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.

Buuteeq raises another $2M from existing investment group and others
News / Online
Buuteeq raises another $2M from existing investment group and others
By Kevin May | February 22, 2012
Independent hotel digital marketing system Buuteeq has pulled in a further $2 million in funding, coinciding with the startup's two-year anniversary. Read More
Skyscanner undertakes major redesign of website and app, first branding switch since 2001
News / Online
Skyscanner undertakes major redesign of website and app, first branding switch since 2001
By Kevin May | February 22, 2012
Travel search brand Skyscanner will unveil a significant new look and feel later today, including the first overhaul of the company's branding following its launch 11 years ago. Read More
Study: Hotels on mobile, social media and in-room services
News / Online
Study: Hotels on mobile, social media and in-room services
By Kevin May | February 20, 2012
Interesting and wide-ranging study published today by TripAdvisor after it surveyed close to 10,000 hotels around the world to understand more about their plans for 2012. Read More
Middle East hotel prices - February to April 2012
News / Online
Middle East hotel prices - February to April 2012
By PhocusWire | February 19, 2012
Data trends on cheapest hotel rates as well as median rate for three months of three, four and five star hotels across some of the major cities in the Middle East. Read More
Global Hotel Exchange promises a revolution, transparent and market prices to consumers
News / Online
Global Hotel Exchange promises a revolution, transparent and market prices to consumers
By Kevin May | February 17, 2012
TLabs Showcase on travel startups featuring UK and US-based Global Hotel Exchange (GHX), a new worldwide trading platform for hotels to distribute and market inventory. Read More
Accor launches A Club Surprise social media project, claims not to have heard of KLM Surprise
News / Online
Accor launches A Club Surprise social media project, claims not to have heard of KLM Surprise
By Kevin May | February 16, 2012
KLM Surprise is still probably the best example yet of how a travel brand can use the social graph to discover and engage with customers in an unusual and valuable way. Read More
Five golden rules of social media ROI in the travel industry
News / Online
Five golden rules of social media ROI in the travel industry
By Viewpoints | February 16, 2012
Facebook page? Check! Twitter account and dedicated hastags? Check! Competitions, discounts and giveaways? Check! Any real, measurable and abundant ROI from social media campaigns? Erm, guys? Read More
Three reasons why the evolution in travel payment functions cannot be ignored
News / Online
Three reasons why the evolution in travel payment functions cannot be ignored
By Viewpoints | February 15, 2012
The recent buzz around regaining control of pricing and margins in hotel distribution is deafening. Everyone seems to want a piece of the action. Read More
How to combine the off and online worlds in the hotel industry
News / Online
How to combine the off and online worlds in the hotel industry
By Josiah Mackenzie | February 13, 2012
Perhaps now is the time to rethink how to marry the online world with the on-the-ground existence that previously served the travel industry so well. Read More
TripAdvisor warns hoteliers over TripAdvisor Select recommendation scam
News / Online
TripAdvisor warns hoteliers over TripAdvisor Select recommendation scam
By Kevin May | February 10, 2012
With the ongoing furore around TripAdvisor and the validity of its reviews, hoteliers would probably be curious to hear about an official programme to reward the most popular hotels. Well, don't. Read More
How to optimise the mobile travel experience today
News / Online
How to optimise the mobile travel experience today
By Viewpoints | February 10, 2012
With the ever-increasing proliferation of smartphones and tablets, mobile internet access and apps, consumers are becoming much more comfortable with browsing and shopping through the mobile. Read More
Personality crisis: Am I an airline or a travel retailer?
News / Online
Personality crisis: Am I an airline or a travel retailer?
By Viewpoints | February 6, 2012
Fifteen years ago, when I worked in a large TMC, one of the sales agents rushed to claim his prize for outselling every other agent in the UK: return flights, first class, London to Sydney. Read More
Asia hotel prices - February to April 2012
News / Online
Asia hotel prices - February to April 2012
By PhocusWire | February 5, 2012
Data trends on cheapest hotel rates as well as median rate for three months of three, four and five star hotels across some of the major cities in Asia. Read More
Room 77 comes out fighting as Concur reveals investment, pledges to out-Kayak Kayak
News / Online
Room 77 comes out fighting as Concur reveals investment, pledges to out-Kayak Kayak
By Kevin May | February 2, 2012
The hotel sector is getting rather interesting (and feisty) in 2012, as some predicted, with the likes of Google wading in deeper and the GDSs ramping up their efforts. Read More
Guestmob uses Big Data to try and reinvent opaque hotel booking [UPDATE: Pivoted to Virgo]
News
Guestmob uses Big Data to try and reinvent opaque hotel booking [UPDATE: Pivoted to Virgo]
By Dennis Schaal | February 2, 2012
TLabs Showcase on travel startups featuring US-based Guestmob, an opaque hotel booking service using big data and other next-generation technology. Read More
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