Thursday, February 3, 2011

Myrtle Beach hotels, resorts take advantage of new mobile technology

MYRTLE BEACH - Fuel Interactive, South Carolina’s most comprehensive Internet marketing company, has announced the debut of its exclusive Guestdesk Mobile Booking Software. The technology allows consumers to book hotel rooms and golf course tee times over the Internet via any handheld mobile device.

Breakers Resort debuted the mobile booking feature in mid-January on its mobile website and reported a 500 percent increase in sales via the new portal by February 1. Nearly 20 Myrtle Beach area properties will launch the new Guestdesk mobile booking capabilities by the end of February including: Caribbean Resort; Long Bay Resort; Ocean Reef Resort; Bay View Resort; Compass Cove; Island Vista; Dunes Village; North Beach Rentals; Litchfield Beach; Myrtlewood Villas; Pawleys Plantation; Atlantica Resort; Driftwood Lodge; Paradise Resort; Monterey Bay Suites; and Palmetto Shores.

“The Guestdesk mobile booking feature is another way we are making the booking process for hotels and golf in Myrtle Beach convenient and guest-friendly,” said Stuart Butler, chief operating officer at Fuel Interactive. “Our research shows that more and more people are depending on their handheld devices for all streams of information. Our clients realize that mobile booking is an effective way to increase sales and affect their bottom line.”

When a consumer uses their mobile phone to book a room at a participating Myrtle Beach hotel, theGuestdesk booking engine automatically recognizes the request and redirects them to a mobile version of the property website. For example, the Breakers Resort mobile booking system can be found atBreakers.com/mobile. Or, visiting Breakers.com on any mobile phone will automatically redirect the customer to the hotel’s mobile booking system.

The booking engine is branded to match the look and feel of a property’s website, so the consumer will feel confident to book with the selected property. The Guestdesk mobile technology allows for booking in real time via a secure server.

The mobile booking feature provides the same information found on a website with access to current rates, promotions, restrictions, photos, interactive mapping with directions and additional services.

For hotel operators, the technology gathers information on consumer habits such as whether someone booked via a search engine, a CVB website, or by another online portal. It can also identify where online problems may exist related to potential customers abandoning a website prior to booking and allow properties to better understand customer habits, most popular specials and download conversion statistics.

Myrtle Beach hotels, resorts take advantage of new mobile technology | SCNOW: "Myrtle Beach hotels, resorts take advantage of new mobile technology"

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