BIRMINGHAM, AL—Vimana Franchises Systems LLC has listed its full portfolio with HotelBids Inc. According to the company, it is the first national hotel chain to do so.
This partnership gives travelers the opportunity to name their own price when staying at a Centerstone Inns/Hotels/Plaza Hotels or Key West Inns/Hotels/Resorts property.
Through HotelBids.com, Vimana franchisees can accept or decline bids proposed by guests for rooms that otherwise may sit vacant. Rather than paying the typical 15-30% booking fee to the leading OTAs to fill those rooms, hotels instead will pay HotelBids a 7% commission or $7 for the booking (whichever is lower).
The HotelBids platform launched in India in September 2016 with 3,000-plus hotels in 100 cities. The service will go live in the U.S. in Q3 2017.