Impulse bookers
UK travel agent ebookers has demonstrated its ongoing commitment to mobile devices as the future of its business with the launch of a new iPad app dedicated to booking hotels. This is the latest in a string of mobile product launches by ebookers this year, including a fully bookable mobile site and social travel iPad app ebookers Explorer.
A strong mobile devices strategy seems wise for a travel company looking to capitalize on impulse-purchasing opportunities generated by the explosion in tools and information available to people on the move. What is a less obvious choice is the apparent focus on tablets over smartphones, with the latter being by definition more portable.
Tamer Tamar, ebookers president, said: "The launch of our Hotels iPad app is another exciting step as we look to strengthen our mobile offering, and continue to help travellers to ‘book easier and travel happier' with us. Our focus is to deliver 4.5-star apps that work.
Designed from the ground up to take advantage of the iPad's format and interface, the ebookers Hotels app for iPad is fast, fun to use and streamlined, allowing customers to book a hotel in just three simple taps. With an extensive choice of hotels from around the world, travellers will always be able to find somewhere to stay with ebookers, wherever they are in the world."
From the screenshot below it looks like this app is is going big on the LBS capabilities conferred by combining a GPS signal with and Internet connection. It uses Google Maps, which will doubtless please Apple, and features other value-adds such as hotel reviews.
