Global Hotel Exchange Adds 1,000 Extra Hotels, Takes California by Storm
The online travel agency postponed its official launch due to high sing up demand
Global Hotel Exchange, an online travel agency launching their very own business model for the hotel and accommodation industry, has recently signed over 1,000 new hotels through the California Lodging Industry Association and Independent Lodging Industry Association. The high demand for new hotels to be added to Global Hotels Exchange has forced the company to postpone the official launch, initially announced for last month, and push it to March 2012. Read more…
Free Wi-Fi Matters Most in Hotel Booking Decisions
by Bob Cotter
I am the type of traveler that checks out Wi-Fi connectivity for hotels before booking them. I run my own business, I am never fully free of work when I travel for leisure, so being online daily matters to me. Apparently, it also matters to most travelers, as a new survey by Hotels.com shows offering free Wi-Fi to guests weighs immensely in travelers’ decision to book their stay at a hotel or another.
The new survey by Hotels.com asked tourists to say what they value most from the perks hotels offer. Free Wi-Fi was indicated as a must by the majority of respondents, this amenity factoring greatly in their decision to make the booking or search for accommodation elsewhere. 38% of travelers said free Wi-FI is a must, another 35% saying it was something they wanted to see in more hotels, while 31% said they wanted it to become a standard for the hotel industry in 2012. Read more…
Using Coupons to Create Your Dream Vacation
If you are already familiar with coupons and use them regularly; you know what kind of magic coupons can do for your budget. Coupons can help make purchases fit into a very small budget and stretch your dollars. Coupons can do the same when you are planning a vacation. Here are five great ways to use coupons to save on your dream vacation.
1. Airfare
Discount travel websites like Expedia or Travelocity are a great place to start looking for affordable airfare. Try visiting several of these sites and signing up for their e-mail lists. Expedia also offers a free rewards program that will allow you to earn points from your purchases. You will begin to receive special offers and coupons that can help you save on airfare for your vacation as well rental cars and hotels.
Airport by oisa/flickr
You can also inquire with an individual airline if that is how you are purchasing your ticket. An airline’s website might be advertising a deal, or you might score a discount simply by asking an airline representative if any are available. Read more…
W Hotels Premiers in Russia with W St. Petersburg
W Hotels Worldwide has made its debut in Russia by opening its first hotel, W St. Petersburg. This first hotel in Russia, owned by Real Estate Development Ltd., was designed to offer guests a contemporary lifestyle experience. It features 137 guest rooms, a signature restaurant miX, bar and rooftop lounge by three Michelin star chef Alain Ducasse, and a signature spa.
Located right in the center of “Venice of the North,” the hotel aims to bring additional vibrancy to a city recognized as historic host for the Russian social elite and aristocracy. W St. Petersburg was designed Antonio Citterio and Patricia Viel Partners who drew inspiration from the architectural ancestry of the city and chose the jewel-tones of the world renowned Fabergé Egg as their color muse. Read more…
Courtyard by Marriott Launches Weekend Deals for this Summer
US and Canada travelers planning a weekend getaway this summer will benefit from the newly launched special offer of Courtyard by Marriott. Starting today and until September 5th, a weekend stay at all participating Courtyard hotels across the North American continent will cost between 69 and 129 US dollars per night.
With weekend getaways and short trips being very popular this year, many travelers plan to take at least one such brief vacation this summer. Courtyard has come up with a great deal to capitalize on these very travel plans US and Canadian travelers are currently making. Read more…
Travel + Leisure 50 Best New Hotels Across the World
The travel industry and hotel enthusiasts around the world can finally get their hands on Travel + Leisure’s sixth annual list of the 50 best new hotels in the world, a prestigious top freshly released earlier today.
This year’s list features city hotels, beach hotels, rustic hotels, resort hotels and more. While the USA is the country with the most hotels in this year’s list (8 US-based venues have been included), Travel + Leisure also added 12 hotels from Europe, 12 from Asia, 8 from Africa and the Middle East, 6 from Mexico and Latin America, 2 Caribbean hotels and another 2 from New Zealand and Australia. Read more…
Delta Airlines Leads in First Ever Digital IQ Index for the Travel Industry
The results of the first ever digital IQ index for the travel industry have just been released and according to L2, the company behind the research, Delta Airlines was the top travel company of the 89 brands across airlines, hotels and cruise lines whose digital competence index has been measured. The travel industry report follows other successful L2 indexes analyzing industries including the automotive, pharmaceutical and specialty retail segments.
The index observed and measured the digital efforts of well known travel brands based on four major criteria – their website, their digital marketing strategy, their social media presence and their mobile marketing strategies, each of the analyzed brands being scored against over 350 qualitative and quantitative data point. The Digital IQ ranking that could be assigned to each brand were Genius, Gifted, Average, Challenged or Feeble. Read more…
