Mobile bookings are skyrocketing, according to the Hotels.com Hotel Price Index.
The latest data from the HPI showed that more than one in four transactions on Hotels.com are being booked via the mobile device. Overall, bookings increased by more than 80 percent on the site in 2014, compared to 2013.
Naturally, mobile devices are so popular with travelers because they allow adventurers to book and make changes to their itinerary on the go. According to the HPI, 50 percent of travelers booked hotels either on the day of their departure or the day before their departure in the fourth quarter of 2014.
Hotels.com is hearing travelers in this respect. The online travel agency (OTA)-along with a host of other travel companies-recently announced an Apple Watch-compatible app to take advantage of the craze for the mobile-friendly wearable. With the app, users can find nearby hotel deals, view upcoming reservations, locate their hotel via GPS and more.
But which destinations are the most popular among mobile users?
In 2014, the top five domestic destinations were (in order): Las Vegas (an average rate of $104 for mobile users), Orlando ($94), New York City ($243), Los Angeles ($151) and San Diego ($133).
The top international destinations were London ($265), Cancun/Riviera Maya ($242), Toronto ($147), Paris ($245) and Vancouver ($167).
For those budget-conscious travelers looking to journey through Asia, Hotels.com points out wallet-friendly destinations such as Phnom Penh, Cambodia ($58 average rate); Hanoi, Vietnam ($59); Chiang Mai, Thailand ($67); Siem Reap, Cambodia ($71); and Pattaya, Thailand ($71).
With such an uptick in mobile bookings, more and more companies are investing in accommodating the mobile-friendly traveler, while also taking more time to understand the complexities of mobile marketing. Hotels.com-affiliated apps have now been downloaded more than 40 million times since its launch.
For more information on the rise of mobile bookings, check out the handy infographic below, courtesy of Hotels.com.
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