Editor’s note: Each month, HotelNewsNow.com’s Samantha Worgull highlights the five best, most interesting, unique and otherwise downright cool apps in the hotel space.
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CardMunch
CardMunch, an app created by LinkedIn Corporation, is a godsend for executives who constantly have to fan through hundreds of business cards to find a contact. This app converts business cards to address book contacts, and then adds them as connections on LinkedIn. All you have to do is use the app to take a photo of the business card then add it one of three ways: You can click the “Edit” button in the contact list, press the arrow button to add to iPhone or you can change the general settings for the app to auto-add all contacts. Sounds pretty simple, right? With its recent update, Flash support for iPhone 4 and 4S allows you to capture cards in low-light conditions. CardMunch also was named to Mashable’s “25 Essential Apps for Your New iPhone 4S.” It’s time to convert that rolodex—or if you’re like me, that Ziploc bag full of cards.
Available in: App Store
Cost: Free
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SPG: Starwood Hotels & Resorts version 3.0
Here is an example of a hotel app that listened to its users. Updated 14 March, the Starwood’s SPG app is the first to feature around-the-clock assistance with Face Time, meaning customer service reps can no longer hide behind their phones. This update is only available in Apple’s AppStore, although the old version does exist for BlackBerry users. With this app, you get access to the 1,100 hotels and resorts in Starwood’s Preferred Guest loyalty program, and you also get free reign to explore the company’s nine distinct hotel brands to see which ones best suits your travel needs based on the hotel’s amenities. Some other notable features include access to social-networking channels and check-ins, the latest SPG offers and promotions, as well as the ability to store your hotel room number. The SPG app also gives you access to your account and program information, and has fully integrated booking abilities for all of Starwood’s brands.
Available in: App Store
Cost: Free
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Hipmunk
It’s usually a good sign when a successful Web company decides to take its efforts mobile. Such is the case with Hipmunk, a flight and hotel booking service application. After its latest update in February, the app shifted its focus slightly to hotels. How so? Well, Hipmunk has its own algorithm for hotels called “Ecstacy” rankings. Based on these rankings, Hipmunk will find you the best hotels in your location based on price, amenities and reviews. If you’d like to be more specific, the app also has added the “heatmap” feature. No, this doesn’t measure how hot your hotel is. Heatmap allows you to choose different categories, such as nightlife, and you can see the best areas to book a hotel for that specific activity. And in case you change your mind about a hotel stay, you can always save a given property for later with the app’s “keep” option, which allows you to reference back for a review or future stay.
Available in: App Store, Android Market
Cost: Free
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Find Pet Friendly Hotels
When you’re on the road a lot, sometimes it is necessary to bring your best friend. And by best friend, I mean your dog, of course. One problem pet lovers run into is finding a hotel that allows these “friends” to stay. The Find Pet Friendly Hotels app eliminates that problem. The makers of the app have personally contacted more than 10,000 pet-friendly hotels to get the information you need including weight limits, pet fees, dog parks and more. In addition to finding pet-friendly properties, you also can connect with other pet owners by using the “compose” button to share your favorite pet-friendly places.
Available in: App Store
Cost: Free
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Room 77
There’s nothing worse than checking into your hotel and realizing you’re right next to the elevator and have a view of a concrete wall. OK, maybe there are worse things, but if this is your worst-case scenario, Room 77 can help you avoid a room with a terrible view. This app can help find the best rooms at your hotel or hotels nearby based on your room preferences. For example, for people with a fear of heights, this app allows you to choose a lower floor. Also included in the app are floor maps of your hotel and insider tips about your hotel sourced directly from hotel staff. Although this hotel search engine has 460,000+ rooms in its inventory, it is available in only 18 destinations in the U.S.; new cities will be added monthly.
Available in: App Store, Android Market
Cost: Free
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Want to share an app you find useful? Send your apps to Samantha Worgull.
The opinions expressed in this blog do not necessarily reflect the opinions of HotelNewsNow.com or its parent company, Smith Travel Research and its affiliated companies. Bloggers published on this site are given the freedom to express views that may be controversial, but our goal is to provoke thought and constructive discussion within our reader community. Please feel free to comment or contact an editor with any questions or concerns.
