WO2021021046A1

WO2021021046A1 - System and method for creating an online exchange between lodging seekers and lodging providers for negotiating the price of rooms

Info

Publication number: WO2021021046A1
Application number: PCT/TR2020/050626
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mehmet Melih Bas
Original assignee: Mehmet Melih Bas
Priority date: 2019-07-29
Filing date: 2020-07-14
Publication date: 2021-02-04
Also published as: TR202010876A2; EP4004838A1; AU2020323838A1; EP4004838A4

Abstract

A system and method for providing an online exchange where customers and hotel room providers can negotiate the price for specific rooms is provided. The system and method is web-based, and can also be mobile application based, and allows customers and hotels to access information and tools for dynamically negotiating the price of specific hotel rooms. The system and method provides real-time or near real-time information to customers and hotels regarding the supply and demand for rooms (e.g., rooms available, current asking price for rooms, alternative price offers for rooms by customers, price being offered by competing hotels, etc.), thereby creating a real-time or near real-time market for hotel rooms, similar to a securities market in which the price of securities are determined based on market dynamics.

Description

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CREATING AN ONLINE EXCHANGE BETWEEN LODGING SEEKERS AND LODGING PROVIDERS FOR NEGOTIATING THE PRICE OF ROOMS

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Patent Application No. 16/165,926, filed October 19, 2018, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Patent Application No. 15/967,470, filed April 30, 2018, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 62/532,630, filed July 14, 2017, and U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 62/492,181, filed April 29, 2017. The entire disclosures of the above-identified applications are incorporated herein by reference.

1. Field of the Invention

[1] The present invention relates to online lodging booking systems and, more specifically, an online lodging booking system that creates an online exchange where lodging seekers and lodging providers can negotiate the price of specific rooms.

2. Background of the Related Art

[2] The terms“lodging provider” and“hotel” are used interchangeably and refer to a provider of paid lodging (hereinafter also referred to as“hotel room”). The terms “lodging seeker” and“customer” are used interchangeably and refer to individuals seeking paid lodging.

[3] There are many online websites for booking hotel rooms. Typically, hotel booking websites purchase blocks of reservations from hotels and then list them on their websites. Examples of such websites include EXPEDIA.COM, TRAVELOCITY.COM and HOTELS.COM. These websites publish set prices for rooms and customer is not able to negotiate for the price of a room. In addition, hotels can also list available rooms on their own websites. The prices published for rooms on the hotel’s website are set and not open to negotiation.

[4] Some hotel booking websites, such as PRICELINE.COM, utilize a“reverse auction” system, in which a customer makes a monetary bid for a hotel room. However, in such reverse auctions systems, the customer is not able to bid on a specific hotel room. Rather, the customer makes a bid for a hotel room located in some general location that offers a certain service level (e.g., a three star hotel or a four star hotel). The exact identity of the hotel offering the hotel room is only disclosed after a hotel has accepted the customer’s bid.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[5] An object of the invention is to solve at least the above problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at least the advantages described hereinafter.

[6] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an online hotel room exchange.

[7] Another object of the present invention is to provide an online hotel room exchange in which customers and hotels can dynamically negotiate the price of specific hotel rooms.

[8] Another object of the present invention is to provide an online hotel room exchange in which customers and hotels can dynamically negotiate the price of specific hotel rooms, in which customers are provided with the identity and location of hotels prior to the customer initiating a negotiation process for a room at a specific hotel.

[9] Another object of the present invention is to provide an online hotel room exchange in which customers and hotels can dynamically negotiate the price of specific hotel rooms, and in which the customers can accept a room rate being offered by a hotel or offer a different room rate for the hotel.

[10] Another object of the present invention is to provide an online hotel room exchange in which customers and hotels can dynamically negotiate the price of specific hotel rooms, and in which a room rate set by a hotel cannot be changed by the hotel until a predetermined period of time has elapsed.

