INDUSTRY NEWS:IRISH COMPANY Hostelworld.com has entered a partnership with UK airline Easyjet. Hostelworld.com is the leading provider of online reservations to the budget accommodation sector.
The new partnership means that Easyjet’s 45 million passengers have access to Hostelworld.com’s inventory of more than 20,000 properties in 170 countries worldwide, including all Easyjet destinations, by logging on to Easyjet.com.
Reservations are secured in real time online on payment of a 10 per cent deposit, with the balance paid on arrival, making the process of finding safe, good value accommodation simpler.
The new service will be promoted via the Easyjet homepage and via the customer’s flight-confirmation screen. The partnership will also allow Easyjet customers to access photos and map searches as well as viewing user reviews and ratings to make an informed choice.
Budget accommodation has grown beyond the market of the typical student backpacker, with many hostels now offering private rooms, ensuite bathrooms, free internet, swimming pools, bars and restaurants.
Feargal Mooney, Hostelworld.com’s chief executive, says that the partnership between Easyjet and Hostelworld.com will provide “the ideal solution for making travel even more affordable”.
The Hostelworld.com site offers user reviews, videos, free podcasts, customised city guides and a travel social network. Its headquarters are in Dublin.
Hostelworld’s annual Hoscar awards and its constantly updated top-10 are a barometer of thrifty travel habits by trendy people. Currently at the top are hostels in Lisbon, Budapest, Marrakech, Kraków, Florence and Cardiff.
