Hotels Launch Room Key Search Engine

Room Key has announced the launch of Roomkey.com, a new and innovative online search engine for hotels. The new venture, which is owned by the world’s six leading hotel groups, will provide the breadth, simplicity and transparency consumers expect from search engines. It will also deliver the flexibility, assurance and accuracy expected from the hospitality industry.

Room Key has been established by Marriott International, Hilton Worldwide, InterContinental Hotels Group, Hyatt Hotels Corporation, Choice Hotels International and Wyndham Hotel Group – or their respective affiliates. However, the venture is led by a highly respected management team that is led by chief executive John F. Davis III, who has a lot of hospitality industry experience and a history of entrepreneurial success. The team will also include chief marketing officer Stephany Verstraete and J. Kurt Zimmer as chief technology officer.

Roomkey.com provides a search and booking experience designed for ease of hotel shopping with a trustworthy and uncluttered site. It will give travellers confidence that they have made the right choice, as it will provide accurate information directly from the source. The offering will evolve to offer independent reviews and the ability to compare, plan and share with family and friends. Initially, it will cater to US consumers, but this will be followed with an expansion to English-speaking regions outside the country.

Davis says that finding a hotel that is right is complex and a personal decision process – unlike reserving a car or booking a flight – and hoteliers understand this better than anyone. They believe Roomkey.com will give travellers an innovative resource that will deliver unprecedented confidence in their decision by fulfilling their search needs with trusted and comprehensive content, as well as via more features over time – connecting and sharing with others.

Marriott International senior vice president of eCommerce, Shafiq Khan says that the new and unique offering from Room Key will embody the best that hotel company websites offer, giving consumers confidence in their booking. This is an exciting venture, he added, and they look forward to supporting its growth. InterContinental Hotels Group senior vice president of distribution and relationship marketing, Steve Sickel says that they are always looking for new ways to innovate to consistently give a world class experience to guests. Roomkey.com is another first for the industry that offers customers breadth of choice and all the benefits of booking directly with their hotel websites.

Hilton Worldwide senior vice president of global online services, Chuck Sullivan says that they are very pleased to join the venture, which will deliver a wide range of travel options to guests, as well as the confidence in getting exceptional rates by booking directly with suppliers. Choice Hotels International senior vice president of global distribution, Robert McDowell says that they are thrilled to be a part of this venture, and their goal is to make finding the right hotel as enjoyable and personal as staying in one.