Twitter-based hotel booking engine launches

A Twitter-based hotel booking engine launches this week, aimed at recession hit hotels.

The privately-funded company, Inoqo (www.inoqo.com), allows hotels to advertise “unique high-value” packages on Twitter, filling otherwise vacant rooms at the last minute.

It only publishes unique hotel packages available within the next 48 hours.

Twitter users can follow the stream for their chosen travel destination and request deals directly into their personal Twitter stream as they go live.

The service is free to travellers and Inoqo generates revenues by charging hotels a commission for each booking made.

“The current economic climate has driven increasing amounts of leisure and business travel to be planned at the last minute,” said a spokesman.

“Hotels can now meet these needs by harnessing the real-time power of Twitter.”

The service goes live on Monday with 30 launch hotels in the USA, France, Portugal, England, Scotland, Ireland and South Africa.

By Bev Fearis