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.

Opinion / Technology

Finding a unique voice in travel technology

By Chad Callaghan - Sabre | March 27, 2018

The increasing and widespread adoption of voice technology is already beginning to establish its place as a major factor in travel. Read More

News / Startups

Tourlane raises $8.5M to expand custom trip-planning platform

By Mitra Sorrells | March 23, 2018

Berlin-based Tourlane has secured $8.5 million to expand its service that combines the customized offerings of a traditional travel agent with the ease of online booking. Read More

News / Startups

TRVL raises $3.7 million, appoints ex-Expedia exec as CEO

By Kevin May | March 23, 2018

A juggling of senior roles and a $3.7 million cap-raise for TRVL, the Netherlands-based hotel booking platform with a twist. Read More

Interview / Online

Phocuswright Europe 2018 Preview: Q&A with Skyscanner's Filip Filipov

By PhocusWire | March 21, 2018

Ahead of the event, Filipov shares his thoughts on the biggest opportunity in online travel, what advice he'd give to new businesses and what's next for metasearch. Read More

News / Online

Amazon’s multifaceted – and likely inevitable – path into travel

By Mitra Sorrells | March 21, 2018

It’s becoming clear that it’s no longer a question of “if” but rather of “when” and "how” Amazon will try to disrupt the travel industry.... again. Read More

News / Online

Hotelscombined targets corporate travel with new metasearch strategy

By Kevin May | March 21, 2018

Self-proclaimed "quiet achiever" of the travel metasearch engines, Hotelscombined, is shifting gears slightly with a new strategy to enter the world of corporate travel. Read More

News / Technology

The state of the computer reservation system nation

By Kevin May | March 20, 2018

A major new study has shown how hotel chains are using technology to capture bookings, at the same time as illustrating how they want the ecosystem to evolve. Read More

News / Startups

OYO inks first acquisition deal with Novascotia Boutique Homes

By Mitra Sorrells | March 20, 2018

Indian hospitality company OYO is broadening its portfolio of properties with the acquisition of Novascotia Boutique Homes. Read More

Notated News / Technology

Revinate, SmarterTravel, Sabre and more news briefs today...

By PhocusWire | March 20, 2018

In today’s wrap-up of news in brief: Revinate partners with Protel… Sabre ups CRM game… SmarterTravel assists advertisers… Travefy expands city guides… Aeromexico extends deal with Sabre... Read More

News / Online

PODCAST: PhocusWire PundIT Show #9

By Kevin May | March 19, 2018

Valyn Perini, Stephen Joyce and Robert Cole get to grips with developments Airbnb and the potential for Amazon to make a return in travel (again). Read More

Opinion / Online

What destinations can learn from data around March Madness

By Scott Garner - ADARA | March 19, 2018

For the NCAA basketball tournament, college loyalists are traveling in shows of support for their favorite teams. Here’s how the Arizona Office of Tourism used travel data to quantify the impact of its... Read More

News / Technology

QOTW: Something about why travelers demand the best experience

By PhocusWire | March 16, 2018

Quote from Brian Solis, principal analyst at Altimeter. Read More

Opinion / Technology

Everything hoteliers need to know about GDPR

By William Beckler - ALICE | March 16, 2018

At ALICE, we've been working hard to fully understand the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and its obligations on us and our customers. In order to help hoteliers figure out what is going on,... Read More

News / Technology

How smart technology can help hotels ward off bed bugs

By Jill Menze | March 15, 2018

Hotels are putting money toward technology upgrades such as keyless entry to give guests a better in-room experience. But there’s another – albeit less glamorous – application for tech smart that hotels... Read More