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.

Travel brands continue to chase AI visibility as the landscape shifts
News / Technology
Travel brands continue to chase AI visibility as the landscape shifts
By Morgan Hines | September 4, 2026
Following reports that Reddit citations have fallen considerably in LLM results, travel companies are once again reconsidering visibility strategies. Read More
CEO Spotlight: Matthijs Welle of Mews
News / Technology
CEO Spotlight: Matthijs Welle of Mews
By Abby Crotty & Linda Fox | September 3, 2026
The CEO discusses Mews' acquisition strategy, his dynamic with founder Richard Valtr and the company's recent reorg in an interview with PhocusWire's Linda Fox. Read More
AI isn’t just for research anymore: What European travelers are actually doing with it
News / Technology
AI isn’t just for research anymore: What European travelers are actually doing with it
By Phocuswright Research | September 1, 2026
European travelers are using AI well beyond simple search, and data shows just how far it's spread across the trip journey. Read More
Airbnb is making us rethink what a 'direct booking' really means
Opinion / Distribution
Airbnb is making us rethink what a 'direct booking' really means
By Scott Eddy | August 30, 2026
Airbnb is testing lower fees on host-shared booking links, but the reservation still runs on Airbnb, which raises harder questions about demand, trust and distribution costs. Read More
PhocusWire's travel tech news briefs: BCD Travel, Klook, Dida and more...
News / Technology
PhocusWire's travel tech news briefs: BCD Travel, Klook, Dida and more...
By PhocusWire | August 28, 2026
Keep up with all the latest people, partner and product news from around the global travel industry. Read More
Hotel booking goes live in Google's AI Mode, flights still waiting
News / Technology
Hotel booking goes live in Google's AI Mode, flights still waiting
By Morgan Hines | August 27, 2026
U.S. travelers can now book hotels inside Google's AI Mode with partners including Marriott, Booking.com and Expedia, though flight booking is not yet available. Read More
How hotel leaders can invest with confidence
From Our Partners / Technology
How hotel leaders can invest with confidence
By Joerg Schuler, Amadeus Hospitality | August 27, 2026
 Download this hotel technology investment handbook for a practical framework on budget planning, vendor assessment and building a smarter hospitality tech strategy.   Read More
The hotel AI readiness guide
From Our Partners / Technology
The hotel AI readiness guide
By Aven Hospitality | August 25, 2026
Download this hotel AI readiness guide for practical steps to improve hotel data, direct booking, AI-powered discovery and guest experience. Read More
PhocusWire's travel tech news briefs: Sabre, Eurostar, Civitatis and more...
News / Technology
PhocusWire's travel tech news briefs: Sabre, Eurostar, Civitatis and more...
By PhocusWire | August 21, 2026
Keep up with all the latest people, partner and product news from around the global travel industry. Read More
Hotel room service platform CAMO raises $4M
News / Technology
Hotel room service platform CAMO raises $4M
By Abby Crotty | August 20, 2026
CAMO oversees ordering technology, local kitchen fulfillment, delivery logistics and guest support. Read More
AI transformation in travel: Velit Dundar of Radisson
News / Technology
AI transformation in travel: Velit Dundar of Radisson
By Abby Crotty | August 20, 2026
Velit Dundar, Radisson's VP of global e-commerce, shares his thoughts on agentic AI, areas for innovation and more as part of PhocusWire's AI Transformation in Travel series. Read More
Why payment infrastructure will shape the future of travel commerce
From Our Partners / Technology
Why payment infrastructure will shape the future of travel commerce
By PhocusWire | August 20, 2026
Modernizing payment infrastructure is becoming a critical issue for travel companies as legacy systems, margin pressure, merchant of record models and agentic commerce reshape how travel is sold,... Read More
How AI is quietly rewriting hospitality job descriptions
News / Technology
How AI is quietly rewriting hospitality job descriptions
By Matthew Parsons | August 20, 2026
As AI moves from experimental to essential, hospitality operators need employees who understand both the technology and businesses these tools are meant to serve. Read More
CEO Spotlight: Harman Singh Narula of Canary Technologies
News / Online
CEO Spotlight: Harman Singh Narula of Canary Technologies
By Morgan Hines | August 19, 2026
Canary Technologies CEO Harman Singh Narula discusses the company's strengths and the future of travel in conversation with PhocusWire. Read More
Startup Stage: Fikäfi wants to make payments more efficient for hotels
Interview / Startups
Startup Stage: Fikäfi wants to make payments more efficient for hotels
By Abby Crotty | August 17, 2026
Singapore-based Fikäfi integrates with hotels' systems to simplify workflow and payment collection. Read More