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.

Apple iTravel comes closer as design patents are approved by officials
News / Online
Apple iTravel comes closer as design patents are approved by officials
By Kevin May | July 10, 2012
It's been over 18 months since there was any official action on the Apple iTravel front - but perhaps things will stir once again after the regulators approved a number of important patents. Read More
Change is coming to travel technology, driven by access to data and eager developers
News / Online
Change is coming to travel technology, driven by access to data and eager developers
By Timothy O'Neil-Dunne | July 9, 2012
Lest we forget, travel technology - for all its complexities and inherent challenges - is actually a vibrant sector and well mined by the independent developer community. Read More
Kayak prices IPO at up to $25 per share, hopes to raise $100 million
News / Online
Kayak prices IPO at up to $25 per share, hopes to raise $100 million
By Kevin May | July 9, 2012
Don't rub your eyes - 21 months after announcing its intention to hit the public financial markets, Kayak is almost there, setting an opening share price at $25. Read More
MythBusting at TripAdvisor? Four of the top concerns tackled
News / Online
MythBusting at TripAdvisor? Four of the top concerns tackled
By Viewpoints | July 6, 2012
TripAdvisor, as everyone knows, is a community where travelers can voice their opinions and share their experiences - but its size and influence sometimes creates uncertainty. Read More
Travel startups: Please focus on the customer, not on the VCs and your exit
News / Online
Travel startups: Please focus on the customer, not on the VCs and your exit
By Viewpoints | July 5, 2012
As technology evolves, we have seen some excellent innovation, some brilliant ideas and heralded the arrival of many, many startups. Read More
Psychology behind why people leave travel reviews and what you can do about it
News / Online
Psychology behind why people leave travel reviews and what you can do about it
By Viewpoints | July 3, 2012
Whatever product or service you’re selling; online customer reviews have real bottom-line benefit – increasing conversion, lowering return rates and boosting SEO efforts. Read More
Hotel prices in Asia - June to August 2012
News / Online
Hotel prices in Asia - June to August 2012
By PhocusWire | July 3, 2012
Data trends on cheapest hotel rates as well as median rate for three months of three, four and five star hotels across some of the major cities in Asia. Read More
Impact of social media on the travel industry [INFOGRAPHIC]
By Kevin May | July 2, 2012
Yes, we've all seen infographics telling us how social media is doing this and that to the travel industry. But sometimes a few nuggets of information are new and stand out. Read More
What is new in hotel distribution? Not a lot actually
News / Online
What is new in hotel distribution? Not a lot actually
By Glenn Gruber | July 2, 2012
After three and a half days of wandering around the annual HITEC event in the US, I will argue there is not much going on in hotel distribution. Honestly. Read More
Hotel chain lawsuit MUST BE a security wake-up call for the travel industry
News / Online
Hotel chain lawsuit MUST BE a security wake-up call for the travel industry
By Stephen Joyce | July 2, 2012
Last week, authorities in the US filed a lawsuit against Wyndham Worldwide, claiming the company and three subsidiaries failed to protect sensitive customer credit card data. Read More
Behold the tech-savvy, young and affluent Chinese traveller, coming to a country near you
News / Online
Behold the tech-savvy, young and affluent Chinese traveller, coming to a country near you
By Viewpoints | July 1, 2012
In fifteen years, the Chinese middle class will reach 800 million, up from 300 million today. Over the next five years, affluent Chinese consumers will grow from four million to 20 million. Read More
What happened two years ago today?
News / Online
What happened two years ago today?
By Kevin May | July 1, 2012
As the second quarter of 2010 drew to a close, Google's widely rumoured acquisition of ITA Software had already moved past the "if" category to "when". Read More
Outage weekend: Qantas, Virgin Australia and Room 77 hit as web systems fail
News / Online
Outage weekend: Qantas, Virgin Australia and Room 77 hit as web systems fail
By Kevin May | July 1, 2012
Passengers of Qantas and Virgin America had difficulties checking in this weekend after the system supporting both airlines experienced problems. Read More
Throwing voice search into the mix to get flight, hotel and rail results
News / Online
Throwing voice search into the mix to get flight, hotel and rail results
By Kevin May | June 29, 2012
Voice search, to some extent, is still in its relative infancy in the travel industry despite the buzz around Apple's Siri and the voice recognition capabilities of Google Android. Read More
Move over in-room hotel TVs - guests now want to watch entertainment on their devices
News / Online
Move over in-room hotel TVs - guests now want to watch entertainment on their devices
By Kevin May | June 26, 2012
It makes sense that hotel guests nowadays would like to access entertainment and information on their mobiles and tablets - but to what degree? It would appear quite a lot. Read More
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