[11] Another object of the present invention is to provide an online hotel room exchange in which customers and hotels can dynamically negotiate the price of specific hotel rooms, and in which hotels accumulate offers from customers over a predetermined period of time and adjust their room rate based, at least in part, on the offers made by customers.

[12] Another object of the present invention is to provide an online hotel room exchange in which customers and hotels can dynamically negotiate the price of hotel rooms, and in which hotels are provided with information regarding the room rates being offered by competing hotels.

[13] Another object of the present invention is to provide an online hotel room exchange in which customers and hotels can dynamically negotiate the price of hotel rooms, and in which customers that book hotel rooms from hotels via the online hotel room exchange can resale the bookings to other customers via the online hotel room exchange. [14] Another object of the invention is to provide a secondary market online hotel room exchange in which a customer that has booked a hotel room can resell the hotel room booking to another customer, and in which the price at which the hotel room booking is resold can be dynamically negotiated via the hotel room exchange.

[15] Another object of the invention is to provide a secondary market online hotel room exchange in which a customer that has booked a hotel room can resell the hotel room booking to a travel business, and in which the price at which the hotel room booking is resold can be dynamically negotiated via the hotel room exchange.

[16] To achieve at least the above objects, in whole or in part, there is provided a system for providing on online hotel room exchange, comprising a server, and an exchange module comprising a set of computer readable instructions executable by the server to provide an online hotel room exchange between customers and hotels in which customers and hotels can dynamically negotiate the price of specific hotel rooms, wherein the online hotel room exchange provides the customer with the identity and location of hotels prior to the customer initiating a negotiation process for a hotel room at a hotel.

[17] To achieve at least the above objects, in whole or in part, there is also provided a method of providing an online hotel room exchange, comprising providing a server configured to host a website comprising one or more webpages accessible by a customer (“customer webpage”) that provides: (a) a listing of hotels; and (b) a price for a room (“room rate”) for each of the listed hotels, wherein the room rate for each of the listed hotels is provided to the exchange module by respective hotels, providing an interface on the customer webpage through which a customer can: (a) accept a room rate being offered by a hotel; or (b) offer a different room rate (‘counteroffer”) for the hotel room, providing one or more webpages accessible by hotels (“hotel webpage”) through which hotels can set a room rate and through which hotels can receive and respond to counteroffers from customers, and providing an interface on the customer webpage through which a customer can book a room at a hotel if the customer and the hotel agree on a room rate.

[18] To achieve at least the above objects, in whole or in part, there is also provided a system for providing on online hotel room exchange, comprising a server and an exchange module comprising a set of computer readable instructions executable by the server to provide an online hotel room exchange between customers that have booked hotel rooms (“offering customers”) and customers seeking hotel rooms (“booking customers”) in which the offering customers and the booking customers can dynamically negotiate a resale price for booked hotel rooms, wherein the online hotel room exchange provides the booking customer with the identity and location of hotel rooms prior to the booking customer initiating a resale price negotiation process for a booked hotel room.

[19] To achieve at least the above objects, in whole or in part, there is also provided a system for providing on online hotel room exchange, comprising a server and an exchange module comprising a set of computer readable instructions executable by the server to provide an online hotel room exchange between customers that have booked hotel rooms (“offering customers”) and travel businesses seeking hotel rooms (“travel businesses”) in which the offering customers and the travel businesses can dynamically negotiate a resale price for booked hotel rooms, wherein the online hotel room exchange provides the travel businesses with the identity and location of hotel rooms prior to the travel businesses initiating a resale price negotiation process for a booked hotel room.

