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.

Takyon - Launch pitch at Phocuswright Europe 2024
Interview / Startups
Takyon - Launch pitch at Phocuswright Europe 2024
By PhocusWire | July 1, 2024
Takyon turns non-refundable travel reservations into digital goods, using a blockchain-based tokenization process, so they can be resold or exchanged. Read More
PhocusWire's weekly travel tech news briefs: Serko, Sabre, Viator, Omio and more
News / Online
PhocusWire's weekly travel tech news briefs: Serko, Sabre, Viator, Omio and more
By PhocusWire | June 28, 2024
Keep up with all the latest people, product and partner news from around the global travel industry in PhocusWire's weekly roundup. Read More
Oracle Hospitality’s new SVP on cloud-based PMSs, the value of partnerships and AI
Interview / Technology
Oracle Hospitality’s new SVP on cloud-based PMSs, the value of partnerships and AI
By D.J. Catron | June 28, 2024
Oracle’s Hospitality’s Laura Calin has been with the company since its 2014 acquisition of Micros, where she had worked since the 1990s - starting as a lead developer on the original Opera system. Read More
Directo emerges from stealth with $1M in funding
News / Startups
Directo emerges from stealth with $1M in funding
By Linda Fox | June 27, 2024
Former Transparent co-founder Pierre Becerril and two others have created Directo to drive direct bookings for hotels and accommodation providers and help travelers access better deals. Read More
Duetto acquired by GrowthCurve private equity, plans AI acceleration
News / Technology
Duetto acquired by GrowthCurve private equity, plans AI acceleration
By Linda Fox | June 27, 2024
Private equity firm GrowthCurve Capital says it plans to apply its data science and artificial intelligence experience to help Duetto grow. Read More
Shiji, Amadeus, Otelier and more hospitality tech news from HITEC 2024
News / Technology
Shiji, Amadeus, Otelier and more hospitality tech news from HITEC 2024
By PhocusWire | June 27, 2024
Dozens of hospitality technology vendors released new and updated products this week during HITEC, the Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference, which wraps up today in Charlotte.... Read More
What does a changing technology landscape mean for travelers, today?
From Our Partners / Technology
What does a changing technology landscape mean for travelers, today?
By Sylvain Roy - Amadeus | June 27, 2024
Amadeus looks at what it calls four of the most important evolutions currently taking place in the travel technology space and the tangible, practical change this is delivering. Read More
Technology feeds innovation boom for hospitality at HITEC 2024
News / Technology
Technology feeds innovation boom for hospitality at HITEC 2024
By D.J. Catron | June 26, 2024
As travel companies shift from marveling at the surging potential of artificial intelligence, a walk across the Charlotte Convention Center’s massive exhibit hall showed countless examples of how... Read More
Strawberry becomes first hotel group to enable mobile keys in Google Wallet
News / Technology
Strawberry becomes first hotel group to enable mobile keys in Google Wallet
By Mitra Sorrells | June 25, 2024
 The NFC mobile key is now in use at the company’s Clarion Hotel Post in Sweden and has been created in partnership with Vingcard and Zaplox. Read More
OTA ranking booster Otamiser raises $3M in first funding round
News / Online
OTA ranking booster Otamiser raises $3M in first funding round
By Mileva Sapic | June 25, 2024
The startup said it will use the new capital to grow its commercial team as it aims to work with 1,000 hotels and 100,000 short-term rentals worldwide.   Read More
STR platforms stay silent while others call out consequences of Barcelona’s new ban
News / Online
STR platforms stay silent while others call out consequences of Barcelona’s new ban
By Morgan Hines | June 25, 2024
Some say the hotel supply in Barcelona will not be enough to fulfill demand once STRs are gone from the city and that could have a detrimental ripple effect on tourism and local residents.   Read More
Expedia Group’s next chapter – “Back to growth”
News / Online
Expedia Group’s next chapter – “Back to growth”
By Mitra Sorrells | June 24, 2024
Expedia Group's chief commercial officer and president of travel partners and media, Greg Schulze, explained the company's plans to fuel growth during a session at Phocuswright Europe. Read More
PhocusWire's weekly travel tech news briefs: Blockskye, Intrepid, Jyrney, Nium and more
News / Online
PhocusWire's weekly travel tech news briefs: Blockskye, Intrepid, Jyrney, Nium and more
By PhocusWire | June 21, 2024
Keep up with all the latest people, product and partner news from around the global travel industry in PhocusWire's weekly roundup. Read More
Stasher acquires StoreMe to fuel North America expansion
News / Startups
Stasher acquires StoreMe to fuel North America expansion
By Mitra Sorrells | June 20, 2024
The combination brings together Stasher’s 5,500 storage points in more than 1,000 cities around the world with StoreMe’s more than 300 locations in the United States.  Read More
Lighthouse acquires market data specialist HQ revenue
News / Technology
Lighthouse acquires market data specialist HQ revenue
By Linda Fox | June 20, 2024
Lighthouse (formerly OTA Insight) is making its fifth acquisition in recent years as it continues to roll up hotel data and distribution technology providers. Read More
The Phocuswright Conference 2026