Online hotel search engine Room Key, backed by six of the world’s largest hotel brands, launched the beta version of its website on Wednesday.
The brands backing the platform are Choice Hotels International, Hilton Worldwide, Hyatt Hotels Corporation, InterContinental Hotels Group, Marriott International and Wyndham Hotel Group, a subsidiary of the Wyndham Worldwide Corporation, though funding details are yet to be disclosed.
Room Key’s technology platform was acquired from another online hotel search platform, Hotelicopter, in a deal last year. As a service run by the same hotel groups and their affiliates that are featured on the site, Room Key is looking to provide a choice it hopes customers see as more reliable.
John Wallis, global head of marketing and brand strategy for Hyatt Hotels, which has just hired Jeff Semenchuk from bank Citigroup as its first chief innovation officer, said: "With an experienced management team in place and a compelling search tool unique to the market today, Room Key is well positioned for success and will quickly become a large scale marketplace offering highly qualified hotel booking leads to our owners and franchisees. We welcome and encourage additional hospitality companies to become commercial partners with Room Key."
Though it currently offers a basic service through its website, Room Key is aiming to increase its features in the upcoming months, introducing an independent reviews section and the facility to compare choices with friends and family members. Booking will also be extended from the US to other English-speaking countries.
Additionally, hoteliers from outside the central six hospitality corporations are invited to list their own establishments on the website through an email link onsite.