LONDON, September 29, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

Hotels.com, the world's leading hotel booking website, has launched a new specially-designed iPad application, available for free download.

Offered in more than 30 languages, the app allows users to search and book 140,000 hotels around the world. They can choose from 20,000 last minute deals, browse over 2.5 million user reviews and find last-minute bookings close to their location.

The booking flow is intuitive and has also been built to allow the keyboard to remain at the bottom of the screen throughout the process for ease of use. Users can flick through hotels, photos and reviews with one swipe, explore the interactive skyline with landmarks from around the world, make use of the powerful sort and filter tools and also save and manage their favourite hotels.

Scott Booker, SVP eCommerce for Hotels.com, said: "I am really proud and excited by this new development and am sure our customers will really enjoy using it. We have developed a truly innovative search experience which takes advantage of all the great usability functionality that Apple offers combined with our expertise to enable users to find the right hotel quickly and easily.

"We launched our two mobile apps in April and well over 1.5 million have already been downloaded. We expect this new app to produce a big boost to those numbers."

Users can book as a guest or create a Hotels.com account which can then be synchronised between the iPad, smart phone and desktop. Even without a data connection, all past and future bookings can be accessed and the app supports WelcomeRewards, the unique Hotels.com loyalty programme that offers one free* night for every 10 nights stayed.

The launch is supported with marketing activity in online and mobile channels.

*does not include taxes and fees

About Hotels.com

As part of the Expedia group which operates in all major markets, Hotels.com offers 140,000 quality hotels, B&Bs and serviced apartments worldwide Hotels.com benefits from one of the largest hotel contracting teams in the industry, negotiating the best rates for its customers, plus there are more than 2.5m reviews from users who have actually stayed in the hotels to ensure customers make an informed choice when booking. Travellers can book online or by contacting one of the multilingual call centres.

SOURCE Hotels.com