Tobias Ragge, HRS’ CEO
SAME-DAY hotel bookings are on average 23 per cent cheaper than rooms booked in advance, according to a longitudinal study conducted by corporate reservations platform HRS.
An analysis of its corporate customers revealed that 58 per cent of them tend to make accommodation bookings up to two weeks in advance while 32 per cent book far in advance of more than 14 days.
The study stated: “In exchange for the early booking and the feeling of security, they have to accept room prices that are, on average, 10 per cent higher than short-term bookings. Last-minute bookers are able to secure rates that are, on average, the least expensive, paying almost a quarter less than those who plan ahead.”
It added that most of HRS’ last-minute bookings are made through mobile devices.
Said HRS CEO Tobias Ragge: “Mobile is the current trend and it will define the future of the travel industry. Even today, 40 per cent of all search queries we receive on our portal are made through smartphones and tablets.”
The report warns that there are exceptions to this phenomenon, such as during peak seasons caused by large-scale events, where room availability is made scarce, thus inflating room prices.
