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.

OTA Insight new Revenue Insight tool
News / Technology
New data analytics tool aims to help hoteliers maximize revenue
By Mitra Sorrells | March 7, 2018
OTA Insight has released a new data visualization platform for hotel revenue management and optimization.   Read More
Hoteliers given control of revenue management via voice tools
News / Technology
Hoteliers given control of revenue management via voice tools
By Kevin May | March 6, 2018
"Industry first" alert! Travel technology provider Ideas claims it has the first integration of a revenue management tool with voice control devices. Read More
Amadeus Video Solutions
News / Technology
Amadeus' new interactive videos encourage traveler search and shopping
By Mitra Sorrells | March 6, 2018
Amadeus has created a new solution to help travel brands, destination marketing organizations, and online travel agencies use interactive video to facilitate consumers’ travel search and shopping.... Read More
What airlines stand to gain from better mobile apps
News / Technology
What airlines stand to gain from better mobile apps
By Jill Menze | March 6, 2018
Many airline mobile apps in the Asia Pacific region are still in their infancy when it comes to the search and booking process, often mimicking desktop purchase flow. Read More
Voice tech in travel, part 1: Brand adoption
News / Technology
Voice tech in travel, part 1: Brand adoption
By Mitra Sorrells | March 5, 2018
The days of typing search terms into a browser or clicking through drop-down menus may be fading. Rising in their place is a much more natural interface: voice. Read More
Culture Trip goes where others fear to tread - OTA land
News
Culture Trip goes where others fear to tread - OTA land
By Kevin May | March 5, 2018
Travel content sites have in recent years avoided go all-in with booking services - but Culture Trip is one that is going to buck the trend and try the online travel agency model. Read More
Hotel Bonanza new OTA
News / Online
Low-commission OTA Hotel Bonanza racks up 10,000 hotel listings
By Mitra Sorrells | March 2, 2018
Hotel Bonanza is a new online travel agency trying to disrupt the hold large companies such as Booking.com and Expedia have on the market, by charging hotels a lower commission and offering consumers... Read More
Hotels share ideas to meet the hi-tech and demanding guest
News / Technology
Hotels share ideas to meet the hi-tech and demanding guest
By Kevin May | March 1, 2018
Hoteliers may fear the continued automation and digitisation of the sector but are accepting that they should embrace elements of it rather than resisting change in its entirety. Read More
Booking Holdings earnings full year 2017 1
News / Distribution
Booking Holdings reveals $12.7B revenue, goes lukewarm on Airbnb threat
By Mitra Sorrells | February 28, 2018
Booking Holdings – the new name for what was Priceline Group – showed significant growth across all sectors in 2017, with most key metrics up around 20%. Read More
Amadeus closes in on €5 billion annual revenue milestone
News / Distribution
Amadeus closes in on €5 billion annual revenue milestone
By Kevin May | February 28, 2018
Amadeus took in almost €5 billion in revenue during 2017 after an 8.5% increase on the previous 12 months for the travel technology provider. Read More
Emirates Vacations puts AI-powered chatbot directly into ads
News / Online
Emirates Vacations puts AI-powered chatbot directly into ads
By Mitra Sorrells | February 27, 2018
Travel brands have been using chatbots for some time, on their websites and through Facebook Messenger, to engage customers with a conversational interface.   Read More
in the big chair brian chesky
Interview / Online
In The Big Chair - Brian Chesky of Airbnb
By Jill Menze | February 27, 2018
The three co-founders started Airbnb with an air mattress in their apartment. Now, the 36-year-old CEO oversees a travel company worth $31 billion. Read More
Airbnb exec takes key role at Booking.com
News / Online
Airbnb exec takes key role at Booking.com
By Kevin May | February 26, 2018
Booking.com will take an apparent fight it now faces with Airbnb head-on after hiring one of the private accommodation sharing giant's high profile figures. Read More
Blockchain cross border payments
News / Technology
Decoding blockchain, part 4: Cross-border payments
By Mitra Sorrells | February 26, 2018
Most of the headlines about blockchain have been about the implications of this emerging technology on the financial sector – the potential for it to change banking, share trading, insurance, payments... Read More
Travel managers told to check data and hold fire on booking hotels
News / Technology
Travel managers told to check data and hold fire on booking hotels
By Kevin May | February 26, 2018
Travel managers are missing out on getting heavily reduced rates on hotels because they are not examining pricing trends in their marketplaces. Read More
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