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.

asia-pacific-online-travel-tenth
News / Online
Research Spotlight: Online travel in Asia Pacific to continue soaring
By PhocusWire | January 11, 2018
The last 15 years have seen Asia Pacific go from being a relative backwater in online travel to the biggest regional market on the planet. Read More
Timescenery and Baarb push AI-driven results to fix travel search
News / Startups
Timescenery and Baarb push AI-driven results to fix travel search
By Mitra Sorrells | January 10, 2018
Timescenery, a travel planning site that combines data from suppliers with crowdsourced experiences from travelers, has launched a partnership with Baarb, an artificial intelligence company that... Read More
tripadvisor operational changes
News / Online
TripAdvisor business units overhauled, two execs depart
By Jill Menze | January 10, 2018
TripAdvisor is undergoing operational changes, a representative from the user review giant has confirmed. Read More
Powerful travel brands face uncertain future in a blockchain-led world
News / Distribution
Powerful travel brands face uncertain future in a blockchain-led world
By Mitra Sorrells | January 10, 2018
Will blockchain render powerful travel industry intermediaries extinct? That’s the prediction of Maksim Izmaylov, CEO of Winding Tree Read More
LG's new robots designed to replace hotel staff
Notated News / Technology
LG's new robots designed to replace hotel staff
By Esther Hertzfeld - Hotel Management | January 10, 2018
With its new line of robots, LG is going one step further with physical robots powered to deliver meals, drop off luggage and even assist with grocery shopping. Is this the future guests really want? Read More
hotel-revenue-management-2
Opinion / Distribution
Emerging technologies are outsmarting the hotel revenue model
By Rom Hendler - InnoVel | January 10, 2018
Just when hoteliers thought they’ve mastered the art of working with online travel agents, there seems to be a sense of déjà-vu. Read More
Video: Three approaches to running a travel startup
News / Startups
Video: Three approaches to running a travel startup
By Kevin May | January 9, 2018
One has taken in around $450 million funding. Another hasn't brought in any outside capital investment. The other a modest $1.5 million. Read More
Report: Luxury hotel brands must navigate shifting online ad landscape
News / Online
Report: Luxury hotel brands must navigate shifting online ad landscape
By Mitra Sorrells | January 9, 2018
Luxury hotel brands need to reexamine their digital marketing budgets as Google continues to grow its presence in travel search and online booking. Read More
Investigation: Hotels and online agencies battle on three fronts (Part Two)
Opinion / Distribution
Investigation: Hotels and online agencies battle on three fronts (Part Two)
By Robert Cole - RockCheetah | January 8, 2018
Logically, hotel reward program members have always booked a disproportionate amount of business. Read More
Digital impatience: Hotels need to adapt to win the "Need for Speed" generation
Opinion / Online
Digital impatience: Hotels need to adapt to win the "Need for Speed" generation
By Felix Undeutsch - MICE, Expedia Inc. | January 5, 2018
Companies like Amazon have made it clear: Everything is accessible to everyone at any time from anywhere. Hotels need to follow suit. Read More
Investigation: Hotels and online agencies battle on three fronts (Part One)
Opinion / Distribution
Investigation: Hotels and online agencies battle on three fronts (Part One)
By Robert Cole - RockCheetah | January 5, 2018
Don’t be fooled, despite the occasionally cordial "partnering" rhetoric between the major hotel brands and OTAs, this is an existential battle. Read More
Booking.com and Hotels.com gain from TripAdvisor switch
News / Online
Booking.com and Hotels.com gain from TripAdvisor switch
By Kevin May | January 3, 2018
TripAdvisor's scaling back of Instant Booking in 2017 has seen two major hotel intermediaries benefit. Read More
eLong and Tongcheng merge, under Ctrip stewardship
News / Online
eLong and Tongcheng merge, under Ctrip stewardship
By Kevin May | December 29, 2017
Ctrip is overseeing the merging of two Chinese online travel brands - one of which it bought from Expedia Inc two years ago. Read More
Expedia knows how online travel makes you feel
News / Technology
Expedia knows how online travel makes you feel
By Jamie Biesiada - Travel Weekly | December 29, 2017
On the reflective side of one-way glass sits a test subject in a soundproof room, multiple sensors applied to her face, wearing high-tech glasses that track her eyes' every movement. Read More
PhocusWire Forecast 2018: Hotel issues to sharpen
Opinion / Distribution
PhocusWire Forecast 2018: Hotel issues to sharpen
By Dori Stein - Fornova | December 28, 2017
2018 will be another busy year in the distribution space, as hotels and online travel agencies continue to dance and spar. Read More
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