Hotwire launches hotel reservation service
Just three months after launching its airline ticket sales on the Web, Hotwire today begins offering hotel rooms that the company claims will be substantially lower than competitors Expedia or Travelocity.
In its marketing campaign, Hotwire says it has “a brand-new way to buy hotel rooms, offering travelers exclusive prices in more than 1,500 top hotels nationwide” in 25 major destinations. Hotwire said its exclusive prices will save save travelers 40% or more.
As an example of its lower cost for hotel reservations, Hotwire says it can offer an upscale room Chicago Loop Downtown for $54, while Travelocity is charging $119 for the same room and Expedia is even higher $149. For a deluxe room New York Midtown, Hotwire is quoting $164 while Expedia and Travelocity are at $270.
“We`ve been saving travelers a lot of money on airfare the past several months, through Hotwire`s exclusive partnerships with top airlines,” said Karl Peterson, Hotwire`s president and CEO. “Now we`re doing the same thing with hotels—partnering with the top names and offering great deals people can`t find on their own. These partnerships with the top names in travel are helping us grow, and giving our travelers more options for a great trip.”
Peterson said Hotwire`s hotel partners include major chains and independent hotels, including AmeriSuites, Aston Hotels & Resorts, Company, Circus Circus Hotel and Casino (Las Vegas), Comfort, Clarion, Destination Hotels & Resorts, Doubletree Hotels, Econolodge, Excalibur Hotel and Casino (Las Vegas), Hilton Hotels, Homestead Village, Joie de Vivre Hospitality, La Quinta Inns, Loews Hotels, MainStay Suites, Millennium Hotels and Resorts, OHANA Hotels of Hawaii, Omni Hotels, Outrigger Hotels and Resorts, Quality, Red Lion Hotels and Inns, Rodeway, Sleep Inn, Summerfield Suites by Wyndham, Wellesley Inn & Suites, and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts.
Hotwire is also partnered with major hotel management and investment companies including Crestline Hotels & Resorts Inc., Lodgian Hotels, Interstate Hotels, MeriStar Hotels & Resorts, Sunstone Hotels, and Westmont Hotels. These companies own and manage hotels representing national brands including Courtyard by Marriott, Embassy Suites, Hampton Inn, Homewood Suites, Marriott Hotels, Residence Inn, Sheraton Hotels, Westin Hotels, and other fine independent hotels.
Peterson said with his company’s new system travelers begin by first choosing a city and neighborhood. Hotwire currently offers more than 130 neighborhoods in 25 major cities, and will add additional cities and neighborhoods later this year. Hotels are classified in five different “key categories,” based on services and amenities. When a traveler chooses a desired neighborhood and enters the dates, Hotwire quotes one rate for each available quality level, then gives the traveler 30 minutes to make the room reservation.
Peterson said that unlike other sites Hotwire does not require its customers to lock into a purchase commitment or submit their credit card numbers before they know exactly how much their purchase will cost. By asking travelers to be flexible on the specific hotel brand and address, he said Hotwire can save its customers a significant amount of money, while still offering only recognized brands and great locations along with its convenient service. Hotwire plans to broaden its product line to include rental cars and international flights in the coming weeks.
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