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.

Unboxing revenue management, from revenue systems to revenue strategy
Opinion / Distribution
Unboxing revenue management, from revenue systems to revenue strategy
By Sharad Kapur | November 13, 2020
It's time for hotel companies to build revenue management infrastructures around their operations that also reflect their strategy. Read More
thanksgiving-travel-trends-2020
News / Online
U.S. Thanksgiving travel trends show clear shift in destination preferences
By Mitra Sorrells | November 13, 2020
Data from Sojern shows a dramatic shift in interest from large cities such as New York and San Francisco to smaller, vacation destination such as Orlando and Denver for both flights and hotels. Read More
Despegar gets gentle uptick in fortunes from Brazil and Mexico domestic travel
News / Online
Despegar gets gentle uptick in fortunes from Brazil and Mexico domestic travel
By Kevin May | November 12, 2020
Despegar is operating on revenues down 91% year-over-year despite seeing high demand for travel in two of its major markets during the third quarter of 2020. Read More
VIDEO: Google hiring exec reminds travel industry that diverse talent is out there
News / Online
VIDEO: Google hiring exec reminds travel industry that diverse talent is out there
By Linda Fox | November 12, 2020
Ginny Clarke, director of executive recruitment for Google, says it's not true that talent is lacking and that it has never been the case - and, in her experience, talent is untapped. Read More
tripadvisor-thailand-hotel-warning
News / Online
Tripadvisor adds warning label to Thailand hotel that jailed guest
By Mitra Sorrells | November 12, 2020
The warning explains that a prior reviewer spent time in a Thai jail due to his negative comments. Read More
Lastminute.com Group enjoys summer rebound but 2020 revenues still down 55%
News / Online
Lastminute.com Group enjoys summer rebound but 2020 revenues still down 55%
By Kevin May | November 11, 2020
The online travel business says all its main performance metrics increased significantly over the May to August period, compared to the mass lockdown-hit months of March and April. Read More
How the acceleration of digital and sustainability trends is driving innovation in travel
News / Technology
How the acceleration of digital and sustainability trends is driving innovation in travel
By Linda Fox | November 10, 2020
While the industry is in no doubt as to how bad things have been, perhaps a little light at the end of tunnel comes in the form of how companies are innovating for what things might be like going... Read More
Phocuswright Conference 2020 Preview: Vaccines, government changes should inspire higher recovery goals
News / Technology
Phocuswright Conference 2020 Preview: Vaccines, government changes should inspire higher recovery goals
By Kevin May | November 10, 2020
If the chaos of 2020 is swiftly put behind us, then the devastating aspects of what has happened this year (huge job losses, brands closed, etc.) will be in vain. Read More
ota-insight-op-ed-data
Opinion / Online
How hotels can use top-of-funnel data to capture recovering demand
By Gino Engels - OTA Insight | November 10, 2020
To gain more visibility into future demand, hoteliers are transitioning from using historical data to analyzing new, top‐of‐funnel data sets with deeper insights into traveler intent. Read More
Hot 25 Startups 2021: Beachy
Interview / Startups
Hot 25 Startups 2021: Beachy
By PhocusWire | November 9, 2020
Beachy is software that combines mapping technology and a reservation and payment system so hotel guests can reserve things like a lounge chair, umbrella or cabana at the pool or beach, all completely... Read More
Hot 25 Startups 2021: Maidbot
Interview / Startups
Hot 25 Startups 2021: Maidbot
By PhocusWire | November 9, 2020
Maidbot provides automated housekeeping robots for hotels, rentals and other commercial spaces.  Read More
Hot 25 Startups 2021: Pace
Interview / Startups
Hot 25 Startups 2021: Pace
By PhocusWire | November 9, 2020
Pace uses machine learning to evaluate demand in real-time and respond with optimal prices for every category.  Read More
Hot 25 Startups 2021: Trueface
Interview / Startups
Hot 25 Startups 2021: Trueface
By PhocusWire | November 9, 2020
Trueface provides on-premise computer vision solutions that automatically make sense of camera data and turn it into actionable information, for things such as facial recognition, age verification and... Read More
Hot 25 Startups 2021: Volara
Interview / Startups
Hot 25 Startups 2021: Volara
By PhocusWire | November 9, 2020
Volara provides custom voice-based solutions to the hospitality industry, using its proprietary software that creates a hotel business tool running on hardware like the Amazon Echo and Google Nest Hub,... Read More
Hot 25 Startups 2021: Vouch
Interview / Startups
Hot 25 Startups 2021: Vouch
By PhocusWire | November 9, 2020
Vouch provides hotels with an app-less, chat-based digital concierge that uses artificial intelligence to provide round-the-clock services for hotel guests. Read More
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