Orbitz for Business is offering business travelers the ability to book rooms with refundable rates and hoteliers in the new program are getting premium placements in search results.
Under the new Business Advantage program, participating hotels in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and the UK appear higher in the sort order in the agency's corporate booking tool and there is visual differentiation, as well, says spokesman Jay Pierce.
Business Advantage hotel offers are also displayed in the hotel search path in tandem with other rate classes.
The push for refundable rate properties fills a gap for Orbitz for Business. Its clients book a mix of prepaid and non-prepaid rooms, but the company felt it needed to provide more access to refundable options. The refundable-rate rooms can be cancelled with no penalty up to 24 hours before check-in.
The program, which was soft-launched at the beginning of 2011, is supposed to offer road warriors perks unavailable to the general public, Orbitz for Business says.
Business Advantage hotels are required to offer guests rate discounts or amenities, including free-Wi-Fi, breakfast and/or room upgrades, Orbitz for Business says.
Orbitz for Business claims that hotels participating in the program since the January pilot began have seen their Orbitz for Business bookings increase 62% year-over-year on average compared with a 20% jump for hotels not in the program.
Participating hotels in the U.S. include the Talbott Hotel in Chicago, the Fairmont San Francisco and the Radisson Lexington Hotel New York.
Pierce says there is "a great opportunity" to expand Business Advantage in "key business destinations across Europe and Latin America" especially in light of Orbitz for Business' partnership with GlobalStar Travel Management.