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LetMeGo to pit hotels against each other directly
Normally, I'd think that a website inviting hotels to So, the success of new business LetMeGo.com, which will create a marketplace in which travelers can indicate the specific amenities they want – from bunny slippers to cheese plates – will depend on whether the travel and hospitality industry has figured out that it will always be prey to a fickle economy. If the service providers in the hotel business realize this, they will understand that the extra effort is necessary, even when the travel market is on fire.
Using LetMeGo.com's website, which is still in beta, companies peddling hotel rooms, vacation homes and other forms of lodging will be able to view the itineraries posted by prospective guests. They can bid for the affections and dollars of these travelers, with this data being used by the traveler to make a decision. The process is completely transparent to the participants – every bidder can see each other's bids, and the user, of course, can sell all bids on his itinerary. But, it isn't open to the public, as nobody needs to know what you're looking to spend on your vacation. Since everyone can see each other's offer, there's incentive to cut further to attract your interest cash.
According to VentureBeat, "a good number" of lodging companies have signed up for the service and there's already an affiliate program in place to drive traffic to the site. Could this be the future of the hospitality business? I can think of worse. If the site takes off, it will be easier for hotels to identify exactly what their guests want, deliver on it and use it as a way to differentiate themselves in an increasingly competitive market.
So, the future of winning online travel cash will involve head-to-head competition, with everything out in the open. If I were one of the competitors, I wouldn't be thrilled about this, but there's no better experience for travel buyers: it's designed to help us win.
According to VentureBeat, "a good number" of lodging companies have signed up for the service and there's already an affiliate program in place to drive traffic to the site. Could this be the future of the hospitality business? I can think of worse. If the site takes off, it will be easier for hotels to identify exactly what their guests want, deliver on it and use it as a way to differentiate themselves in an increasingly competitive market.
So, the future of winning online travel cash will involve head-to-head competition, with everything out in the open. If I were one of the competitors, I wouldn't be thrilled about this, but there's no better experience for travel buyers: it's designed to help us win.
Filed under: Business, North America, United States, Hotels and Accommodations, Internet Tools
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Brett McCallon Jan 1st 2010 11:31AM
As a proud member of the LetMeGo team, thanks so much for the thoughtful writeup. I wanted to add one point: our service is very focused on providing a level playing field, letting small owner/operators compete directly with large chains. These smaller operations--individual bed-and-breakfasts, small non-chain hotels, etc., have been among the most responsive to our business plan. While we certainly expect fierce competition for both price and service among our lodging partners, we feel that LetMeGo provides a significant opportunity for many operations that might otherwise be shut out of big online lodging services.
Mike Feb 25th 2010 4:34PM
Alex it's the best Time, and your best bet!
The big ones have lots of expenses, they'll work out as well!
Call it Crisis, Recession a Black Hole; where's the spark of light?
Lodgings will have to reach out for it and that is if they want more business!
It ain't just a want it's a need!