Last Minute Travel has released a new iOS application that offers access to a swathe of wholesale travel inventory to users.
The app promises access to wholesale pricing usually reserved for travel agents. Available inventory comes from over 175 carriers around the world, in addition to more than 100,000 hotels in 150 countries, 20,000 vacation homes, and around 10,000 activities and transfers.
Unlike the current app from LMT, which only features available last minute hotel inventory, each of those verticals will be available in the same app. The prices are up to 60% off on hotels, regardless of how far out the room is booked, and the inventory is searchable by star rating, reviews, location and price.
Tours and activities are also available in 23 categories, with prices reduced 25% to 60% off retail.
Omer Chehmer, Application Product Manager for Last Minute Travel:
This app provides the same inventory and the same pricing that many travel agents would see when making bookings on behalf of their clients. It exposes a level of data and pricing that previously hasn’t been available to consumers. Now everyday travelers can serve as their own agent and avoid any pricing markups or service fees when booking their reservations.
Whether you’re making same-day reservations, or booking months in advance, the app can help you access a deep inventory of options at wholesale prices – and book it immediately. It eliminates all of the hassle and guessing that travelers hate about the negotiated or opaque models – and ultimately helps the traveler cut to the chase on price.
Isar Meitis, President of Last Minute Travel, explains the clear distinction of the app from other last minute offerings as the bookable inventory is not distressed.
For the first time, travelers are able to search and book travel products at agent-level prices from the palm of their hand. Some travel apps compare marked up, retail prices. Other apps offer ‘deals’ on a very limited and variable inventory of one travel product – like hotels. Finally, the last group of apps utilizes the opaque model – meaning consumers don’t know what they’re getting.
The Last Minute Travel Deals app offers agent-level prices and unique discount offerings – by buying its travel products in advance and repricing them using a proprietary revenue management system. Everyday travelers now have the power to serve as their own travel agent.
The app is available for download today.
NB: Mobile travel deal image courtesy Shutterstock.