, as well as other individual investors. Read More
travelbank superitinerary product launch
News / Technology
TravelBank creates "SuperItinerary" to capture bookings, spending and ancillaries in one place
By Mitra Sorrells | September 26, 2019
TravelBank's new SuperItinerary tracks appointments and bookings, trip spending and ancillary offers in one app. Read More
What the travel sector can learn from the demise of Thomas Cook
Opinion / Online
What the travel sector can learn from the demise of Thomas Cook
By Sooho Choi - Publicis Sapient | September 26, 2019
Unlike the leading OTAs or the low-cost airlines whose business models necessitated digital capability to reduce cost, Thomas Cook was unable to find the omnichannel strategy that represented... Read More
Wholesale changes in distribution: Marriott and Expedia in the spotlight, Amoma in the deadpool
Opinion / Distribution
Wholesale changes in distribution: Marriott and Expedia in the spotlight, Amoma in the deadpool
By Gino Engels - OTA Insight | September 25, 2019
Since rate disparity has a significant impact on profitability for hotels, the demise of a channel with a negative parity history is noteworthy. Read More
booking-com-for-business
News / Distribution
Q&A: Booking.com's Ripsy Bandourian on evolving functionality for business travelers
By Linda Fox | September 25, 2019
Booking.com for Business was unveiled in early 2015 after the accommodation giant observed that about one in five bookings were for business travel. Read More
Thomas Cook's digital strategy - great ideas that came too late
News / Online
Thomas Cook's digital strategy - great ideas that came too late
By Kevin May | September 23, 2019
Years after when a serious strategy should have been considered, Thomas Cook finally hired its first chief digital officer in the shape of Marco Ryan. He was in the job less than 12 months. Read More
HRS acquires Conichi
News / Technology
HRS acquires Conichi to build new payment-focused division
By Mitra Sorrells | September 20, 2019
HRS has acquired Conichi as part of its strategy to build a global payment solution. Read More
Sounding Off: A new travel sheriff is needed but will be hard to find
Interview / Technology
Sounding Off: A new travel sheriff is needed but will be hard to find
By PhocusWire | September 20, 2019
It won't be easy bringing every element of the industry together to take a tech-led approach to sustainability and other issues in destinations. Read More
Airbnb says it will IPO in 2020
News / Online
Airbnb says it will IPO in 2020
By Kevin May | September 19, 2019
A listing of Airbnb on the public markets will, following those for Uber and Lyft during 2019, be one of the most eagerly awaited IPOs in the travel industry in years. Read More
Sojern DMO co-op program
News / Online
Sojern launches co-op marketing program for DMOs and local businesses
By Mitra Sorrells | September 19, 2019
Sojern's new Digital Co-Op Program is intended to help DMOs create campaigns in collaboration with local hotels and attractions. Read More
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