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Orbitz creates intuitive search-and-book experience via iPad app

Author

Rimma Kats

The company is adding the Orbitz Hotels app to its growing list of applications. The app is available for free download in Apple’s App Store.

“The iPad is a revolutionary device – it’s growth is fantastic,” said Chris Brown, vice president of product at Orbitz. “Mobile itself is such a phenomenal area.

Mobile booking
Travelers can books hotels via the app and choose from thousands of destinations around the world.

Consumers can find hotels nearby using the tablet’s GPS capabilities and book by city, address, ZIP code or landmark.

Additionally, travelers can filter and sort hotels by price, star rating, review score, distance and neighborhood.

“We’re doing a lot of stuff on site, we’re hitting our customer base and letting them know about the new app,” Mr. Brown said. “We’ve kicked off a social media contest where we’re giving away an iPad 2.
“We feel really good about the app we’ve built. It’s easy to promote and it’s a good entry into the market,” he said.

The app also lets consumers compare hotels and prices on an interactive map.

The tiles alongside the map provide summarized hotel information and consumers can expand it to show photographs, guest reviews, special offers, amenities and detailed hotel room descriptions.

There is also a toggle from map view to a matrix view to compare several hotel options at once.

In addition, to mark its iPad app debut, the company is giving away an iPad 2 each day for the next week on Facbeook, from Wednesday, July 6 through Tuesday July 12.

“Mobile is actually one of the pillars for our organizational strategy,” Mr. Brown said.