Expedia is leveraging the exponential growth in mobile bookings with a new tablet app, even as it urges hotels and airlines to make available suitable inventory for the channel.

Expedia is leveraging the exponential growth in mobile bookings with a new tablet app, even as it urges hotels and airlines to make available suitable inventory for the channel. The new Expedia tablet app offers a streamlined search function and federated search, allowing users to view hotel and flight prices simultaneously.

Speaking at the first Expedia Partner Appreciation Event in Hong Kong this week, Expedia’s area manager, Jenny Wong, said: “This year, we observed that about 15 out of 100 bookings are generated by mobile phones, which is 193 per cent year-on-year growth. This demonstrates great potential (for further growth).

“About 40 per cent of mobile bookings are for same-day reservations or within three days of booking, so I recommend hotel partners ensure same-day room availability. Mobile-only special deals are definitely a plus,” she added.

Kathleen Tan, CEO of AirAsiaExpedia, said her company had enhanced its booking platform by rolling out a new app for tablets six weeks ago for both iOS and Android tablets.