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.

Accor launches A Club Surprise social media project, claims not to have heard of KLM Surprise
News / Online
Accor launches A Club Surprise social media project, claims not to have heard of KLM Surprise
By Kevin May | February 16, 2012
KLM Surprise is still probably the best example yet of how a travel brand can use the social graph to discover and engage with customers in an unusual and valuable way. Read More
Five golden rules of social media ROI in the travel industry
News / Online
Five golden rules of social media ROI in the travel industry
By Viewpoints | February 16, 2012
Facebook page? Check! Twitter account and dedicated hastags? Check! Competitions, discounts and giveaways? Check! Any real, measurable and abundant ROI from social media campaigns? Erm, guys? Read More
Three reasons why the evolution in travel payment functions cannot be ignored
News / Online
Three reasons why the evolution in travel payment functions cannot be ignored
By Viewpoints | February 15, 2012
The recent buzz around regaining control of pricing and margins in hotel distribution is deafening. Everyone seems to want a piece of the action. Read More
How to combine the off and online worlds in the hotel industry
News / Online
How to combine the off and online worlds in the hotel industry
By Josiah Mackenzie | February 13, 2012
Perhaps now is the time to rethink how to marry the online world with the on-the-ground existence that previously served the travel industry so well. Read More
TripAdvisor warns hoteliers over TripAdvisor Select recommendation scam
News / Online
TripAdvisor warns hoteliers over TripAdvisor Select recommendation scam
By Kevin May | February 10, 2012
With the ongoing furore around TripAdvisor and the validity of its reviews, hoteliers would probably be curious to hear about an official programme to reward the most popular hotels. Well, don't. Read More
How to optimise the mobile travel experience today
News / Online
How to optimise the mobile travel experience today
By Viewpoints | February 10, 2012
With the ever-increasing proliferation of smartphones and tablets, mobile internet access and apps, consumers are becoming much more comfortable with browsing and shopping through the mobile. Read More
Personality crisis: Am I an airline or a travel retailer?
News / Online
Personality crisis: Am I an airline or a travel retailer?
By Viewpoints | February 6, 2012
Fifteen years ago, when I worked in a large TMC, one of the sales agents rushed to claim his prize for outselling every other agent in the UK: return flights, first class, London to Sydney. Read More
Asia hotel prices - February to April 2012
News / Online
Asia hotel prices - February to April 2012
By PhocusWire | February 5, 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
Room 77 comes out fighting as Concur reveals investment, pledges to out-Kayak Kayak
News / Online
Room 77 comes out fighting as Concur reveals investment, pledges to out-Kayak Kayak
By Kevin May | February 2, 2012
The hotel sector is getting rather interesting (and feisty) in 2012, as some predicted, with the likes of Google wading in deeper and the GDSs ramping up their efforts. Read More
Guestmob uses Big Data to try and reinvent opaque hotel booking [UPDATE: Pivoted to Virgo]
News
Guestmob uses Big Data to try and reinvent opaque hotel booking [UPDATE: Pivoted to Virgo]
By Dennis Schaal | February 2, 2012
TLabs Showcase on travel startups featuring US-based Guestmob, an opaque hotel booking service using big data and other next-generation technology. Read More
Tnooz-Wright Express FREE Webinar: Practical ePayment applications for travel booking
Webinars / Online
Tnooz-Wright Express FREE Webinar: Practical ePayment applications for travel booking
By PhocusWire | February 2, 2012
Are you an online travel agency, tour operator, or traditional travel agency with responsibility for travel booking? Read More
European hotel prices - January to March 2012
News / Online
European hotel prices - January to March 2012
By PhocusWire | January 30, 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 Europe. Read More
Is it time for a global HotelWiki to assist the industry (and consumers) with hotel distribution?
News / Online
Is it time for a global HotelWiki to assist the industry (and consumers) with hotel distribution?
By Viewpoints | January 25, 2012
There is a certain helplessness creeping in around online hotel distribution which is worrying hotels in Europe and worldwide. Read More
North American hotel prices - January to March 2012
News / Online
North American hotel prices - January to March 2012
By PhocusWire | January 23, 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 North America. Read More
Who wins in emerging online travel markets? Locals do
News / Online
Who wins in emerging online travel markets? Locals do
By Viewpoints | January 17, 2012
If we look at online travel around the globe, we can see that the four key global emerging markets – Brazil, Russia, India and China – are showing substantially greater growth than the developed world. Read More
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