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.

Expedia, Booking.com and Airbnb differ on marketing tactics as recovery begins
News / Online
Expedia, Booking.com and Airbnb differ on marketing tactics as recovery begins
By Kevin May | May 19, 2021
Three giant brands in online travel are attempting to capture the pent-up demand for trips as lockdowns ease in some markets around the world. Read More
Trip.com Group points to "full recovery" in domestic travel
News / Online
Trip.com Group points to "full recovery" in domestic travel
By Kevin May | May 19, 2021
The company, operator of the Ctrip, Skyscanner and Trip.com brands, says the group's overall revenues were mainly due to a "strong recovery" in March 2021. Read More
PhocusWire Pulse: Decoding Travel Security
News / Technology
PhocusWire Pulse: Decoding Travel Security
By PhocusWire | May 19, 2021
Our fourth PhocusWire Pulse looks at the current state and future of security in travel, examining issues ranging from biometrics, system breaches, listing fraud and blockchain. Read More
Black hospitality employees disproportionately lost jobs during COVID, remain under-represented in leadership
News / Online
Black hospitality employees disproportionately lost jobs during COVID, remain under-represented in leadership
By Jill Menze | May 19, 2021
According to a study from the Castell Project, Black employees lost share of hospitality industry employment and remained under-represented in leadership over the past year. Read More
Can technology help hospitality labor shortages?
News / Technology
Can technology help hospitality labor shortages?
By Linda Fox | May 18, 2021
Hotels are dealing with huge staff shortages because of the pandemic, technologies are emerging to help and some say it's a short-term issue. Read More
VIDEO: Research Spotlight - Middle East travel report and recovery progress
News / Online
VIDEO: Research Spotlight - Middle East travel report and recovery progress
By PhocusWire | May 18, 2021
Online travel bookings fell by 64% in the Middle East during 2020 - a signal that the region faired somewhat better than others around the world. Read More
Travel recovery and responsibility: A chance to do the right thing
News / Technology
Travel recovery and responsibility: A chance to do the right thing
By PhocusWire | May 17, 2021
With the COVID-19 pandemic putting the industry's operations on hold for over a year, some might hope that companies have used this time to think seriously about their role in climate change and other... Read More
mydigitaloffice-acquires-broadvine
News / Technology
MyDigitalOffice acquires Broadvine to boost hotel performance platform
By Linda Fox | May 17, 2021
MyDigitalOffice says the addition of Broadvine's budgeting and forecasting technology rounds out its platform. Read More
airbnb-q1-2021-earnings
News / Online
Airbnb revenue climbs 5% as travel rebounded in Q1 2021
By Jill Menze | May 13, 2021
Airbnb revenue grew 5% to $887 million in the first quarter of 2021, though losses mounted to $1.2 billion. Read More
Hotel booking windows gradually lengthening as traveler confidence returns
News / Distribution
Hotel booking windows gradually lengthening as traveler confidence returns
By Linda Fox | May 13, 2021
Occupancy rates vary in different regions, according to a report, with China hitting rates of 60% and North America 50%, but Europe is still trailing at around 18%, attributed to a slower easing of... Read More
How I Got Here, episode 64 - John Guscic of Webjet
Interview / Online
How I Got Here, episode 64 - John Guscic of Webjet
By PhocusWire | May 13, 2021
John Guscic's path to the top of Webjet is a different one to those that many leaders have taken, having sat on its board of directors since the early 2000s, as he explains to Mozio's David Litwak... Read More
The post-pandemic reality for travel: What's really changed?
News / Online
The post-pandemic reality for travel: What's really changed?
By PhocusWire | May 12, 2021
As the industry starts to show some encouraging signs of movement, travel's hundreds of thousands of employees have the right to ask what has changed since those first few months of 2020. Read More
expedia-group-trend-report
News / Online
Cost, convenience increasing as considerations for air travel, ahead of health and hygiene
By Mitra Sorrells | May 12, 2021
A report from Expedia Group Media Solutions points to a shift in Q1 2021 in topics searched for when booking air travel. Read More
paravision-funding
News / Technology
Facial recognition company Paravision raises $23M
May 12, 2021
Paravision’s technology provides touchless identification used for security and access in travel, workplaces, retail and more.   Read More
trip-com-group-marketing-hub
News / Online
Trip.com Group creates new marketing hub for suppliers
By Mitra Sorrells | May 11, 2021
The "Star Hub" gives suppliers their own channel in Trip.com Group's mobile app where they can share products and promotions. Read More