A few weeks ago, I wrote a Tuesday Tools and Tips post about mobile travel apps. These apps are great to give you information at your fingertips to help you be a more informed traveler and to also be able to book travel on the run. Travel providers are doing what they can to get you to install these apps because it gives them more information to help them continue to be relevant for the majority of travelers.
To encourage app use of their customers, many travel providers will run promos that will reward you based on your usage of their app. I recall Delta had a promo a couple of years ago when they launched their app that gave bonus miles for flights booked through their app. Hey, if you are going to make a reservation anyway, why not do it through your smartphone?
Hilton has launched such a promo for rooms booked through their (iPhone) mobile app through December 31, 2013 and valid for stays through December 31, 2014. Their app is decent and should be all you need to select the rooms that you want. The bonus points are awarded 6-8 weeks after your promotional period stay. There is no limit to the number of bonus points that you can earn through this promotion.
In addition to all of that, you still receive the same rates that you would online (including easy cancellation) and they are still eligible for Best Rate Guarantee which states that if you find a lower publicly available rate anywhere, they will match the price and give you $50 back. How can you lose? If you have hotel stays coming up in the next 15 months, you might as well search through the Hilton HHonors iPhone app first. You have nothing to lose from making a reservation (if it is not a prepaid rate) – if you end up needing it and stay, you will earn 1,000 bonus HHonor points. If you don’t need it, just cancel it within the cancellation-allowable time.
To download the iPhone app, click here.
