In the news: New mobile app for LagiSatu, TripAdvisor’s content integrated with CNN, Dorsett’s online presence enhanced with Lenardo Technology
LagiSatu goes mobile with new app for booking hotels on the go
Faeez Fadhlillah believes the future lies in mobile.
Kuala Lumpur-based hotel metasearch website LagiSatu.com, which will mark its second birthday this March, has just launched an app to target consumers who only book hotels via apps.
Faeez Fadhlillah, LagiSatu.com’s CEO and co-founder, said the app was in tandem with his belief that “mobile is the future”, adding that “the travel market is very dynamic and we realise that more and more users are starting to search and book more via apps,” he added.
He explained that the app was designed to simplify the process and journey of booking accommodation, and enables travellers to make booking on the go.
WIT test run the app and found the journey from launching the app to booking the hotel to be quick and hassle-free due to the simple, easy to use interface and no high res images to bog down the process. The last stage of the search took us to a list of OTAs, and we could choose whoever to book with.
The same can also be said of the website where the search functions and features are similar to the app’s.
The free app is available for both IOS and Android devices in English, Malay, Indonesian, French and Spanish. In the past weeks it has received around 12,000 downloads across various platforms.
“The app is relatively new and we haven’t invested in marketing yet, but the response we received have been overwhelming. We are hoping to reach100,000 downloads with the second quarter of this year,” said Faeez.
LagiSatu.com does not charge a fee for using its site or app to search for hotels. Faeez declined to reveal details of its its revenue stream, just that the site is based on a lead generation model and how much it gets for each lead depends on “how we negotiate with the OTA”.
He, however, is proud to say that the startup is the “the only metasearch site that has the largest database of hotels rated with MuslimStars, which indicate Muslim friendly facilities and amenities available in a hotel”.
Hotels with Muslim friendly facilities are indicated by MuslimStars. The star is represented by a crescent moon in the app and by a “MuslimStar” sign on the website. Both have ratings similar to star ratings in hotels.
LagiSatu.com has a database of about 350,000 hotels, with about 10,000 rated with MuslimStars, and 600,000 unique users per month. It targets Asian travellers and those travelling to Asia. Its top markets in terms of user base are Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Saudi Arabia and the UK.
On future plans, Faeez said: “To expand reach regionally and become a household name in Malaysia.”
TripAdvisor integrates its content with CNN’s travel portal
TripAdvisor’s content displayed on CNN’s travel portal.
Travel site, TripAdvisor, has made available its reviews and ratings on global travel portal, CNNTravel.com, in a partnership with CNN International.
TripAdvisor said in a statement that this linkup enabled CNN readers to view its content in real time including reviews, photos and maps of featured restaurants, bars and other landmarks. They can also book hotels mentioned in CNN Travel articles via TripAdvisor.
“One of the key advantages of the deal is giving CNN Travel readers access to the best available hotel prices through TripAdvisor’s hotel price comparison search function. The same TripAdvisor content and booking functionality are also available when CNN Travel readers access CNN’s 4,000 partner hotels on the CNN Travel homepage.” added the statement. .
Andrew Demaria, CNN travel executive producer, said the linkup would make the experience for current CNN Travel users on both desktop and mobile far more in-depth and comprehensive.
“Ultimately, this is really all about the user, especially when using their mobile to book accommodation when planning a holiday or while they’re on the road travelling. Readers can now search for hotels, book accommodation or write a review via the CNN Travel site. This means a better experience for our audience.”
Dorsett selects Leonardo Technology as partner to strengthen online presence
Leonardo Technology to help enhance Dorsett’s online presence. (Image credit: Dorsett Hospitality Interntional)
Hong Kong based Dorsett Hospitality International has chosen Leonardo Technology as its partner to improve the management, distribution and visual presentation of their hotels online.
Utilising Leonardo’s VScape Digital Asset Management System as its central hub for hotel visual content, Dorsett will distribute hotel images through direct connectivity to the largest network of travel websites, integrate images into brand websites through advanced multi-media display technology and XML connectivity.
The system will also make images available to press and agencies through a Private Digital Library, and ensure all content in the system conforms to brand standards through an advanced media approval and workflow engine.
Philip Schaetz, Dorsett’s senior vice president of sales & marketing, said of the partnership: “We know that visuals influence hotel bookings and that consumers are expecting high-resolution, consistent visuals at every site they visit to shop for travel online. We needed a technology-focused partner like Leonardo to ensure we are always meeting consumer expectations for hotel media on our website and third party channels.”
• Featured image credit (online booking): Gajus/iStock
