Expedia Hotel View to bring travellers closer to their destination
Wednesday 16, June 2010
Expedia, the UK's leading online travel booking site has announced the launch of 'Expedia Hotel ViewTM'. The new service combines Google Street View technology with Expedia hotel data to enable consumers to virtually experience the location of their selected accommodation, before purchase.
It provides unprecedented panoramic views of each property - as if walking along the pavement outside - and helps travel researchers to check out details such as the location of their nearest restaurant, nearby parks and bars and get a good look at the general hotel surroundings so they can book with the assurance that they know exactly what to expect when they arrive. User reviews, hotel images and Expedia rates also pop up, allowing travellers to explore their chosen hotel from all angles before purchase.
No longer will people need to trust and book on the hotel description alone because it is now possible to see exactly how far it is from local attractions and sights as well as what the surrounding area has to offer.
"By bringing together in depth information with a broad choice of hotels consumers can take advantage of the thousands of deals that Expedia offers with the reassurance that they have already checked out their holiday accommodation practically at first hand. With Expedia Hotel ViewTM we are bringing travellers even closer to their destination giving them all the information they need to make travel booking simple and easy." says Alex Gisbert, director, online partner marketing, Expedia EMEA.
With Expedia Hotel ViewTM, holidaymakers can now enter their chosen area - via an online ad or directly through the site - and get taken straight through to a Google map with hotel locations pinpointed. When one is selected, the user is taken to a Google Street View image of the hotel. Customers can:
- See the surroundings of the accommodation - the kind of street it's located on
- Check out nearby transport links and landmarks
- Travel up and down the road to discover what is in the immediate vicinity
- Trace their path from their hotel to key landmarks or venues.
For the business traveller the service offers a time-saving route to review their journey from their hotel to their meetings of conferences and book.
An overview box also appears on screen, which a user can click at any time to quickly access a summary of the hotel's key information - including star rating, room types and the latest rates. For easy navigation, the five nearest hotels also appear at the bottom left of the screen.
Latest news
Tourism
Business travelers want latest technology and best gadgets
Auckland Zoo named one of NZ elite tourist attractions
Caribbean and Mediterranean losing beach tourism market to Southeast Asia
Aviation
Boeing: China will lead the Asia Pacific region in new airplane deliveries
British Airways begins installing new seats in Euro Traveller cabin
American Airlines drops free meals on short haul flights
Hospitality
First capsule hostel to open in Antwerp, Belgium
Marriott named to World's Most Innovative Companies List
Marriott Hotels debuts - healthy vending machine
Find the best deals available today
The grey menu on the right is your best friend. Always check before you travel.
Plan your trips with the help of great resources
More and more travellers think that researching and planning a European city break is half the fun and they're not interested in pre-arranged trips or escorted tours. Self-guided tours offer a lot of advantages but require some guidance and good resources.
Clean, green and very pristine
Top 10 most environmentally pure countries
With the recent wild fires, disrupting flights and increasing air pollution, environmental quality is a growing factor in attracting tourists.
Rooftop
Top 15 most spectacular hotel rooftop views
The hotel price comparison site www.trivago.co.uk has put together a list of the fifteen most spectacular hotel rooftop terraces in the world.
Pro city guides
Places by themes
Latest offers, discounts and more...
Accor “3=2 offerâ€Why not extend your stay? 3 nights for the price of 2.
Columbus Direct travel insuranceQuality cover at low prices to customers all around the world.
Priority passAccess VIP lounges no matter where which airline and class you fly.
European City CardsSee more and pay less! Get your "passport" to European cities.
Rail EuropeComfortable and affordable on European trains.
Lonely Planet MagazinePacked with insider knowledge, hints and tips.
Sandemans New Europe City ToursFree walking tours in 13 cities within 9 countries.
Sol Melia WednesdaysSearch your exclusive special offers now for the coming weekend!
TransfersLow-cost shuttle and private transfers in over 70 countries.
IMEX Frankfurt 25-27 MayThe essential worldwide exhibition for incentive travel, meetings and events.
