26/04-05   -   Press releases

Online Hotel Room Auction Service Launches for Holiday Season

With the holiday season fast approaching, clued-up holiday makers will be seeking cut price accommodation for their UK breaks. Now, thanks to an auction service launched by RoomAuction.com, customers can book rooms at hotels in popular locations such as the Lake District, Cotswolds, Cornwall and London for less than the standard rate.

On certain days, especially Sundays, most hotels have empty rooms they need to fill to avoid losing revenue. RoomAuction.com shows the standard rate for different types of rooms at featured hotels, and the customer offers the lower price they’re willing to pay and can ‘haggle’ with the hotelier. By placing a bid on RoomAuction.com, the customer can secure a better deal than if they booked directly with the hotel itself.

On receipt of a bid from a RoomAuction.com customer, the hotelier decides if the offer can be accepted. By treating each enquiry individually, hotels can choose to take bookings that will fill empty rooms. The service is free to RoomAuction.com customers and no registration or credit card details are required until a booking is confirmed.

Bob Drapella, managing director of RoomAuction.com, comments: ‘Our service is ideal for people who are planning a short break or romantic night away but don’t want to risk the embarrassment of asking the hotel for a reduction in price. By using our service, customers can rest assured that the hotelier won’t be offended by an offer that’s lower than their standard rate. In turn, the bidding system means the hotelier is confident of obtaining the best rate for a particular room on a ‘slower’ night.’

RoomAuction.com has more than 80 hotels signed up on an annual membership basis, with four to five new ones joining every week. No commission or other charges apply for listing accommodation.

RoomAuction.com was launched in 2003 as a joint venture between BCM Computer and Management Services and E-Tech, and is run by a group of people with extensive hotel and IT experience. The venture was registered as a limited company in August 2004. It is based in Cheltenham and employs eight people.