Two new hotel booking sites focus on cheapest rate finds

Two new hotel booking sites - including TripAdvisor's Tingo.com - think they can attract attention by making it easy to for consumers to make sure they truly booked the cheapest rate possible.

As with all of these non-hotel-brand-affiliated sites, they cater to people who aren't collecting loyalty points, whether from giant programs such as IHG's Priority Club Rewards, Hilton HHonors, Marriott Rewards or Starwood Preferred Guest.

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Tingo

Launched Wednesday by one of TripAdvisor's units, Tingo tracks the rate you booked on its website and credits back your credit card if the price drops, Tnooz.com tells us.

This could be helpful if you're someone who watches hotel rates after you book to make sure that you've booked the lowest rate possible.

According to the Los Angeles Times, a rep for the company said he made a reservation for a Kimpton hotel in Washington, D.C., and found rates had dropped $22 the next day. Other online booking sites such as Expedia and Orbitz require the customer to do the research themselves and then submit a form to take advantage of a low-price guarantee.

According to Mashable.com's story, Tingo doesn't limit the amount of money that you can get back, but Orbitz limits it at $500.

The site is being run under TripAdvisor's Smarter Travel Media, which has other sites such as BookingBuddy, SmarterTravel, Airfarewatchdog and FrequentFlier.com and private sale site SniqueAway. Smarter Travel Media boasts that its websites have more than 22 million monthly visitors and over 10 million newsletter subscriptions, according to its website.

Tingo, by the way, is using Expedia Affiliate Network as its provider of rate content. So Tingo gives money back to customers when and if the rate provided by the hotel through the Expedia system drops, the Tnooz.com article says.

If Tingo does take off, TripAdvisor told investors that its expects competing online travel agencies might promote similar features, Tnooz.com says.

BackBid

This website lets you make a reservation, and then invite hotels to make you a better offer. USA TODAY's Digital Traveler reviewed it on Jan. 31.

Here's how it works. Consumers are supposed to make a standard - in other words, not "non-refundable" - room reservation. At that point, they register with BackBid and enter their favorite amenities, star preference and the reservation's confirmation number.

Nearby hotels will then - possibly - offer a lower price to get that business. There is a chance that no other hotel will offer a better rate.

When Digital Traveler tried it for a stay at the Holiday Inn Chicago-Midway Airport, offers came in from seven Chicago hotels ranging from the Hyatt Regency Chicago to the Embassy Suites Chicago Downtown.

Even the Holiday Inn Chicago-Midway Airport submitted a bid, chopping a full $39 off the rate already reserved on HolidayInn.com! Read our review by Dennis Schaal for more information.

Readers: Will you try either of these sites?

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