[20] Additional advantages, objects, and features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned from practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained as particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[21] The invention will be described in detail with reference to the following drawings in which like reference numerals refer to like elements wherein:

[22] Figure 1 is a block diagram of a system for providing an online hotel room exchange, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

[23] Figure 2 is a flow chart of a method for providing an online hotel room exchange, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

[24] Figure 3 is a flow chart of a method for providing a C2C online hotel room exchange, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

[25] Figure 4A is a flow chart of a method 700 for providing a C2B online hotel room booking exchange, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

[26] Figure 4B is a screenshot of a webpage from Trivago’s website showing a listing for a hotel room being offered for resale by an offering customer, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; [27] Figures 5-17 are sample screenshots of customer webpages from an exemplary website, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; and

[28] Figures 18-29 are sample screenshots of hotel management webpages from an exemplary website, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[29] As indicated above, the terms “lodging provider” and “hotel” are used interchangeably and refer to a provider of paid lodging (hereinafter also referred to as“hotel room”) . The terms “lodging seeker,” “customer” and “booking customer” are used interchangeably and refer to individuals seeking paid lodging. The term“offering customer” refers to an individual that has booked a hotel room and that is offering to resale the hotel room booking. The term “travel business” refers to a business in the travel industry including, but not limited to, travel agencies, tour operators and hotel room wholesalers.

[30] In the following detailed description of various embodiments of the system and method of the present invention, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of various aspects of one or more embodiments. However, the one or more embodiments may be practiced without some or all of these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, and/or components have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of embodiments.

[31] While preferred embodiments are disclosed, still other embodiments of the system and method of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which shows and describes illustrative embodiments. As will be realized, the following disclosure is capable of modifications in various obvious aspects, all without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the screenshot figures, and the detailed descriptions thereof, are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive. Also, the reference or non-reference to a particular embodiment of the invention shall not be interpreted to limit the scope of the present invention.

[32] In the following description, certain terminology is used to describe certain features of one or more embodiments of the invention. For instance, the terms“computer”, “computer system,”“server,”“customer device” and“hotel device” refer to any device that processes information with an integrated circuit chip, including without limitation, mainframe computers, workstations, servers, desktop computers, portable computers, laptop computers, embedded computers, wireless devices including cellular phones, tablet computers, personal digital assistants, digital media players, portable game players, and hand held computers.

[33] As used herein, the term“Internet” refers to any collection of networks that utilizes standard protocols, such as TCP/IP, Ethernet, Token ring, Wi-Fi, asynchronous transfer mode (ATM), Fiber Distributed Data Interface (FDDI), code division multiple access (CDMA), global systems for mobile communications (GSM), long term evolution (LTE), or any combination thereof.

[34] As used herein, the terms“application,”“software,”“software application” and/or“module” generally refer to any set of machine-readable instructions on a client machine, web interface, and/or computer system, that directs a computer's processor to perform specific steps, processes, or operations disclosed herein.

[35] As used herein, the terms “webpage,” “page,” “website,” and/or “site” generally refers to any of the various documents and resources, typically hosted on a server and accessible via the World Wide Web, in HTML/XHTML format with hypertext links to enable navigation from one page or section to another, or similar such resources used on the Internet.

[36] The present invention is a system and method for providing an online exchange where customers and hotels can negotiate the price for specific hotel rooms. The system and method is web-based, and allows customers and hotels to access information and tools for negotiating the price of hotel rooms in real-time or near real-time, thereby creating a business to customer (B2C) exchange.

[37] An aspect of the present invention is providing an online exchange in which real-time or near real-time information is provided to customers and hotels regarding the supply and demand for rooms (e.g., rooms available, current asking price for rooms, alternative price offers for rooms by customers, price being offered by competing hotels, etc.), thereby creating a real-time or near real-time market for specific hotel rooms. This is similar to a securities market in which the price of securities, such as stocks, are determined based on market dynamics. In the present invention, the price of a specific hotel room is determined based on a dynamic market in which both customers and hotels participate in real-time or near real-time and respond to supply and demand. [38] With the system and method of the present invention, customers are able to search for hotels by geographic area and/ or price. Customers are then provided with a listing of hotels that include room rates that are set by respective hotels. Customers are given a choice of accepting the room rate currendy being offered by the hotel, or offering a lower room rate to the hotel (“counteroffer”) .

