The way Aussies secure their hotel bookings has changed so drastically over the last decade moving from in-store to online to on demand.
It was one of the first sectors of the industry to make bookings available on the web and has since continued to lead the industry as new technology rolls out.
For example, hotels were the first to introduce ‘Smart Phone’ key cards, which sees guests using their phones to access their rooms.
There’s also the introduction of apps such as HotelQuickly, which caters to the growing number of last minute holidaymakers by offering hotel deals and bookings via an app. Read on
Although well established in Hong Kong, the app only hit Australian shores in December last year.
Last month, Niklas Olsson was appointed to Director of Offline & Partnership Marketing at the company to continue the app’s development in the local market.
He took time out from his new role to chat to KarryOn about the trends in the hospitality industry:
Accommodation was one of the first aspects of booking a holiday to move from agent to online (e.g. Wotif), why do you think it was so quick to move online?
It relates to the immediate customer value it was able to create.
A digital model aggregated the large amount of options available much better and more comprehensively than an agent could at the time.
As this information was easily available and the value of sharing this information with the customer was high, it made sense to be one of the first aspects to move online.
What are some of the biggest changes or trends in the way people are booking their hotels?
In line with the overall travel industry trends people are becoming more last-minute and spontaneous.
With an increasingly mobile traveler there is also a trend towards curation.
You don’t need 700,000 hotels, you need a shortlist you can ensure are the best, according to where you are and what you prefer.
What information do they look at when deciding to book – is it driven by money or the actual accommodation?
It is highly individual but at the end of the day it is about value – what level of service, and what customer experience can I get for my dollar?
Travelers are increasingly savvy and you need to provide the best combination of both factors.
The HotelQuickly app has only recently launched in Australia, how has the Australian market responded?
We are seeing great uptake with over 85,000 downloads since launch late 2014.
Equally hotels are responding well, with over 900 currently listed.
What are some popular destinations Australians are booking hotels in?
Sydney and Melbourne are our most popular domestically, and we see Bali as a popular destination overseas.
What’s next for HotelQuickly in Australia?
We are focused on improving our offering together with local hotel partners and accelerating our growth as the number one last-minute mobile booking app.
