Travel website Room 77, to this point a tool largely used by travelers to ensure hotel rooms meet their criteria upon check-in, has added booking capabilities for its global database of about 750,000 hotel rooms. [more]
The new version Room 77's site, launched this week, allows travelers to specify room preferences--floor level or location on the floor, for example--upon booking.
The Room 77 mobile app has allowed travelers to compare their assigned room number at the front desk with their selected criteria.
"We search numerous sites in real time, including all of the major brands and online travel agencies, but we're layering in new information that allows the consumer to have a more faceted search experience," said, Room 77 general manager and vice president of product Kevin Fliess. "We want to close the loop for the consumer to score a great room."
Room 77 can display hotel room search results in three ways. The list view displays hotels by tier and rate and allows users to filter results by criteria including free Wi-Fi, free parking, free breakfast and room views. A grid view compares pricing in hotels by the different room types. A map lets users search by location.
After users book, they can return to Room 77 to submit requests for their room preferences. Within 48 hours before arrival, they will receive an email confirmation from Room 77 notifying them either of their specific room assigned or, if that is not available, letting them know that their preferences are noted in the reservation, Fliess said.
"We use that information to make the request," he said. "We'll keep them appraised of the status of their room request right up until the moment they arrive at the hotel."
The company plans to monitor which hotels are more responsive and accommodating to room requests, and that data could inform the site's algorithm down the road, Fliess said.