This month, Loews Hotels & Resorts proves that there’s more to social media than rants, raves and random hashtags, with the launch of Loews Hotels Social Reservations—allowing guests to book their hotel stays directly via Twitter.
From Tuesday, November 19th, Loews will add Twitter as a distribution channel for 16 of its properties (excluding the Orlando hotels), allowing the booking process to take place in an entirely new platform.
No calls to 1-800 numbers or online booking forms are required with this innovative new booking tool. Consumers simply use #BookLoews in a tweet to @Loews_Hotels to express interest, and will be prompted by one of the brand’s Travel Planners to start a Twitter conversation.
As soon as the guest is ready to make their reservation, the Loews Travel Planner will tweet them a link to a secure chat conversation to process personal and payment information in a secure, PCI-compliant digital environment. Social Reservations makes it easier than ever for consumers to plan their travel at the time they like, in the medium they prefer.
To launch the Loews Hotels Social Reservations program in tweet-worthy fashion, Loews is offering an unbeatable deal to the first 140 Twitter users who book a reservation using the new tool and the #BookLoews hashtag.
The fun begins at Noon EDT on November 19, when the first 140 consumers to use the Twitter-based reservations system will receive a discounted rate of just $140 per night.* Naturally, the promotion and special rate is a nod to the 140-character-limit of a tweet.
“As we continue to evolve and build on our Social Media strategy, we are focused on meeting the needs of travelers throughout each stage of the travel continuum,” said Piper Stevens, Director of Social Media, Loews Hotels & Resorts. “When it comes to reservations, we recognize that giving consumers the option of booking efficiently on a network where they are already engaging on a daily basis is going to set us apart and grow our consumer base in a meaningful way.”
Loews Social Reservations launches on the heels of the hotel’s blog, Wish You Were Here.
Piper Stevens, the blog’s author, spent five months traveling to each of the Loews locations to document must-see attractions, entertainment, favorite food and beverage destinations, along with exciting property highlight and travel tips.
WOW – this is groundbreaking! I think they are starting a new path here.. using social media for bookings. Unbelivable!
That’s a very interesting concept. Definitely seems like a game changer, but I guess only time will tell to see whether or not this will catch on with the rest of the hospitality industry!