Mobile Hotel Bookings Gaining Traction Among Canadian Travellers

Hotels.com reports a significant increase, upwards of 80 per cent, in 2014

TORONTO, April 24, 2015 /CNW/ - Booking travel "on the go" is a rapidly-growing trend in Canada and around the world with a reported one in four global transactions being booked on a mobile device across the Expedia, Inc brands. In Canada, Hotels.com™ reported more than 80 per cent growth in mobile bookings during 2014, according to the most recent Hotel Price Index™ (HPI™) report.

The majority of Canadians booking on mobile devices, more than four-fifths, made reservations at two- or three-star hotels. The data also showed that Canadian travellers are using their devices for all types of bookings, whether it's staying local, exploring Europe, backpacking in Asia or touring Latin America. Below are some of the top destinations booked by Canadians via mobile devices:

Most popular domestic destinations booked by Canadian travellers via mobile devices in 2014
Rank	Destination	Province	Average mobile price paid*
1	Toronto	ON	$145
2	Edmonton	AB	$141
3	Vancouver	BC	$150
4	Montreal	QC	$157
5	Calgary	AB	$152
6	Niagara Falls	ON	$143
7	Ottawa	ON	$152
8	Quebec	QC	$142
9	Winnipeg	MB	$135
10	Banff	ON	$176

Interestingly, Edmonton was the second most popular Canadian city for mobile bookings, pushing Montreal, one of the traditional top three most popular destinations, out of the third spot. The absence of five-star properties is perhaps a contributing factor to its popularity.

Most popular international destinations booked by Canadian travellers via mobile devices in 2014
Rank	Destination	Country	Average mobile price paid
1	Las Vegas	U.S.	$119
2	New York City	U.S.	$270
3	Orlando	U.S.	$110
4	Seattle	U.S.	$184
5	Los Angeles	U.S.	$172
6	London	UK	$250
7	Boston	U.S.	$200
8	Chicago	U.S.	$178
9	San Francisco	U.S.	$227
10	Paris	France	$242

Hotels.com findings during the fourth quarter of 2014, showed more than 50 per cent of mobile bookings were for the same or next day stays which could explain why London and Paris, ranked lower among travellers booking via mobile, compared to their overall popularity ranking.  The busy, and often expensive, accommodation options in each city may have encouraged more advanced planning via desktop.  

Depending on destination and travel preferences, the HPI also revealed the most popular cities booked via mobile in Europe, Asia and Latin America.

• Sightseeing in Europe: Warsaw, Poland; Granada, Spain; Seville, Spain
• Backpacking in Asia: Hoi An, Vietnam; Chiang Mai, Thailand; Phnom Penh, Cambodia
• Exploring Latin America: San Jose, Costa Rica; Panama City, Panama; Bogota, Colombia

The Hotels.com award-winning mobile apps for various devices have been downloaded more than 40 million times since their launch in 2011. With Apple™ Watch and other smartwatch compatibility and more than 20,000 mobile-exclusive deals, they're a helpful resource for travellers on the go.

*All prices in Canadian Dollars

About the HPI™
The HPI is a biannual report that looks at hotel prices in cities all around the world. The data is based on bookings made through the Hotels.com website and the prices listed are the actual prices paid by Canadians - not advertised rates.

About Hotels.com
Hotels.com, L.P. operates Hotels.com (also known in Canada as Hotels.ca), a leading online accommodation booking website with approximately 435,000 properties around the world, ranging from international chains and all-inclusive resorts to local favourites and bed & breakfasts, together with all the information needed to book the perfect stay. Special apps for mobile phones and tablets can also be downloaded enabling customers to book on the go with access to 20,000 last minute deals.

© 2015 Hotels.com, LP. Hotels.com, The Obvious Choice, Hotel Price Index, HPI and the Hotels.com logo are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Hotels.com, LP in the U.S. and/or other countries. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.

SOURCE Hotels.com

Image with caption: "Outside of Canada, Las Vegas was the most popular city booked on mobile devices by Canadian travellers (CNW Group/Hotels.com)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20150424_C6238_PHOTO_EN_14740.jpg

For further information: Press Contacts: Lauren Wasley, energiPR for Hotels.com, Phone: [phone] x 19, Email: [e-mail], @energiPR; Taylor L. Cole, APR, Hotels.com North America, Phone: [phone], Email: [e-mail], @TravelwithTLC