Hotwire Launches New iPad App as Rapidly Growing Tablet Market Helps Drive Mobile Purchases Up Compared to Last Year

SAN FRANCISCO, June 27, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Hotwire.com®, a leading discount travel site, today announced the launch of its first iPad app, to better serve the rapidly increasing customer base using tablets to purchase last-minute deals. The introduction of a free iPad app expands Hotwire's suite of mobile products, which includes an award-winning mobile website and an iPhone and iPod touch app, and delivers hotel savings in over 3,145 cities across 61 countries. The app's unique interface cuts booking time in half when compared to the desktop experience, so travelers can make their next hotel reservation wherever, whenever, and with just a few taps.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130627/AQ39471)

As a leader in offering discounts to the last-minute traveler, Hotwire saw its customer base respond quickly and positively to the launch of its iPhone app last year. In fact, nearly 25 percent of all Hotwire hotel transactions on average now come from a mobile device with 75 percent of hotels being booked same day. Those numbers are only expected to grow as many rarely return back to the desktop version of the site once they have a mobile booking experience*. Overall, mobile bookings are up considerably, and tablet bookings account for nearly half of all mobile purchases. And with tablets expected to overtake smartphones to become the primary source of mobile purchases within the next three years**, Hotwire felt it was the perfect time to launch a dependable iPad app.

"Last year's iPhone app launch was a nice success, but now we are seeing a huge surge in bookings via tablet devices. What's even more interesting is that the majority of these mobile users never return to their desktop to book, solely relying on their tablet or smartphone," said Pierre-Etienne Chartier, vice president of the Hotwire Group. "The trend to book on-the-go, last-minute and via a mobile device is only going to grow as travelers continue to realize that the best savings on discount travel sites can often be found on the day of arrival. In fact, I believe in the near future mobile overtakes desktop when it comes to travelers' primary purchase source, so now was the perfect time to launch a fast and easy-to-use iPad app."

The new iPad app – much like the iPhone app – puts a keen importance on ease of use, speed and savings. Here's how the app works:

• Sorting and refining hotel search is instantaneous on the app's interactive map, cutting out much of the clutter seen on other apps.
• Users select their preferred deal and the app displays hotel amenities, sample hotel brands within the selected star rating category and the total price.
• To book, the user simply hits "continue" and either enters their booking information or uses stored information for an even quicker experience. They then receive a confirmation notice with the name and address of their booked hotel.
• Users may also store and access past and future trips on the My Trips section of the app.

The Hotwire app is available for free today from the U.S. and Canada App Store on iPad or at www.iTunes.com/AppStore.

*Based on mobile Hotwire data as of May 2012 that shows majority of customers repeat bookings via mobile site or iPhone app once they make their first purchase via a mobile device.

** Based off Juniper Research new mobile content revenue forecast, May 2013 http://www.juniperresearch.com/reports/mobile_content_business_models

About Hotwire

Hotwire.com is a leading discount travel site with low rates on airline tickets, hotel rooms, rental cars, cruises and vacation packages.  Launched in 2000, Hotwire, Inc. obtains deep discounts from its travel suppliers to help travelers book unsold airline seats, hotel rooms and rental cars.  Hotwire.com is an award winning website and Hotwire, Inc. is an operating company within Expedia, Inc. CST # 2029030-50.  NST: 20003-0209.  For more information, visit http://www.hotwire.com. Hotwire.com operates sites in 13 countries worldwide: www.hotwire.com, www.hotwire.com/uk, www.hotwire.com/ie, www.hotwire.com/au, www.hotwire.com/nz, www.hotwire.com/se, www.hotwire.com/no, www.hotwire.com/dk, www.hotwire.com/de, www.hotwire.com/hk, www.hotwire.com/mx and www.hotwire.com/sg. In addition to Hotwire, The Hotwire Group of websites includes: www.hotwire.com and www.carrentals.com.

Hotwire, Hotwire.com and the Hotwire logo are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Hotwire, Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries.  All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. © 2013 Hotwire, Inc.  All rights reserved. CST # 2053390-50.

Contact:
Andrew Reynolds
Atomic PR
(323) 648-5425
[email protected]

SOURCE Hotwire.com