WorldMate, Inc. has partnered with hotels.com to enable users to book travel securely on their mobile phones without requiring a phone call.

Published: 26 Aug 2008

WorldMate, Inc. has partnered with hotels.com to enable users to book travel securely on their mobile phones without requiring a phone call.

WorldMate, a provider of mobile travel services for frequent travelers, shared that Blackberry users can now book hotel rooms directly within WorldMate Live.

The process for booking a hotel room is as follows: Members searching for a hotel receive recommendations that factor in proximity to meeting locations on their itinerary, as part of WorldMate Live's propriety algorithm used to rank and list the best hotel options. Members can also view their entire agenda on a map together with any hotel option to make an informed decision.

The service is free and initially available to all BlackBerry users. The company plans to release a Windows Mobile version in the near future.

"No other travel booking service automatically considers a traveler's itinerary and simultaneously factors in their personal preferences," said Nadav Gur, CEO, WorldMate. "Our members no longer need to sift through the multitude of hotels within a destination just to find a suitable option in convenient location, at the right price, with desirable amenities."

Gur added, "Business travelers often find their schedules changing on the fly. Meetings get postponed or extended, itineraries change, and they need to book hotel rooms and revise their schedules quickly, often without immediate access to a computer. Thanks to WorldMate and hotels.com, what was once stressful -- finding a nearby hotel with the right amenities, and doing it in mid-trip -- has now been simplified to a few clicks on a mobile phone."

According to the company, WorldMate Live serves as a personal travel companion, allowing frequent travelers to manage their entire itinerary -- flights, hotels, meetings and ground transportation -- all within a single service, accessible any time from a smartphone or computer.

Once a traveler's itinerary is in the system, WorldMate Live proactively warns of schedule disruptions and suggests alternate flights when it detects a delay or cancellation.