With the accommodation sector embracing new iPhone and iPad booking app technology, will traditional online systems become redundant?

In a society where immediate gratification and the convenience of being able to communicate anywhere are expected, it’s no wonder the iPhone and iPad apps are looking to become the preferred way to book your accommodation. 

They are perfect for on-the-go travelers who want to book a room that night or want to make future hotel reservations. These apps are able to locate hotel rooms nearby and instantly display prices and vacancies on helpful maps.

With the recent release of the Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG) Priority Club Rewards iPhone app and the UK Travelodge’s launch of ibooker joining the likes of Hilton, HotelsNearMe, HotelPal, HotelsByMe – the number of accommodation booking apps are on the rise.  

This poses the question – will all major hotel chains or current online booking sites join their competitors in creating a confusing, over-populated collection of apps?

How will they manage to compete against each other and how will they market their apps so that users actually download them?

Have your say on the future of accommodation booking at the VECCI Blog.