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.

AI booking push continues, despite OpenAI's strategic shift
News / Technology
AI booking push continues, despite OpenAI's strategic shift
By Cathy Walsh | March 24, 2026
Travel companies are advancing a range of approaches to AI-driven booking, highlighting a fragmented path toward agentic commerce. Read More
Startup Stage: Q Concierge positions voice AI as core hotel infrastructure
Interview / Startups
Startup Stage: Q Concierge positions voice AI as core hotel infrastructure
By Cathy Walsh | March 23, 2026
Q Concierge’s voice AI platform acts as a 24/7 digital front desk, helping hotels capture missed bookings, respond instantly to guests and streamline operations. Read More
PhocusWire's travel tech news briefs: TourRadar, SAP Concur, HTS and more...
News / Technology
PhocusWire's travel tech news briefs: TourRadar, SAP Concur, HTS and more...
By PhocusWire | March 20, 2026
Keep up with all the latest people, partner and product news from around the global travel industry. Read More
Hilton adds Yotel to portfolio with franchise deal
News / Distribution
Hilton adds Yotel to portfolio with franchise deal
By Linda Fox | March 19, 2026
YOTEL will continue to license and manage its brand but have access to Hilton's distribution and technology platforms and Honors loyalty program. Read More
Aven Hospitality, Hovr partner to integrate video technology
News / Technology
Aven Hospitality, Hovr partner to integrate video technology
By Morgan Hines | March 19, 2026
Aven Hospitalty will add Hovr's dynamic video technology to its booking engine to give hoteliers the ability to adopt a video strategy. Read More
Is stablecoin the answer to travel payment inefficiency?
News / Technology
Is stablecoin the answer to travel payment inefficiency?
By Linda Fox | March 16, 2026
Payment specialists at the Airline Distribution 2026 event highlighted areas where stablecoin can save costs and help the travel industry evolve. Read More
PhocusWire's travel tech news briefs: Airbnb, RateGain, Lighthouse and more...
News / Technology
PhocusWire's travel tech news briefs: Airbnb, RateGain, Lighthouse and more...
By PhocusWire | March 13, 2026
Keep up with all the latest people, partner and product news from around the global travel industry. Read More
Airbnb CSO on hotels, AI, nature travel and what's next for the industry
News / Online
Airbnb CSO on hotels, AI, nature travel and what's next for the industry
By Abby Crotty | March 13, 2026
Nathan Blecharczyk, Airbnb co-founder and chief strategy officer, sat down with Phocuswright's Mitra Sorrells at ITB Berlin to discuss the next era of travel. Read More
Agentic AI could do for travel what Amazon did for online shopping
Opinion / Technology
Agentic AI could do for travel what Amazon did for online shopping
By Aviel Siman-Tov - Oversee | March 11, 2026
Aviel Siman-Tov, CEO and co-founder of Oversee (formerly FairFly), discusses how agentic AI could transform travel companies’ response to disruption. Read More
Hilton rolls out AI trip-planning tool
News / Technology
Hilton rolls out AI trip-planning tool
By Abby Crotty | March 10, 2026
Hilton launched a beta version of the tool to a small group of users on Hilton.com. Read More
AI-driven pricing and operations deliver measurable hotel gains
News / Technology
AI-driven pricing and operations deliver measurable hotel gains
By Cathy Walsh | March 9, 2026
Early adopters report improvements in areas including revenue, efficiency and resource management. Read More
Lighthouse introduces ChatGPT app for direct hotel booking
News / Technology
Lighthouse introduces ChatGPT app for direct hotel booking
By Morgan Hines | March 4, 2026
Powered by Connect AI from Lighthouse, The Hotels Network app in ChatGPT is open to hotels across the world. Read More
Mews, Sojern, Shiji and more travel and tourism news from ITB Berlin 2026
News / Technology
Mews, Sojern, Shiji and more travel and tourism news from ITB Berlin 2026
By PhocusWire | March 4, 2026
At ITB Berlin 2026, travel and tourism companies revealed new products, partnerships and innovations.   Read More
Navan launches AI travel assistant for unmanaged business travelers
News / Technology
Navan launches AI travel assistant for unmanaged business travelers
By Abby Crotty | March 3, 2026
The assistant is available to business travelers who don’t have access to Navan through their employers, allowing them to manage their travel plans and address disruptions. Read More
UK’s CMA launches investigation into Hilton, IHG and Marriott
News / Online
UK’s CMA launches investigation into Hilton, IHG and Marriott
By Rob Gill and Julie Sickel - BTN Europe | March 3, 2026
The investigation is part of a probe into “suspected sharing” of sensitive information. Read More
The Phocuswright Conference 2026