[39] In one preferred embodiment, hotels are provided with all the counteroffers for their rooms and can then choose to lower the room rate based on supply and demand. As the hotel receives counteroffers from customers, it provides an important view of the current market for hotel rooms. The more counteroffers the hotel receives, the better the understanding of market conditions and the hotel can make a better determination as to whether the set room rate too high, too low or just right. In one preferred embodiment, the hotel is also provided with information regarding the room rates being offered by competing hotels so that a more accurate picture of market conditions is provided to hotels and so that hotels will compete among each other for customers.

[40] In a preferred embodiment, the room rate set by the hotel cannot be changed for a predetermined period of time (e.g., 30 minutes) . Thus, in this preferred embodiment, a hotel must wait for the predetermined period of time before changing the room rate. During this predetermined period of time, the hotel can continue to gather counteroffers from customers. Once the predetermined period of time has elapsed, the hotel can then change the rate based on market conditions determined by the counteroffers it has received and, optionally, by considering the room rates being offered by other hotels. Further, in a preferred embodiment, a hotel is allowed to decrease the number of hotel rooms available for booking but is not allowed to increase the number of hotel rooms available for sale for a predetermined period of time (preferably 24 hours).

[41] In one preferred embodiment, if the hotel lowers the room rate in response to market conditions (e.g., counteroffers, room rates being offered by other hotels), then all customer counteroffers that are equal to or higher than the new room rate set by the hotel are preferably accepted at the new lower room rate set by the hotel. In a preferred embodiment, all customers whose counteroffers are accepted are electronically notified right away. The electronic notification can be, for example, via text message or email. In addition, all other customers looking for hotel rooms are offered the same new lower room rate for that hotel. Thus, the more the hotel lowers the room rate, the more customers will be electronically notified that their counteroffers have been accepted.

[42] Another aspect of the present invention is the ability to create a secondary market for hotel rooms. In one embodiment of the present invention, the online exchange is adapted such that hotel rooms that are booked by a customer can be resold by the customer to other customers via the online exchange, thereby creating a customer to customer (C2C) exchange. In one embodiment, the hotel receives a percentage of revenues generated whenever a customer resells a booked hotel room to another customer via the online exchange, Channel Managers, Providers or CRS.

[43] In another embodiment of the present invention, the online exchange is adapted such that hotel rooms that are booked by a customer can be resold by the customer to a travel business via a global distribution system (GDS), Channel Managers, Providers, and/ or a Central Reservation Systems (CRS), thereby creating a customer to business (C2B) exchange. Examples of global distribution systems include, but are not limited to, Amadeus, SABRE and Travelport. Examples of travel businesses that utilize a GDS to list available hotel rooms from hotel room providers include online travel agencies and online travel sites, such as Trivago^®, Expedia^® and others. In one embodiment, the hotel receives a percentage of revenues generated whenever a customer resells a booked hotel room to a travel business via the online exchange and a GDS, Channel Managers, Providers, or a CRS.

[44] The present invention thus provides a real-time or near real-time market for specific hotel rooms being offered by either hotels or by individuals that are re-selling hotel room bookings. The price of a specific hotel room is determined based on a dynamic market in which both hotel room consumers and hotel room providers participate in real-time or near real-time and respond to supply and demand. As an illustrative example of a transaction in the dynamic market enabled by the present invention, assume that a hotel or a hotel room reseller has two rooms available for booking at an original room rate of $100 per night. The following counteroffers are sent by customers interested in booking one or both of those rooms:

• 10 customers send counteroffers of $90 per night.

• 20 customers send counteroffers of $80 per night.

• 30 customers send counteroffers of $70 per night.

[45] If the hotel or hotel room reseller decreases the room rate from $100 to $90, then only 10 customers get electronically notified that their counteroffers are accepted. If the hotel or hotel room reseller decreases the room rate from $100 to $80, then only 30 customers get electronically notified that their counteroffers are accepted. If the hotel or hotel room reseller decreases the room rate from $100 to $70, then 60 customers get electronically notified that their counteroffers are accepted.

