The Room 77 app searches the major travel sites, including Expedia, Booking.com, Hotels.com and Agoda.com, as well as hotels directly. Users can also save up to 50 percent off normal retail rates with access to special rates for American Automobile Association members, seniors and advanced purchases.

“We’re really excited to introduce special rates – AAA member and senior rates – on our mobile app for iPhone,” said  Riva Bakal, product manager at Room 77, Mountain View, CA. “Travelers can now save up to 50 percent on their hotel bookings worldwide.

“In addition to saving big, travelers can access room-level data and insider tips on thousands of hotels and a free Room Concierge that will hook you up with a better room,” she said.

“After checking into the hotel, snap a photo of the room and submit it to our ever-growing database of room views.”

Free Wi-Fi
The app also offers Room Concierge for travelers who book four- and five-star hotels or stays totaling more than $400. The free service helps travelers get into a room that best meets their preferences.

Another feature is Room Explorer, which enables users to key in their assigned room number to find out how the room ranks for view, noise, size and access. The feature also shows a simulated room view and suggests other rooms within the same category that rank higher.

Users can also take a photo of their room and share it with friends over Facebook and Twitter.

Room 77 users can refine their hotel search based on criteria such as free Wi-Fi, free parking, free breakfast and free airport shuttle, in addition to more common filters, such as price, star rating, location and amenities.

Busy travelers
Room 77 launched mobile booking capabilities for the app at the end of April and added the special rates for the first time last week.

“We saw an overwhelming uptick in engagement with the app – lots of users exploring the new booking capabilities, making bookings, and submitting photos of their hotels rooms,” Ms. Bakal said.

“We learned pretty quickly which features were most compelling to users: access to the best prices, an intuitive user interface, our proprietary room content, and the ability to submit photos of their hotel room,” she said.

Mobile is an increasingly important for companies operating in the travel category as it enables them to connect with consumers who are on the go and make it easy for them to find and book a hotel.”

“Our users are busy people,” Ms. Bakal said. “We want to give them access to the best rates available on the go.

“Search for a weekend getaway or a family trip while you’re on the train or waiting in line at the coffee shop,” she said. “And, we’re also there to help when you need a last-minute hotel.”