Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority Partners with JackRabbit Systems to Create Direct Booking Capability on VisitLasVegas.com
BookDirect™ Search Engine Allows Consumers to Check Hotel Availability and Compare Rates through LVCVA Web Site
LAS VEGAS, Nevada – March 8, 2010 – The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA), and its agency of record R&R Partners, have joined with web development partner Critical Mass and JackRabbit Systems to provide direct, real time access to Las Vegas hotel rates and availability through the LVCVA's web site, VisitLasVegas.com. Through this partnership, the LVCVA established digital feeds with dozens of reservations systems, for almost 150 hotels throughout Las Vegas, all in less than four months.
"In this tough economic environment, the LVCVA is constantly striving to create new ways to engage directly with the leisure and business traveler," said Kevin Bagger, senior director of marketing for the LVCVA. "Toward this goal, we had been searching for a booking engine that could handle the breadth and depth of the Las Vegas destination. JackRabbit Systems' unique technology proved to be a great fit for us."
"The implementation of our BookDirect tool further enhances the LVCVA's leadership in marketing, digital communications and e–commerce for the travel industry," said Andrew Van Luchene, CEO and founder of JackRabbit Systems. "The BookDirect™ search engine is a great solution for hotels or lodging properties who are evaluating online booking systems, which will enable them to create a direct relationship with the consumer, while resulting in substantial savings and increased bookings."
"We have been working with the LVCVA, Critical Mass and JackRabbit Systems to tailor their BookDirect™ Search Engine to fit the needs of the Las Vegas brand," said Sean Corbett, director of digital marketing at R&R Partners. "With the largest room inventory of any city in the world, plus countless restaurants, spas and entertainment venues, this effort represents the broadest application of this type of search technology ever applied in the travel industry."
Consumers who go to VisitLasVegas.com will see the BookDirect toolbar immediately on the home page and can search by preferred location, and check–in and check–out dates. The booking engine will return the results of the search, including the average rate per night, hotel amenities and type of accommodations available. From there, visitors can compare rates and select their desired lodging. By clicking on "Book Direct," the user will be transferred directly to the individual resort's web site to complete the booking process.
"By adding the BookDirect™ tool, we are now able provide a seamless experience for consumers to check hotel rates and availability from VisitLasVegas.com," said George Panopoulos, vice president, client partner for Critical Mass. "We've already seen great results and we are confident that our partnership with JackRabbit Systems and the BookDirect™ search engine will continue to drive new users, increased hotel bookings and repeat customers to the web site."
ABOUT THE LVCVA
The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) is charged with marketing Southern Nevada as a tourism and convention destination worldwide, and also with operating the Las Vegas Convention Center and Cashman Center. With approximately 149,000 hotel rooms in Las Vegas alone and more than 9.8 million square feet of meeting and exhibit space citywide, the LVCVA's mission centers on attracting ever-increasing numbers of leisure and business visitors to the area. For more information, go to www.lvcva.com or www.VisitLasVegas.com.
LVCVA CONTACT:
Alicia Malone
702-892-7686
amalone@lvcva.com
ABOUT JACKRABBIT SYSTEMS
JackRabbit Systems search engine allows visitors to book lodging properties directly through its flagship product, BookDirect™. Founded in 2003, the company's goal is to eliminate the middleman costs that other online travel providers incur for hotels, while enhancing the visitor's experience and increasing room nights in selected destinations. The BookDirect™ search engine is live on over 100 top destination websites throughout North America (including www.VisitLasVegas.com). To find out about adding BookDirect™ to your website, please go to www.jackrabbitsystems.com.
JACKRABBIT SYSTEMS CONTACT:
Suzanne O'Leary Lopez
505-490-9116
suzanne@artisancomms.com
ABOUT R&R PARTNERS
R&R Partners builds innovative brand relationships across a wide range of audiences through such integrated services as advertising, public relations, government & public affairs, research, media, branded entertainment and digital marketing. A world leader in travel and tourism marketing, R&R received Brandweek's coveted "Grand Marketer of the Year" award for the Las Vegas "What happens here, stays here" campaign – the first agency ever to receive this honor. Ranked among the top 10 regional agencies in the U.S. by Adweek magazine, R&R Partners reports annual billings of $220 million and maintains offices in Las Vegas, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, Reno and Washington D.C. The company was named among the "Top 25 Best Small Companies to Work for in America" by HR Magazine. R&R specializes in travel, utilities, healthcare, telecommunications and transportation. For more information, visit www.rrpartners.com.
R&R PARTNERS CONTACT:
Betsy Ward
702-318-4229
betsy.ward@rrpartners.com
ABOUT CRITICAL MASS
Critical Mass (www.criticalmass.com), an Omnicom digital marketing agency, helps the world's leading companies use digital media to create extraordinary experiences—experiences that bring together creative thinking, smart ideas and emerging technologies to drive our clients' business. Consistently recognized by Forrester Research as a leading interactive agency, Critical Mass operates globally from offices in Calgary, Toronto, Chicago, New York, London, Costa Rica, and Amsterdam. For additional information, visit our website: www.criticalmass.com, our blog: http://experiencematters.criticalmass.com; www.facebook.com/criticalmass.agency or follow us on twitter: @criticalmass.
CRITICAL MASS CONTACT:
Celia Jones
312-707-4169
celiaj@criticalmass.com