The smartphone has become a trusted companion in everyday life. Cell phones have long since ceased to serve merely as a means of communication. Thanks to apps, these practical mobile devices handle a wide variety of tasks. From navigation and train reservations to convenient shopping on e-commerce sites, anything is possible. Mobile internet, in particular, offers considerable potential for a wide range of industries. This has not gone unnoticed in the tourism sector either. More and more hotels and travel providers are targeting mobile users with websites optimized for mobile viewing or their own apps for smartphones and tablets. A“study by bitkom”has shown that 83 percent of smartphone users install additional apps, and one-third also use paid apps. The intuitive user interfaces of mobile websites and apps are therefore very popular.
Mobile Bookings: Often Spontaneous Reservation Requests
The proportion of bookings made via the mobile Internet is steadily increasing. Smartphones and tablet PCs play a particularly important role in last-minute requests for hotel rooms for the following night. Those who haven’t yet secured a room quickly check for available accommodations on their cell phones. Nearly three-quarters of all mobile bookings are spontaneous requests of this kind. Often, customers are already in the immediate vicinity of the hotel when they make such a request. Only rarely is a booking request made from a distance of more than 15 kilometers. These are the findings of a “Study“the ‘BookitNow!’ app”
Major travel providers are competing for the mobile market
The potential of mobile bookings is far from being fully realized. The current trend has great potential to become a success story. Consequently, this expanding market is highly competitive. Major travel portals like Expedia are, of course, represented with their own apps. When it comes specifically to hotel bookings, HRS also plays a leading role with its app. Last-minute sites—such as LTUR—are also capitalizing on the sales opportunities offered by the mobile market. Travel apps are also enjoying great popularity. Chip.de has compiled a list of the 20 best travel apps for you. In addition to weather apps, sightseeing apps, and transit schedule apps, the list also includes an extremely useful Wi-Fi finder app.
