Priceline NORWALK, Conn., Jan. 6, 2014…Priceline.com, a leader in mobile travel and part of The Priceline Group (NASDAQ: PCLN), today announced a partnership with General Motors, launching the rollout of a priceline.com-powered hotel booking service available through the new Chevrolet AppShop. The partnership will be unveiled this week at the 2014 Consumer Electronics Show.
Through the partnership, Chevrolet customers will have up to two ways to locate and book priceline.com hotel rooms while on-the-go. The first option allows Chevrolet’s OnStar customers immediate access to live advisors through a simple press of their blue OnStar button. These advisors can connect to priceline.com inventory and search for nearby hotel options and book drivers the hotel room of their choice. In addition, all Chevrolet consumers with app-capable vehicles will be able to download a custom priceline.com app within the new Chevrolet AppShop, coming later this year. By accessing the app directly, drivers will be connected to extensive priceline.com hotel inventory and enjoy a vehicle centric hotel booking experience.
“Hotels are one of the most requested categories GM’s OnStar customers seek information about while traveling, and we see an immense opportunity to fulfill a strong consumer need,” said Brett Keller, Chief Marketing Officer of priceline.com. “We built a custom priceline.com app for Chevrolet owners that gives last-minute bookers an ability to locate, compare, and book their preferred hotel in seconds with the touch of a button.”
Mobile technology is transforming the travel landscape, helping to free travelers from the burden of planning everything far in advance. With access to last-minute deals and the flexibility to conduct location-based searches in real-time, mobile users can tap the best pricing and inventory up until moments before they check-in.
“New mobile technologies allow consumers to wait until the last minute to find their favorite place to stay for the night, and more and more are choosing to do so,” said Keller. “In fact, after 6pm, nearly 70% of our same-day bookings are from mobile devices. This behavior increases during the holidays, and we expect this trend to continue.”
The partnership makes priceline.com the provider of hotel booking services for Chevrolet, enabling drivers to browse and book hotel rooms on the road from their cars. Access to priceline.com inventory directly through the OnStar button will be available in early 2014 on a limited basis, with a broader rollout planned for later in the year.
The priceline.com app will be free for download to all properly-equipped Chevrolets with MyLink infotainment systems. GM’s AppShop will be available this summer on select 2015 U.S. and Canadian models, including the Corvette, Equinox, Impala, Malibu, Volt, Silverado and Silverado HD.
About priceline.com
Priceline.com, part of The Priceline Group [NASDAQ: PCLN], gives leisure travelers multiple ways to save on their airline tickets, hotel rooms, rental cars, vacation packages and cruises. In addition to getting compelling published prices, travelers can take advantage of priceline.com’s famous Name Your Own Price® service, which can deliver the lowest prices available, or the recently added Express Deals®, where travelers can take advantage of hotel discounts without bidding.
