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.

PhocusWire Forecast 2018: Gordon Wilson of Travelport has five trends to follow
Opinion / Distribution
PhocusWire Forecast 2018: Gordon Wilson of Travelport has five trends to follow
By Gordon Wilson - Travelport | December 15, 2017
As is customary at this time of the year, we turn out minds, strategy and expectations to what we might expect to happen over the course of the next 12 months. Read More
PhocusWire Forecast 2018: Travel Moment and Customer-Centricity
Opinion / Distribution
PhocusWire Forecast 2018: Travel Moment and Customer-Centricity
By PhocusWire | December 15, 2017
With 2018 around the corner, Phocuswright and PhocusWire are presenting snapshots of the 12 trends we think will be significant next year across six installments. Read More
Google tweaks flights and hotels, introduces attractions and car rental
News / Online
Google tweaks flights and hotels, introduces attractions and car rental
By Jill Menze | December 15, 2017
Google has delivered several more knocks to its travel booking competitors with the launch of new features in its Flights, Trips and hotels search functions. Read More
A country where leadership is born from innovation and resistance
Opinion / Distribution
A country where leadership is born from innovation and resistance
By Clemens Fisch - SiteMinder | December 14, 2017
There’s a dichotomy that exists in a country that brought the world Einstein, Porsche, Siemens and Adidas, and also bred a culture inherent with a certain resistance to change and technological... Read More
Mixing media is the smart shift for travel in 2018
Opinion / Online
Mixing media is the smart shift for travel in 2018
By Jim Price - PebblePost | December 13, 2017
There was a shift felt across the travel industry when Booking.com announced in November that they would be more than doubling their investment in television advertising. Read More
Chinese web travel brand Mafengwo raises $133M
News / Online
Chinese web travel brand Mafengwo raises $133M
By Kevin May | December 12, 2017
Another major capital-raise heading to a Chinese online travel agency - this time it's $133 million in the pockets of Mafengwo. Read More
hilton new mobile hotel
News / Technology
Hilton unveils first mobile-focused hotel room
By Jill Menze | December 11, 2017
Much like Marriott’s “hotel room of the future,” Hilton has debuted what it’s billing as the first mobile-centric hotel room with its “Connected Room.” Read More
VIDEO: Breathing new life into distribution of hotels
News / Distribution
VIDEO: Breathing new life into distribution of hotels
By Kevin May | December 11, 2017
We are forever hearing that the hotel model is under threat from, well, basically everything and everyone. Read More
Evolving nature of travelers using online agencies
News / Online
Evolving nature of travelers using online agencies
By Jill Menze | December 8, 2017
While the bleisure traveler – someone who extends business trips into vacations – is on the rise, new statistics show that live events play a big factor in decision making. Read More
Goal for web travel brands should be the human touch
News / Technology
Goal for web travel brands should be the human touch
By Jill Menze | December 8, 2017
The holy grail for online travel agencies is how to recreate the experience of personal recommendations. Read More
Hotels should "adjust the model" in Airbnb battle
News / Online
Hotels should "adjust the model" in Airbnb battle
By Jill Menze | December 7, 2017
"Airbnb is coming for our kids," hospitality and nightclub legend Ian Schrager has cautioned the industry in a major speech this week. Read More
Expedia rolls out MICE tech tool to the US
News / Technology
Expedia rolls out MICE tech tool to the US
By Bernadette Giacomazzo | December 6, 2017
In an effort to streamline the booking process for hotels and meeting planners, Expedia is rolling out its automated MICE online booking engine in the United States. Read More
Amadeus ramps up hotel options with Expedia Affiliate Network deal
News / Distribution
Amadeus ramps up hotel options with Expedia Affiliate Network deal
By Kevin May | December 6, 2017
Amadeus claims to have 750,000 unique properties in its portfolio of hotels, thanks to a deal struck this week with the Expedia Affiliate Network. Read More
Business travelers take booking freedom, age differences ease
News / Technology
Business travelers take booking freedom, age differences ease
By Bernadette Giacomazzo | December 6, 2017
A new study on European business traveler preferences offers new insight on booking behaviors across age groups and country. Read More
Hoteliers must pressure OTAs in competition for direct bookings
From Our Partners / Distribution
Hoteliers must pressure OTAs in competition for direct bookings
By Patrick Bosworth - Duetto | December 4, 2017
At The Phocuswright Conference last month, I heard plenty of chatter from hoteliers about the major online travel agencies reporting rough quarterly results and the subsequent drops in share prices. Read More
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