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.

kayak free corporate travel solution
News / Online
Kayak enters corporate travel sector with launch of free solution
By Mitra Sorrells | November 1, 2019
Kayak is going after the small- and medium-sized corporate travel sector with the launch of Kayak for Business. Read More
customer-journey-optimization
News / Distribution
Travel marketers seeing benefits of trip optimization but challenged by privacy laws
By Linda Fox | November 1, 2019
Travel marketers say they're upping their game when it comes to optimizing the customer journey across different channels. Read More
Omio acquires fellow multi-modal platform Rome2rio
News / Online
Omio acquires fellow multi-modal platform Rome2rio
By Kevin May | October 31, 2019
Rome2rio had previously raised a modest $3.1 million in funding - a tiny amount compared to the larger Omio with its $300 million over the course of a number of rounds. Read More
travelfish q&a
News / Online
Q&A: Travelfish's Stuart McDonald on the OYO and Instagram problems plaguing Southeast Asia
By Jill Menze | October 31, 2019
The Travelfish co-founder gets candid on why OYO's model is flawed, Google needs to relent and "influencers are like influenza." Read More
Pegasus and Travel Tripper go forward as Pegasus, unveil new platform
News / Distribution
Pegasus and Travel Tripper go forward as Pegasus, unveil new platform
By Linda Fox | October 30, 2019
Pegasus and Travel Tripper merged in February 2019 but have been kept separate so far. Now they move forward as Pegasus, with Tripper's CEO at the helm. Read More
REPORT: The real value of the bedbank distribution model
From Our Partners / Distribution
REPORT: The real value of the bedbank distribution model
By Robert Cole - PhocusWire | October 30, 2019
This PhocusWire/Hotelbeds report is a comprehensive overview of the bedbank sector, including details on the processes involved, history of the model, issues around rate parity and how the market might... Read More
airbnb-tiqets-investment-2
News / Online
Airbnb leads $60M investment in attraction bookings brand Tiqets
By Kevin May | October 29, 2019
Created in 2014, CEO and co-founder Luuc Elzinga has led the company through a number of investments, including a $23 million Series B almost 12 months ago to the day. Read More
MiStay gets new funding from ah! Ventures
News / Online
Hourly hotel booking company MiStay lands funding from Ah! Ventures
By Steven Lerner | October 29, 2019
Ah! Ventures, along with entrepreneur Sumit Nagpal, lead a new undisclosed funding round for MiStay. Read More
The search for genuine "disruption" in the travel industry
Opinion / Startups
The search for genuine "disruption" in the travel industry
By Peter Matthews - Nucleus | October 24, 2019
Now traditional business models have been turned on their heads by the likes of Uber, Airbnb, Amazon and Google there is a tendency for many brands to believe they need to roll up their sleeves and face... Read More
tripadvisor sponsored placements direct booking
News / Online
TripAdvisor helps hoteliers boost direct bookings through new Sponsored Placements feature
By Jill Menze | October 23, 2019
TripAdvisor is introducing a direct-booking feature to its Sponsored Placements product for accommodation providers designed to help them boost revenue. Read More
Q&A: Agoda CMO on how it tackles Southeast Asia
News / Online
Q&A: Agoda CMO on how it tackles Southeast Asia
By Jill Menze | October 23, 2019
Agoda chief marketing officer Ittai Chorev discusses how the platform tries to deliver on what customers want, how new features like Mix and Save have played out, its partnership with Grab and more. Read More
ross-veitch-wego-profile-big-chair
Interview / Online
In The Big Chair - Ross Veitch of Wego
By Mitra Sorrells | October 22, 2019
Ross Veitch is CEO of Wego, the travel marketplace he co-founded with Craig Hewett in 2005 in Singapore. Read More
Bhanu Chopra_Harmeet Singh_RateGain_CEO
News / Technology
RateGain names Harmeet Singh as CEO, plots multiple acquisitions in platform ramp-up
By Kevin May | October 21, 2019
The arrival is being heralded as a significant appointment for the travel technology provider as it seeks to grow its presence in the U.S. and continue on its recent acquisition run. Read More
Agoda CEO on moving beyond accommodation and forging unorthodox partnerships
News / Online
Agoda CEO on moving beyond accommodation and forging unorthodox partnerships
By Corinne Wan - WebInTravel | October 21, 2019
The OTA says it is focusing on finding the “best inventory” for its customers, operating with the “best tech” and fending off the intense competition in Asia armed with the “best weapons." Read More
Southeast Asia, part 3: Homegrown travel brands know consumers best but struggle to educate market
News / Distribution
Southeast Asia, part 3: Homegrown travel brands know consumers best but struggle to educate market
By Jill Menze | October 21, 2019
For the third piece in our series on Southeast Asia, we look at the distribution landscape in the area and how both B2C and B2B local players are competing for their slice of the pie. Read More
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