Houston, Texas (PRWEB) March 11, 2014
There’s a definite shift in how travelers are making hotel reservations. Traditionally, they would either call the hotel directly or use a toll-free central reservations line. As technology evolved, travelers looked to the web, making reservations online. Today WebsiteAlive® and Loews Hotels & Resorts are taking that one step further by allowing travelers make hotel reservations via Twitter in an initiative called Social Reservations.
"According to PhoCus Wright, a travel market research firm, 34 percent of hotel room revenue comes from online and mobile app bookings," says Adam J. Stass, CEO of WebsiteAlive. "Why not take it to the next level and reach travelers via social networks like Facebook and Twitter? That’s exactly what Loews Hotels and Resorts is doing with Social Reservations."
With Loews Hotels Social Reservations, travelers tweet to @Loews_Hotels with the hashtag #BookLoews to express interest in a room. A Loews Travel Planner then picks up the conversation. Once the person is ready to book a room, the planner tweets a link to a chat conversation, using WebsiteAlive’s Shortlink System.
Social Reservations allows travelers to book rooms at 16 of its 19 properties via Twitter. The initiative does not include Loews properties in Orlando.
Because hotels are increasingly using Facebook and Twitter to advertise promotions and respond to customer complaints, Piper Stevens, director of social media at Loews Hotels, wanted to take that to another level. "We initially saw a lot of consumer activity to point them in the right direction of how to make a reservation, and we thought we could connect the dots for them and do so through social media," she says.
One conversation in particular sparked the Social Reservations idea. A traveler asked for Boston hotel recommendations over Twitter. Stevens reached out and recommended a Loews property. "We were able to convert that Twitter follower into a guest," she says. "We were already using AliveChat™ and AliveDial™, WebsiteAlive’s live chat and click-to-call solutions, so we naturally turned to them for our chat social solution."
Jimmy Suh, senior vice president of e-commerce and distribution at Loews Hotels & Resorts, believes the program has the potential to boost revenue. "We absolutely feel confident that it increases the value proposition of Loews Hotels, as it enables the person to make a transaction using a platform that is essentially a part of their everyday life," he says.
"WebsiteAlive continuously looks for ways to extend the value of online conversations by providing a convenient method for consumers to buy online and an effective sales channel for companies," Stass concludes. "Integrating online communications with social media is the logical next step for growing businesses."
To learn more about WebsiteAlive’s online communications solutions, including AliveChat and AliveDial, contact WebsiteAlive at 888-696-4513, email them at sales(at)websitealive(dot)com, or visit them on the web at http://www.websitealive.com.
About WebsiteAlive
WebsiteAlive is a fast and forward-thinking software developer and online communications provider, dedicated to developing the most flexible and agile innovations. Since 2007, its feature-rich, industry-leading, and award-winning live chat and click-to-call solutions, AliveChat and AliveDial, have been used to meet and greet website visitors, answer questions, increase leads, and close sales. Trusted by more than 11,000 web and mobile sites, including the San Francisco Giants and many other major sports teams, Loews Hotels & Resorts, CA Technologies, and PCMall, WebsiteAlive prides itself on helping internet-based organizations of all sizes thrive.
Like WebsiteAlive on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/WebsiteAlive.
Follow WebsiteAlive on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/WebsiteAlive.
About Loews Hotels & Resorts
Headquartered in New York City, Loews Hotels & Resorts owns and/or operates 19 hotels and resorts in the U.S. and Canada including the newly acquired Loews Madison Hotel located in the heart of Washington at the epicenter of legendary D.C. landmarks and the Loews Boston Hotel, one of Boston’s preeminent historic buildings, situated on the corner of Berkeley and Stuart Streets. Located in major city centers and resort destinations in North America from coast to coast, the Loews portfolio features one-of-a-kind properties that go beyond Four Diamond standards to delight guests with a supremely comfortable, uniquely local and vibrant travel experience. For reservations or more information about Loews Hotels & Resorts, call 1-800-23-LOEWS or visit: http://www.loewshotels.com.
Like Loews Hotels & Resorts on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LoewsHotels.
Follow Loews Hotels & Resorts on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/loews_hotels.
Watch Loews Hotels & Resorts on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/LoewsHotels.
Read our Wish You Were Here Blog at http://www.loewshotelsblog.com.
