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.

book4time-serent-capital
News / Online
Book4Time secures growth investment from Serent Capital
By Mitra Sorrells | January 13, 2021
Founded in 2004, Book4Time manages booking, inventory and payment processing for hotels and resorts, as well as casinos, spas and fitness facilities. Read More
Silos must be broken down to bring diversity to the hospitality workplace
News / Distribution
Silos must be broken down to bring diversity to the hospitality workplace
By Linda Fox | January 12, 2021
Tracy Prigmore wants more of a mixture of women of all races working together in hospitality so that everyone is elevated. Read More
VIDEO: How COVID-19 accelerated digital transformation in travel
News / Technology
VIDEO: How COVID-19 accelerated digital transformation in travel
By PhocusWire | January 12, 2021
Rachel Barger, senior vice president of global enterprise sales at Cisco Systems, speaks about technology trends emerging from the periods of lockdown and what they mean for the travel industry. Read More
Research Spotlight: Meetings and events travelers eager to get back
News / Online
Research Spotlight: Meetings and events travelers eager to get back
By PhocusWire | January 12, 2021
According to a new report from Phocuswright Research, nine out of 10 travelers are willing to attend meetings and events even if COVID-19 still poses a threat. Read More
Uplift adds $68M credit line for travel payments service
News / Startups
Uplift adds $68M credit line for travel payments service
By Linda Fox | January 11, 2021
Uplift sees pent-up demand for travel later in 2021 and is also looking to expand to other sectors. Read More
VIDEO: Understanding the connected trip and what it means for travel brands
From Our Partners / Technology
VIDEO: Understanding the connected trip and what it means for travel brands
By PhocusWire | January 11, 2021
We speak to Ingenico's head of travel, Eric Liebman, about the definitions, use cases and how payments is a vital thread running through all parts of the process. Read More
oyo-7.4m-series-f
News / Online
OYO raises $7.4M as part of Series F round
By Mitra Sorrells | January 11, 2021
The new capital comes from Hindustan Media Ventures.  Read More
Here's what happened in 2020, now be prepared for 2021
News / Online
Here's what happened in 2020, now be prepared for 2021
By PhocusWire | January 8, 2021
While many are eager to banish 2020 to a tightly sealed box, how the industry considers its options for the year ahead is based almost exclusively on what has come before. Read More
startup-stage-rebound-travel
Interview / Startups
STARTUP STAGE: Rebound Travel has a cash-retention solution for travel suppliers
By Mitra Sorrells | January 8, 2021
The company, one of PhocusWire's Hot 25 Startups for 2021, is founded by Tobias Wessels, a former Google[x] CFO and senior vice president at Adara. Read More
WATCH: Visualization of digital travel revenues during initial recovery phase
News / Online
WATCH: Visualization of digital travel revenues during initial recovery phase
By PhocusWire | January 6, 2021
Some of the publicly listed players in the sector talked of early signs of a recovery in their revenues in the third quarter, as the latest version of the chart below indicates. Read More
STARTUP STAGE: The Tarzan Way wants to celebrate the uniqueness of every traveler
Interview / Startups
STARTUP STAGE: The Tarzan Way wants to celebrate the uniqueness of every traveler
By Jill Menze | January 6, 2021
The India-based startup wants to revamp the traveler experience by making it more streamlined and customer-friendly. Read More
What will dominate 2021 hospitality tech trends? Digitization and data
Opinion / Technology
What will dominate 2021 hospitality tech trends? Digitization and data
By Andrew Metcalfe - Guestline | January 6, 2021
The increased adoption of both data analysis and digitization will be driven by not only the need to manage operations correctly, but also the need to manage operations more efficiently. Read More
andrea-kates-phocuswright-2020
News / Online
VIDEO: How travel companies can move toward “future-proofing”
By Mitra Sorrells | January 6, 2021
Andrea Kates, managing director of consultancy Futureproofing: Next, explains the "pyramid of possibilities" at The Phocuswright Conference 2020. Read More
VIDEO: How the pandemic might impact travel loyalty programs
News / Distribution
VIDEO: How the pandemic might impact travel loyalty programs
By Linda Fox | January 5, 2021
Travel loyalty programs will have to add flexible elements to their schemes to keep members with them. Read More
VIDEO: Kayak's Steve Hafner on pandemics, strategy and survival
News / Online
VIDEO: Kayak's Steve Hafner on pandemics, strategy and survival
By PhocusWire | January 5, 2021
Honest and interesting - just with fewer wisecracks than during normal years. That was Kayak CEO Steve Hafner's appearance at The Phocuswright Conference 2020. Read More