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.

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
Interview: Airbnb CEO says it's now "100%" battling online travel agencies
News / Online
Interview: Airbnb CEO says it's now "100%" battling online travel agencies
By Jill Menze | February 23, 2018
Airbnb views itself going all-in with a plan to compete with the giants of the accommodation world - online travel agencies. Read More
Airbnb targets one billion guests per year by 2028
News / Online
Airbnb targets one billion guests per year by 2028
By Jill Menze | February 22, 2018
As Airbnb ushers in its tenth year in business, the home-share titan has announced a new “Roadmap” designed to bring annual guest count to more than one billion by 2028. Read More
Hostaway vacation rental system funding
News / Startups
Hostaway secures €700K to expand distribution tool for thriving rental market
By Mitra Sorrells | February 22, 2018
Helsinki, Finland-based Hostaway has raised €700,000 in funding to grow its vacation rental channel management solution.   Read More
Traxo Marketplace launch
News / Online
Traxo launches marketplace to manage corporate travel data
By Mitra Sorrells | February 21, 2018
Corporate travel managers looking to uncover off-channel bookings now have an additional tool to streamline the process.    Read More
TUI Group blockchain development 2
News / Technology
Q&A: Trust, truth and transparency at the heart of TUI Group’s blockchain work
By Mitra Sorrells | February 21, 2018
TUI Group was one of the first travel brands to make headlines for its adoption of blockchain.   Read More
RVshare $50M funding
News / Startups
RVshare raises $50M from team that funded HomeAway
By Mitra Sorrells | February 20, 2018
RVshare, a peer-to-peer recreational vehicle rental platform, has secured a $50 investment from Tritium Partners to accelerate growth of its marketplace. Read More
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