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.

Lighthouse brings in CFO with IPO experience
News / Online
Lighthouse brings in CFO with IPO experience
By Linda Fox | January 8, 2026
Lighthouse said it is building the "financial and strategic infrastucture to match its scale." Read More
Why payments are becoming a strategic driver in travel
From Our Partners / Online
Why payments are becoming a strategic driver in travel
By PhocusWire | January 8, 2026
As financial services and travel technology continue to converge, the ability to reduce friction across regions, channels and payment methods is emerging as a competitive advantage for the industry.... Read More
Why data quality is becoming the foundation of travel innovation
From Our Partners / Technology
Why data quality is becoming the foundation of travel innovation
By PhocusWire | January 7, 2026
Yanolja's Changemaker session at The Phocuswright Conference explored how low-quality data remains one of the biggest barriers to innovation in hospitality and how cloud-based platforms are changing the... Read More
Airbnb on the technology foundation behind selling more, loyalty and fees
News / Online
Airbnb on the technology foundation behind selling more, loyalty and fees
By Linda Fox | January 7, 2026
Airbnb's chief business officer Dave Stephenson talks new lines of business, loyalty, changing fees structure and geographic expansion. Read More
Financial analysts on change in travel's search-based model
News / Online
Financial analysts on change in travel's search-based model
By Linda Fox | January 6, 2026
Financial analysts from Barclays, Evercore and Mizuho dissect AI's impact on travel search and booking and the OTA model. Read More
Phocuswright analysts share their predictions for 2026
News / Technology
Phocuswright analysts share their predictions for 2026
By Morgan Hines | January 6, 2026
Phocuswright analysts have their eyes on agentic AI, biometrics and personalization. Read More
Travel industry leaders' 2026 predictions
News / Technology
Travel industry leaders' 2026 predictions
By Morgan Hines | January 5, 2026
PhocusWire asked industry stakeholders from Priceline, HolidayPirates, Cloudbeds and more about what 2026 will look like in travel. Read More
OYO-parent Prism files for IPO in India
News / Online
OYO-parent Prism files for IPO in India
By Abby Crotty | January 2, 2026
The company is reportedly seeking a valuation between $7 billion and $8 billion.   Read More
Managing rising fees in 2026: 7 steps for hospitality operators
Opinion / Online
Managing rising fees in 2026: 7 steps for hospitality operators
By Michele Fitzpatrick - Eviivo | January 2, 2026
Eviivo CEO Michele Fitzpatrick outlines how hidden costs may affect operators in the new year, also providing tips to protect margins. Read More
The rise of GEO: Why hotel marketers need to think beyond SEO
Opinion / Technology
The rise of GEO: Why hotel marketers need to think beyond SEO
By Eric Ettlin - Aimbridge Hospitality | December 31, 2025
Second Wave VP of marketing Eric Ettlin discusses the need for hotel marketers to adopt GEO alongside traditional SEO. Read More
Expedia to integrate with Alexa+ in 2026
News / Technology
Expedia to integrate with Alexa+ in 2026
By Morgan Hines | December 29, 2025
With its Expedia integration, users will be able to talk to Alexa+ to find and book vacation rentals and hotels. Read More
PhocusWire's weekly travel tech news briefs: Trip.com Group, SITA, NextTrip and more...
News / Technology
PhocusWire's weekly travel tech news briefs: Trip.com Group, SITA, NextTrip and more...
By PhocusWire | December 26, 2025
Here's our roundup of the people, product and partner news from the global travel industry this week. Read More
Playing favorites: The makings of a go-to travel brand
News / Online
Playing favorites: The makings of a go-to travel brand
By Phocuswright Research | December 24, 2025
Across airlines, hotels and online travel agencies, value for the money is the dominant factor in brand preference. Read More
The top 10 news stories on PhocusWire in 2025
News / Online
The top 10 news stories on PhocusWire in 2025
By PhocusWire | December 23, 2025
Revisit the 10 most-read news stories on PhocusWire this year, covering loyalty, AI and more. Read More
Industry stakeholders on tech's role in solving traveler pain points
News / Technology
Industry stakeholders on tech's role in solving traveler pain points
By Morgan Hines | December 19, 2025
Executives from Kayak, Skyscanner and Civitatis share the traveler pain points they're hoping to solve with technology. Read More
The Phocuswright Conference 2026