Father-son startup RoomAtlas has unveiled another highly practical piece of functionality to its site as it looks to build on its early and startling success.
The duo have built a tool which lets users select a location for an event, create a dedicated URL for the occasion and produce a customised map with hotel availability during the selected dates.
RoomAtlas launched in November 2009 by the ex-banker and his son and was praised not only for its inventiveness and simplicity but also ability to combine rates and availability from Expedia with TripAdvisor reviews on a single, Google Map-hosted page.
The new functionality was introduced last week and is aimed at a range of users from organisers of private events such as weddings to large exhibitions and conferences.
The tool works by guiding the user through a series of steps to establish the exact location and dates of the event.
It then allows the user to create a dedicated TinyURL-type address which can be easily included on invitations or event website literature.
The map is then automatically saved within the URL and includes available accommodation nearby and live prices for the duration of the event.
RoomAtlas co-founder Roger Middleton says traffic to the site has grown steadily in the two months since the launch. There are now plans to build the same system for mobile platforms include the iPhone and Android.
The Expedia hotel feed is currently serving around 53,000 properties worldwide. Wikipedia details as well as Google Street View has also been incorporated into the system.