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.

RateGain acquires social and guest engagement platform BCV
News / Technology
RateGain acquires social and guest engagement platform BCV
By Kevin May | June 17, 2019
A mid-range, double-digit millions figure is believed to have been paid for 24/7 social media monitoring, reputation management, analytics and content marketing business. Read More
Mary Meeker's annual report: Growing giants, next-gen data and super apps
News / Online
Mary Meeker's annual report: Growing giants, next-gen data and super apps
By Linda Fox | June 17, 2019
Many in the digital and wider industrial world await Mary Meeker’s annual trends report with anticipation for what can be expected for their sector. We look at the travel-related elements. Read More
Will food delivery apps eliminate the need for hotel room service?
From Our Partners / Technology
Will food delivery apps eliminate the need for hotel room service?
By PhocusWire | June 17, 2019
In recent years, new options for on-demand, personalized meals have emerged – initially disrupting the way people dine at home and now gaining traction among travelers as a convenient way to eat while... Read More
Payments month part 3 virtual cards
News / Technology
Travel payments, part 3: Virtual payment tech and its impact on business travel
By Mitra Sorrells | June 17, 2019
For part three in our payments month series we take a look at virtual card payments and how they're used in business travel. Read More
sounding off 20 airbnb as ota
Interview / Online
Sounding Off: Another major OTA arriving is the least of the hospitality sector's worries
By PhocusWire | June 14, 2019
Understanding and meeting the changing customer is going to become the single most important investment that hotels and chains make in the years ahead, after asset improvements and other infrastructure... Read More
gen-z-loyalty-travel-beach
Opinion / Online
The A-to-Gen Z of travel loyalty
By Craig Brennan - SwitchFly | June 14, 2019
The next generation of consumers don’t want one-size-fits-all rewards. They want to be recognized as individuals and they want rewards that are relevant to their needs and to their travel journey. Read More
Worldpay Helldorff payment challenges trends
News / Technology
Q&A: Worldpay's Thomas Helldorff on challenges, trends and predictions for travel payments
By Mitra Sorrells | June 13, 2019
Worldpay's vice president of vertical strategy for travel and airlines shares his thoughts on the role of mobile and alternative payments, how payment systems can drive conversions and much... Read More
travel-payments-bitcoin
News / Online
Bitcoin continues to be on a slow burn as payment option in travel
By Linda Fox | June 12, 2019
Can Bitcoin gain real traction in travel payments as it's explored by new segments? Read More
ekberg-stephan-travelstart-2
Interview / Online
In The Big Chair LIVE - Stephan Ekbergh of Travelstart
By Kevin May | June 12, 2019
The group's CEO is a DJ-turned-entrepreneur having founded brands such as MrJet in Sweden and, more recently alongside overseeing Travelstart, investing in other startups. Read More
WEBINAR REPLAY! The hotel guest of the future
News / Technology
WEBINAR REPLAY! The hotel guest of the future
By PhocusWire | June 11, 2019
To further understand the drivers of change in hospitality, Amadeus, Cornell University and InterContinental Hotels Group conducted an exclusive study, revealed here in this webinar. Read More
Booking Holdings funds part of $180M round into South Korean hotel site Yanolja
News / Online
Booking Holdings funds part of $180M round into South Korean hotel site Yanolja
By Kevin May | June 11, 2019
The South Korea-based hotel booking website has now secured a total of $242 million in funding after landing the latest Series D round. Read More
What happens to rate parity when Airbnb is an online travel agency?
Opinion / Online
What happens to rate parity when Airbnb is an online travel agency?
By Gino Engels - OTA Insight | June 11, 2019
As lines blur between platform and provider, there are some real questions around rate parity and price competitiveness in this brave new world. Read More
Payments month part 2 fraud
News / Online
Travel payments, part 2: Balancing friction and risk in fighting fraud
By Mitra Sorrells | June 10, 2019
For part two in our series on travel payments, we explore issues related to fraud and how machine learning can help to solve them. Read More
Nordic Choice on Google Amazon using blockchain
News / Technology
Will Google and Amazon embrace a blockchain travel marketplace?
By Mitra Sorrells | June 7, 2019
Nordic Choice Hotels’ director of future business, Christian Lundén, says blockchain has the potential to disrupt travel distribution by stimulating activity from both startups and large tech players... Read More
Google shuts Trips app, everything migrates to broader Google Travel platform
News / Online
Google shuts Trips app, everything migrates to broader Google Travel platform
By Kevin May | June 6, 2019
The search giant quietly updated the app's help page this week to reveal support for the product will cease after almost three years in the market. Read More
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