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.

Card-not-present fraud is the biggest threat to travel today
From Our Partners / Technology
Card-not-present fraud is the biggest threat to travel today
By Jim Pratt - WEX | June 19, 2018
Card-not-present (CNP) fraud is of growing threat to travel companies across the globe; action is needed to curb losses and protect consumers and businesses alike. Read More
SiteMinder Exchange PMS app connection
News / Technology
SiteMinder creates new PMS-app connection to foster innovation for hotels
By Mitra Sorrells | June 19, 2018
A new solution from SiteMinder will allow property management systems and makers of apps for the hotel industry to simplify and expedite the sharing of data between their systems.   Read More
Amazon finally talks about travel, launches Alexa for Hospitality
News / Technology
Amazon finally talks about travel, launches Alexa for Hospitality
By Kevin May | June 19, 2018
Amazon's first official foray into the travel industry for a few years is here: Alexa for Hospitality - bringing the voice-activated device into hotel rooms. Read More
grand-budapest-hotel-AI
Opinion / Technology
Don't panic! Artificial intelligence will bring human touch to hotels
By Frank Reeves - Avvio | June 19, 2018
The problem with all new hotel technology, unfortunately, is that innovation gets turned into buzzwords quickly, usually in order to sell more products and services. Read More
OTA Insight parity tool and report
News / Distribution
OTA Insight launches new parity tool for revenue management
By Mitra Sorrells | June 19, 2018
Hoteliers have a new tool to help them analyze and optimize distribution costs.   Read More
VIDEO: Bedbanks can provide and thrive in a fragmented market
News / Distribution
VIDEO: Bedbanks can provide and thrive in a fragmented market
By PhocusWire | June 19, 2018
To say Hotelbeds Group has been through a fairly productive few years would be a bit of an understatement. Read More
Digital marketing series part 3 email
News / Online
Modern travel marketing, part 3: Email campaigns
By Mitra Sorrells | June 18, 2018
 The introduction of personal email addresses in the 1990s created an entirely new opportunity for brands to reach consumers quickly and cost-effectively.    Read More
google travel obsession
Opinion / Online
Google: Travel's closely watched obsession
By Douglas Quinby - Phocuswright | June 15, 2018
Google's entry into metasearch may be more than half a decade old, but it continues to be a closely watched obsession for the travel industry. Read More
Debunking the impact of blockchain on hotel distribution
Opinion / Technology
Debunking the impact of blockchain on hotel distribution
By Max Starkov - HEBS Digital | June 14, 2018
A recent article on the Nasdaq website claims blockchain‐based platforms “offer promising solutions” to particular areas of difficulty in the hospitality industry, including blockchain‐based hotel... Read More
Expedia plots package advantage with late-booking tool
News / Online
Expedia plots package advantage with late-booking tool
By Jamie Biesiada - Travel Weekly | June 14, 2018
Saying that 46% of U.S. travelers prefer to book their flight and hotel separately, Expedia will enable customers to book discounted hotels after they purchase their airfare on Expedia. Read More
OAG survey booking and payments
News / Distribution
Amazon tops list of alternative platforms consumers would use to book travel
By Mitra Sorrells | June 13, 2018
As speculation simmers regarding whether – or when - Amazon will make a foray into travel, a new survey finds 44% of travelers say they would be comfortable booking their trips on the e-commerce site.... Read More
Europe Travel Launch 2018: WIHP Hotels
Interview / Distribution
Europe Travel Launch 2018: WIHP Hotels
By PhocusWire | June 13, 2018
Seven years work has led WIHP Hotels to the launch of its Meta I/O product - a hub between hotel reservation systems and metasearch engines. Read More
IDEAS introduces dynamic pricing product for hotels
News / Technology
IDEAS introduces dynamic pricing product for hotels
By Mitra Sorrells | June 12, 2018
 Revenue management company IDEAS has created a new flexible pricing system intended to help hotels maximize profitability from independent and linked products. Read More
Startup Stage SeeVoov
Interview / Startups
STARTUP STAGE: SeeVoov drives travel bookings through tagged videos
By Mitra Sorrells | June 12, 2018
 SeeVoov provides tagged video content to help travelers select destinations, accommodations and activities.    Read More
Voice search marketing strategies
News / Technology
Listen up: Travel marketers need to pay attention to voice search
By Stuart Butler - Fuel | June 12, 2018
There’s a lot of coverage in the media about Google, Amazon and Apple (ok, AND Microsoft) regarding the race to dominate the voice assistant space. Read More
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