SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INDEXING TRAVEL ACCOMMODATIONS IN A NETWORK ENVIRONMENT

• US 20110106583A1
• Filed: 10/26/2010
• Published: 05/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Travelweb LLC (Booking Holdings, Inc., fka Priceline Group Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Travelweb LLC (Booking Holdings, Inc., fka Priceline Group Inc.)
• Inventors: Rozell, James M., Phillips, Bernard A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,688,490 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/7.29
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06395 Quality analysis or management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0201 Market modelling; Market analysis; Collecting market data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0205 Location or geographical consideration

Abstract

A method for evaluating travel accommodations is provided that includes identifying a plurality of hotel properties and assigning a hotel marketability index score to one or more of the properties such that one or more of the properties may be ranked. The hotel marketability index score may be based on a selected one or more characteristics associated with one or more of the hotel properties, the characteristics including rate competitiveness, hotel availability, hotel location within a cluster location, and hotel quality within the cluster location.

Claims

1-25. -25. (canceled)

26. An apparatus for storing information about an end user, comprising:

an end user profile operable to store data associated with one or more travel characteristics of the end user, wherein the profile may be coupled to a hotel marketability index element that is operable to identify a plurality of hotel properties and to assign a hotel marketability index score to one or more of the properties such that one or more of the properties may be ranked, the hotel marketability index score being based on a selected one or more characteristics associated with one or more of the hotel properties, the characteristics including rate competitiveness, hotel availability, hotel location within a cluster location, and hotel quality within the cluster location.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein one or more unsolicited communications associated with available lodging may be sent to the end user based on the profile of the end user and a likelihood of the end user being interested in the available lodging.

28. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein one or more coupons may be sent to the end user based on the profile of the end user, the coupons being associated with available lodging and being offered in order to encourage a sales conversion of the available lodging.

29. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the end user is provided an opportunity to modify the profile such that the data associated with one or more travel characteristics of the end user can be changed.

30. A method for storing information about an end user, comprising:

storing data associated with one or more travel characteristics of an end user in a profile, wherein the profile may be coupled to a hotel marketability index element that is operable to identify a plurality of hotel properties and to assign a hotel marketability index score to one or more of the properties such that one or more of the properties may be ranked, the hotel marketability index score being based on a selected one or more characteristics associated with one or more of the hotel properties, the characteristics including rate competitiveness, hotel availability, hotel location within a cluster location, and hotel quality within the cluster location.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

sending one or more unsolicited communications associated with available lodging to the end user based on the profile of the end user and a likelihood of the end user being interested in the available lodging.

32. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

sending one or more coupons to the end user based on the profile of the end user, the coupons being associated with available lodging and being offered in order to encourage a sales conversion of the available lodging.

33. An apparatus for storing information about an entity, comprising:

an entity profile operable to store data associated with one or more locations associated with the entity, wherein the profile may be coupled to a hotel marketability index element that is operable to identify a plurality of hotel properties and to assign a hotel marketability index score to one or more of the properties such that one or more of the properties may be ranked, the hotel marketability index score being based on a selected one or more characteristics associated with one or more of the hotel properties, the characteristics including rate competitiveness, hotel availability, hotel location within a cluster location, and hotel quality within the cluster location.

34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein one or more unsolicited communications associated with the hotel marketability index score may be sent to the entity based on a change in lodging characteristics of locations associated with the entity.

35. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the entity may access the profile in order to view its hotel marketability index score and one or more of the characteristics associated with one or more of the hotel properties.

36. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein a report may be generated and provided to the entity, the report reflecting performance data associated with the hotel marketability index score and being operable to offer feedback to the entity that may be used in order to raise their hotel marketability index score.

37. A method for storing information about an entity, comprising:

storing an entity profile that is operable to store data associated with one or more locations associated with the entity, wherein the profile may be coupled to a hotel marketability index element that is operable to identify a plurality of hotel properties and to assign a hotel marketability index score to one or more of the properties such that one or more of the properties may be ranked, the hotel marketability index score being based on a selected one or more characteristics associated with one or more of the hotel properties, the characteristics including rate competitiveness, hotel availability, hotel location within a cluster location, and hotel quality within the cluster location.

38. The method of claim 37, further comprising:

sending one or more unsolicited communications associated with the hotel marketability index score to the entity based on a change in one or more lodging characteristics associated with one or more of the locations.

39. The method of claim 37, further comprising:

providing access to the entity for the profile such that the entity may view its hotel marketability index score and one or more of the characteristics associated with one or more of the hotel properties.

40. The method of claim 37, further comprising:

generating a report; and

providing the report to the entity, the report reflecting performance data associated with the hotel marketability index score and being operable to offer feedback to the entity that may be used in order to raise their hotel marketability index score.