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.

Hotel sues guest for posting review on TripAdvisor about bed bugs
News / Online
Hotel sues guest for posting review on TripAdvisor about bed bugs
By Karthick Prabu | September 9, 2013
Canada-based Hotel Quebec is suing a former guest for $95,000. The reason? The guest wrote a negative review on TripAdvisor exposing the bed bugs in his room and refused to remove the review. Read More
Tnooz-Amadeus Webinar VIDEO: Can Big Data really transform travel?
Webinars / Distribution
Tnooz-Amadeus Webinar VIDEO: Can Big Data really transform travel?
By PhocusWire | September 6, 2013
We have probably all heard about it, read about it, seen people discuss it on stage at conferences - but doubts still remain as to how big this Big Data thing could and should be for travel brands. Read More
Consolidation and deals - why 2013 is not great news so far for hoteliers
News / Online
Consolidation and deals - why 2013 is not great news so far for hoteliers
By Viewpoints | September 4, 2013
The Expedia and Travelocity partnership announced last month has many implications for the hotel industry. Read More
Behind the scenes, Booking.com is quietly powering hotel search for a trio of major European agencies
News / Distribution
Behind the scenes, Booking.com is quietly powering hotel search for a trio of major European agencies
By Kevin May | August 27, 2013
With all the coverage and analysis of the Expedia-Travelocity deal last week, another major partnership at the European end of the industry has slipped under the radar. Read More
A deep dive into reach and popularity of online travel brands in India and Southeast Asia
News / Online
A deep dive into reach and popularity of online travel brands in India and Southeast Asia
By Karthick Prabu | August 26, 2013
Priceline.com tops (by unique visitors) in five out of six countries in Southeast Asia, reports comScore, a digital measurement company. Read More
Hotel distribution - 500 shades of mostly grey
News / Online
Hotel distribution - 500 shades of mostly grey
By Viewpoints | August 23, 2013
Hotel distribution is an intricate weave made up of systems and interfaces that looks impressive from a distance, but doesn't make much sense when you are up close enough to see the detail. Read More
Tnooz-Nor1 webinar VIDEO: Why up-selling is key to long-term revenue growth and loyalty
Webinars / Online
Tnooz-Nor1 webinar VIDEO: Why up-selling is key to long-term revenue growth and loyalty
By PhocusWire | August 20, 2013
There is a lot more to up-selling in the travel sector than simply trying to sell an extra room night or late check-in at a hotel. Read More
Tnooz-Sabre webinar VIDEO - Beyond B2C: How new tech enables personalization in business travel
Webinars / Online
Tnooz-Sabre webinar VIDEO - Beyond B2C: How new tech enables personalization in business travel
By PhocusWire | August 15, 2013
Talk around merchandising and personalisation is all the rage across a number of travel sectors within the industry. Read More
Social network goes from virtual to (almost) real - a hotel built with Twitter in mind
News / Online
Social network goes from virtual to (almost) real - a hotel built with Twitter in mind
By Karthick Prabu | August 12, 2013
People usually build apps on top of the Twitter service, but heard of a (physical) hotel that's built by using Twitter as a theme? Its exists for real. Read More
Expedia and Booking.com pledge to allow rival discounting as hotel rate parity probe widens
News / Online
Expedia and Booking.com pledge to allow rival discounting as hotel rate parity probe widens
By Kevin May | August 9, 2013
Two of the largest online travel brands on the planet - Booking.com and Expedia - have agreed to new guidelines which will give other web-based agencies the chance to offer reductions on hotels. Read More
Hotel Urbano grabs $20 million investment round as online travel gets ready to fly in Brazil
News / Online
Hotel Urbano grabs $20 million investment round as online travel gets ready to fly in Brazil
By Kevin May | August 8, 2013
Keep your eye on the travel sector in Brazil. At least that is what some of the big global investment houses are thinking as Insight Venture Partners invests $20 million in Hotel Urbano. Read More
Travelport: Merchandising and non-air activities pinpointed as strategic areas
News / Online
Travelport: Merchandising and non-air activities pinpointed as strategic areas
By Kevin May | August 7, 2013
Exactly 12 months ago, Travelport predicted the industry would start seeing some positive numbers in its financial performance during 2013. So what happened? Read More
DealAngel acquired by Russian online travel agency OneTwoTrip
News / Online
DealAngel acquired by Russian online travel agency OneTwoTrip
By Kevin May | August 6, 2013
A few months on from celebrating its first birthday, data-driven hotel price comparison engine DealAngel has been bought by Russian OTA OneTwoTrip. Read More
How a western online agency wants to shake up the Chinese travel marketplace
News / Online
How a western online agency wants to shake up the Chinese travel marketplace
By Viewpoints | August 6, 2013
Orbitz-owned HotelClub is gearing up to make some big changes to it’s offering for consumers in mainland China by the end of the year. Read More
Does your hotel wifi suck? [INFOGRAPHIC]
News / Online
Does your hotel wifi suck? [INFOGRAPHIC]
By Kevin May | August 1, 2013
Some estimates put the amount of lost revenue across the industry from lost bookings due to poor wifi at close to $5 billion a year. Read More
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