The race to launch mobile applications

A few weeks ago Choice Hotels became the first major franchise to launch an application allowing guests to book their room from an iPhone. With the integration of GPS capabilities, street-view images and the ability to amend or cancel reservations, Choice has positioned itself in the forefront of the competition for business travelers.

Yet they are still just a quick step behind the Kayak booking portal, which 2 weeks earlier launched its iPhone capabilities. Marketed as a stranded traveler’s best friend, the application allows a guest to access a comprehensive comparison of flights and hotels.

The dot-mobi version of the site has a special feature where hotels can be sorted by the categories “cheap”, “close” and “classy” depending upon the nature of the stay. And once the property is located your guestroom is just a phone call away. Say goodbye to sleeping in airport terminals. With international search capabilities, Kayak is zooming to the top of global booking sites. There’s no doubt the competition will be following quickly.

Has your hotel reserved its’ dot-mobi website extension – and is now the time to develop your iPhone application? If not, at least be sure to check if your hotel be found on Kayak’s search engine.