System and method for obtaining accommodations

Abstract

A system and method are provided whereby a consumer is provided with nonpublic hotel rate accommodations for specifically identified hotels. In particular, a consumer provides a query as to whether a non-public rate exists for an accommodation at a specific hotel or property.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method for providing hotel accommodations to a consumer, comprising:
 providing a call center;   providing a computer based search form accessible by the consumer over a network;   using at least one criteria entered by the consumer into said computer based search form to automatically, electronically search an electronic database of hotel accommodations for hotel accommodations that meet the at least one criteria entered by the consumer;   formatting the results of the search for display on a display device of the consumer, the results including at least one hotel specifically identified by name that meets the at least one criteria, the formatted results not including specific information relating to a nonpublic rate available to the consumer;   providing, as part of the formatted results for display on a display device of the consumer, information on how to contact the call center;   providing in realtime, to a consumer who has contacted the call center, information regarding the availability of a nonpublic rate available for the at least one specifically identified hotel, and   accepting payment from the consumer to secure accommodations in the at least one specifically identified hotel at a final nonpublic rate.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one criteria includes at least one of: geographical location of interest, hotel name, check-in date and check-out date. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the network includes the Internet. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the call center communicates with the consumer, in realtime, by telephone. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the call center communicates with the consumer, in realtime, by computer chat. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said computer chat includes SKYPE™. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the call center communicates with the consumer, in realtime, by SMS messaging service or SKYPE™. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the call center engages in a realtime dialogue with the consumer regarding the availability of a nonpublic rate for the specifically named hotel. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the final nonpublic rate is not disclosed to the consumer in the realtime providing step, but rather, is disclosed to the consumer only after the step of accepting payment, whereby the consumer is not informed of the actual, final nonpublic rate paid by the consumer for the accommodations until after paying for the accommodations. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one criteria includes at least one of:
 geographical location of interest, hotel name, check-in date and check-out date.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the realtime providing step includes providing the consumer with a value meter rating representative of a relative value of the at least one specifically identified hotel. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the value meter rating is calculated by:
 acquiring identifying information on a hotel;   assigning a qualitative numerical value to each of price, location, and travel industry rating;   evaluating a combination of said numerical values; and   outputting a value for the hotel correlated to the result of the evaluating step.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the evaluating step includes providing an unequal evaluation of said numerical values to produce a numerical value weighted in favor of at least one of price, location, and travel industry rating. 
     
     
         14 . A method for obtaining hotel accommodations, comprising:
 entering at least one criteria into a computer based search form accessible over a network to automatically, electronically search an electronic database of hotel accommodations for hotel accommodations that meet the at least one criteria;   reviewing, on a display device, a report including results of the search, the results including at least one hotel specifically identified by name that meets the at least one criteria, the formatted results not including specific information relating to a nonpublic rate available for the at least one hotel;   contacting a call center and engaging in a dialogue, in realtime, about a possible nonpublic rate for the at least one specifically identified hotel; and   making a payment to secure accommodations in the at least one specifically identified hotel at a final nonpublic rate.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one criteria includes at least one of: geographical location of interest, hotel name, check-in date and check-out date. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the report includes information about how to contact the call center. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the consumer contacts the call center by telephone. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the consumer contacts the call center by computer chat. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the consumer contacts the call center by SMS messaging service or SKYPE™. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the contacting step includes engaging in a realtime dialogue with the call center regarding the availability of a nonpublic rate for the specifically named hotel. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the final nonpublic rate is not disclosed in the contacting step, but rather, is disclosed only after the step of making a payment, whereby a consumer is not informed of the actual, final nonpublic rate paid by the consumer for the accommodations until after paying for the accommodations. 
     
     
         22 . A method for providing hotel accommodations to a consumer, comprising:
 informing a consumer of an availability of accommodations for a hotel specifically identified by name at a nonpublic rate without informing the consumer of a final nonpublic rate chargeable to the consumer for accommodations in the at least one specifically identified hotel;   accepting payment from the consumer to secure accommodations in the at least one specifically identified hotel at the final nonpublic rate; and   only after the accepting payment step, informing the consumer of the final nonpublic rate paid by the consumer for the accommodations in the at least one specifically identified hotel.   
     
     
         23 . A method of providing a consumer with a value meter rating representative of a relative value of at least one specifically identified hotel, comprising the steps of:
 acquiring identifying information on a hotel;   assigning a qualitative numerical value to each of price, location, and travel industry rating;   evaluating a combination of said numerical values; and   outputting a value for the hotel correlated to the result of the evaluating step.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the evaluating step includes providing an unequal evaluation of said numerical values to produce a numerical value weighted in favor of at least one of price, location, and travel industry rating. 
     
     
         25 . A method for communicating via two different communication channels, comprising:
 providing a call center;   providing a computer based search graphical user interface (GUI) form accessible by the consumer over a network, via a first communication channel of the two different communication channels;   using at least one criteria entered by the consumer into said computer based GUI form to automatically, electronically search an electronic database of hotel accommodations for hotel accommodations that meet the at least one criteria entered by the consumer;   formatting the results of the search for display on a display device of the consumer, the results including at least one hotel specifically identified by name that meets the at least one criteria, the formatted results not including specific information relating to a nonpublic rate available to the consumer;   providing, as part of the formatted results for display on a display device of the consumer, information on how to contact the call center via a second communication channel of communication of the two different communication channels, the second communication channel being a non-GUI form based communication channel;   providing in realtime, to a consumer who has contacted the call center via the second channel of communication, information regarding the availability of a nonpublic rate available for the at least one specifically identified hotel, the information being stored in an electronic database accessible by the call center, and   accepting payment from the consumer to secure accommodations in the at least one specifically identified hotel at the nonpublic rate.