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.

Reimagining customer experience, part 2: Brian Solis on iteration vs. innovation
News / Online
Reimagining customer experience, part 2: Brian Solis on iteration vs. innovation
By Mitra Sorrells | July 16, 2018
What we really should be talking about is how are you designing experiences that people are willing to find and pay more for and love and recommend. Read More
Desktop revenue for hotels trumps mobile despite dominance of traffic to devices
News / Online
Desktop revenue for hotels trumps mobile despite dominance of traffic to devices
By Linda Fox | July 16, 2018
Revenue for hotel bookings via mobile devices still lags behind those made on a desktop, according to research from Bookassist. Read More
Journera, brainchild of Orbitz founder Jeff Katz, secures $9M capital
News / Technology
Journera, brainchild of Orbitz founder Jeff Katz, secures $9M capital
By Linda Fox | July 13, 2018
Journera, the data and analytics platform launched by former Orbitz boss Jeff Katz, has raised Series A funding of $9 million. Read More
QOTW: Something about embracing the mess
News / Online
QOTW: Something about embracing the mess
By PhocusWire | July 13, 2018
Quote from James Ferguson, senior design manager at Skyscanner, in an article on PhocusWire this week. Read More
edreams-odigeo-dana-dunne-1
Interview / Online
In The Big Chair - Dana Dunne of eDreams Odigeo
By Kevin May | July 13, 2018
The former EasyJet and AOL executive is steering the company through a critical time for online travel agencies, with a mixture of frenemy-type partnerships and focus on markets that work. Read More
Travel.jp LINE partnership
News / Online
Japan’s Travel.jp to provide content for LINE app’s new travel service
By Mitra Sorrells | July 13, 2018
Japan’s largest travel metasearch and content platform, Travel.jp, has inked a deal with LINE, the largest communication app in Japan, to power the price comparison and travel guide content for the... Read More
Artificial intelligence and the drive for an emotional connection with travelers
News / Technology
Artificial intelligence and the drive for an emotional connection with travelers
By Linda Fox | July 12, 2018
Amadeus is experimenting with a branch of artificial intelligence called "reinforcement learning." Read More
Google new hotel ads1
News / Online
Google streamlines hotel advertising with integration in new Google Ads platform
By Mitra Sorrells | July 11, 2018
Google wants to make it easier for hotel marketers to manage and scale their advertising campaigns on the site.   Read More
loyalty-travel-expedia-affiliate-network-2
From Our Partners / Online
Why it’s time to take a braver approach to travel loyalty
By Ariane Gorin - Expedia Partner Solutions | July 11, 2018
In 2018, many elements of the industry are at some kind of crossroads. Read More
Amadeus IHG attribute based selling
News / Distribution
Attribute-based selling comes to hotel reservation systems
By Mitra Sorrells | July 11, 2018
Attribute-based selling is a concept that has generated buzz in hospitality circles in recent years and now Amadeus is implementing this strategy as part of its new guest reservation system being... Read More
Booking.com gets down to Basics, gets rates from other agencies
News / Online
Booking.com gets down to Basics, gets rates from other agencies
By Kevin May | July 10, 2018
In what could be a significant strategic development, Booking.com is now getting inventory and exclusive prices for hotels from other online travel agencies. Read More
lodgify raises 5 million
News / Technology
Lodgify bags $5M to build vacation rental tech, eyes hotel market next
By Jill Menze | July 10, 2018
Vacation rental software company Lodgify has raised $5 million to develop its direct-booking technology. Read More
Bing travel search report
News / Online
Summer months, sporting events drive travel search traffic
By Mitra Sorrells | July 10, 2018
Travel industry marketers looking to capitalize on periods of high travel search traffic have the best shot during summer months and around large sporting events, according to a report from Bing... Read More
Booking Holdings acquires HotelsCombined in Asia Pacific land grab
News / Online
Booking Holdings acquires HotelsCombined in Asia Pacific land grab
By Kevin May | July 9, 2018
HotelsCombined has ended 13 years as an independent business following a deal to sell to Booking Holdings. Read More
Customer experience part 1 digital design
News / Online
Reimagining customer experience, part 1: digital design
By Mitra Sorrells | July 9, 2018
This month we're exploring the topic of customer experience across the travel space. We begin with a look at how brands are designing their digital interfaces - websites and apps - to create an... Read More
The Phocuswright Conference 2026