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.

Hospitality startup Cosi raises €20M to fuel European expansion
News / Startups
Hospitality startup Cosi raises €20M to fuel European expansion
By Jill Menze | March 9, 2021
Despite the coronavirus pandemic, Germany-based Cosi says its tech-enabled properties outperformed traditional hotels by 400% in 2020.   Read More
kayak-hotel-miami-beach
News / Technology
Kayak opening hotel, developing hotel tech in partnership with Life House
By Mitra Sorrells | March 9, 2021
Kayak will open Kayak Miami Beach in April and will use the property as a "design lab" to develop hotel technology. Read More
VIDEO: What Google's overhaul of hotel booking ads really means
News / Distribution
VIDEO: What Google's overhaul of hotel booking ads really means
By Kevin May | March 9, 2021
We speak to hotel consultancy and digital marketing specialist Mirai's CEO, Pablo Delgado, to understand what the development means for all players in the hotel marketing ecosystem, including Google's... Read More
Tripadvisor launches Tripadvisor Plus, touts growth and revenue opportunities
News / Online
Tripadvisor launches Tripadvisor Plus, touts growth and revenue opportunities
By Linda Fox | March 9, 2021
Tripadvisor Plus, which is free for accommodation brands to join, believes it now offers suppliers lower distribution costs. Read More
Spend more, stay longer: The consumer trends driving travel in 2021
News / Online
Spend more, stay longer: The consumer trends driving travel in 2021
By Jill Menze | March 9, 2021
According to the American Express Travel: Global Travel Trends Report, consumers are approaching travel in 2021 with a new mindset. Read More
Google eliminates fees for hotel booking links
News / Distribution
Google eliminates fees for hotel booking links
By Mitra Sorrells | March 8, 2021
Now in addition to up to four paid ad slots, Google will provide an extensive organic list of booking options, such as the hotel website, online travel agencies and other travel sites. Read More
Hotels want to capitalize on the direct trend - but for how long?
News / Online
Hotels want to capitalize on the direct trend - but for how long?
By Linda Fox | March 8, 2021
Hotel giants are looking to push their loyalty schemes to continue any advantage in direct bookings built up over the pandemic. Read More
Why is it taking so long for travel tech to get women to the top?
Opinion / Technology
Why is it taking so long for travel tech to get women to the top?
By Lisa Barker - IBS Software | March 8, 2021
We all know there is an issue, but as there is a general lack of appetite to engage in the debate - a trend that cannot continue. Read More
phocuswire-pulse-recovery-playbook-hospitality
News / Technology
VIDEO: Optii’s Katherine Grass on the playbook for recovery in hospitality
By Jill Menze | March 8, 2021
Speaking during PhocusWire's inaugural Pulse event, Optii CEO Katherine Grass says flexibility is the name of the game in 2021. Read More
RESEARCH: Latin America travel market - state of a region's recovery
News / Online
RESEARCH: Latin America travel market - state of a region's recovery
By PhocusWire | March 5, 2021
The market has suffered as much as most around the world but some countries are predicting a return to pre-pandemic levels as early as 2023. Read More
How-i-got-here-avi-brosh-palisociety
Interview / Online
How I Got Here, episode 54 - Avi Brosh of Palisociety
By PhocusWire | March 4, 2021
Avi Brosh's move into the hotel sector from real estate was not driven by a desire to create identikit properties at either the budget or upmarket end of the sector, as he tells Mozio's David Litwak and... Read More
Trip.com Group sees out 2020 with revenues halved, domestic leading recovery
News / Online
Trip.com Group sees out 2020 with revenues halved, domestic leading recovery
By Kevin May | March 4, 2021
The company says the fourth quarter of 2020, when revenues were down 40% on 2019, reflected a narrowing of the declines from a pandemic-hit year as domestic travel continued its strong recovery. Read More
Sitecore acquires travel personalization platform Boxever
News / Technology
Sitecore acquires travel personalization platform Boxever
By Kevin May | March 3, 2021
Boxever was created in 2011 and built a digital optimization platform to use a brand's user data and combine it with artificial intelligence techniques to provide customer up-sell and cross-sell... Read More
Sustainability must be a priority for business travel in 2021
Opinion / Distribution
Sustainability must be a priority for business travel in 2021
By Avi Meir - TravelPerk | March 2, 2021
Momentum built for thinking about a more sustainable level of corporate travel in the years leading up to 2020 must not stall in 2021. Read More
Expedia Group and Booking Holdings slashed marketing by $6B in 2020 (but Airbnb now makes an entrance)
News / Online
Expedia Group and Booking Holdings slashed marketing by $6B in 2020 (but Airbnb now makes an entrance)
By Kevin May | March 2, 2021
The body check on marketing spend by the two giants of online travel in 2020 ends a run of gradually slowing increases in prior years. Read More