HotelBeds Group will use a partnership with travel startup What Now to push mobile apps and money-making opportunities in-destination to hotels.
The idea is that hotels on the HotelBeds distribution network can offer guests the What Now mobile app so that they can be guided around a city as well as book acitvities and things-to-do.
The app, essentially a planning tool for once a guest in a destination, allows users to discover what's on offer, view maps and search for restaurants, bars and other local attractions - also when data roaming is switched off, using GPS rather than a internet connection.
Most importantly, HotelBeds will give hotels the incentive of promoting the app to guests by doing a revenue-share on a ticket purchased via the app for an attraction.
The service is initially being launched with a number of properties in London, where What Now has spent the last two years powering the official VisitLondon mobile app with similar content and services.
HotelBeds will use the database of attractions from its Isango brand to populate the things-to-do part of the app.
Paul Anthony, managing director of the Transfer and Activity Bank (TAB) at HotelBeds, says:
"Benefiting from the large product portfolio of Hotelbeds, the What Now app also aims to enhance ‘in-hotel’ distribution, adding value to the traveller experience by helping tourists to discover London and buy same day tickets at the last-minute."
One particular feature that the pair have talked up is the inclusion of flexible tickets in the app, so that guests can secure a reservation at an attraction but have seven days to use it.
What Now Travel CEO, Tony Sandler, adds:
"Customer travel experience does not end at booking a flight, hotel room or holiday.
"We have set out to develop a platform that will allow continuous revenue opportunities for all travel brands which goes beyond the initial point of sale."
HotelBeds and What Now hope to extend the offering to other cities in due course.
Similar, revenue-sharing products for tours and acticvities have been launched by the likes of Nor1, which used its acquisition of Flextrip to create in-destination product apps for hotels and chains.