[46] In this example, the number of accepted counteroffers exceeds the number of available rooms at the accepted rate. In one preferred embodiment, the rooms will be allocated in the order in which customers complete the booking process. In this example, the first two customers that were notified that complete the booking process will get the two rooms. In another preferred embodiment, customers are provided with the opportunity to submit a payment method, such as a credit card, prior to submitting a counteroffer. Then, customers that submitted a payment method will have their rooms automatically booked if their counteroffers are accepted. If the number of accepted counteroffers submitted by customers with included payment methods exceeds the number of available rooms at the accepted rate, then the rooms will preferably be allocated in the order in which customers submitted their counteroffers.

[47] Figure 1 is a block diagram of a system 100 for providing an online hotel room exchange, in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the present invention. The system 100 includes one or more servers 110 with an exchange module 120 that implements the hotel room exchange functionality that will be described in more detail below.

[48] One of the functions of the exchange module 120 is to implement one or more websites 130 through which customers, hotels and travel businesses can participate in the hotel room exchange, as will be described in more detail below. Customers and hotels communicate with the website 130 via the Internet 140 using a customer device 150 and hotel device 160, respectively. In addition, in one preferred embodiment, the exchange module 120 is adapted to communicate with a global distribution system 165 via the Internet 140, thereby allowing customers to resell rooms they have already booked using the customer device 150 and the exchange module 120.

[49] The customer device 150 and hotel device 160 can be implemented with any device programmed with software that allows one to access the website 130 including, without limitation, mainframe computers, workstations, servers, desktop computers, portable computers, laptop computers, embedded computers, wireless devices including cellular phones, tablet computers, personal digital assistants, digital media players, portable game players, and hand-held computers.

[50] Figure 2 is a flow chart a method 200 for providing an online hotel room exchange, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. In the first step 210, a server 110 is provided that is configured to host one or more websites 130 that comprises one or more customer webpages (“customer webpage”) that provides a listing of hotels in an area desired by the customer and a room rate for each listed hotel. The website 130 may be any set of interconnected webpages (usually including a homepage and generally located on the server) and may be prepared and maintained as a collection of information by a person, group, or organization.

[51] The website 130 may be configured to prompt a user to enter his or her user name and password information and may be capable of receiving and sending hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) requests or a web container that generally provides an environment for servlets and Java Server Pages (JSP) to run. Additionally, the website 130 may gather browser history, internet protocol (IP) location, and other information from the user, and may provide additional promotional webpages to encourage users to revisit the website 130 and to keep the website relevant in searches by search engines.

[52] At step 220, an interface is provided on the customer webpage through which a customer can accept a room rate being offered by a hotel or offer a different room rate (“counteroffer”) for that hotel. At step 230, a hotel webpage is provided that is accessible by the hotel through which the hotel can set a room rate and through which the hotel can receive and respond to counteroffers from customers. In a preferred embodiment, the hotel webpage also provides the hotel with information regarding the room rates being offered by competing hotels so that hotels will compete among each other for customers.

[53] In one preferred embodiment, and as discussed above, hotels are provided with all the counteroffers for their rooms and can then choose to lower the room rate based on supply and demand. In a preferred embodiment, the room rate set by the hotel cannot be changed for a predetermined period of time (e.g., 30 minutes). Thus, in this preferred embodiment, a hotel must wait for the predetermined period of time before changing the room rate. During this predetermined period of time, the hotel can continue to gather counteroffers from customers. Once the predetermined period of time has elapsed, the hotel can then change the rate based on market conditions determined by the counteroffers it has received and, optionally, by considering the room rates being offered by other hotels. Further, in a preferred embodiment, a hotel is allowed to decrease the number of hotel rooms available for booking but is not allowed to increase the number of hotel rooms available for sale for a predetermined period of time (preferably 24 hours). [54] In one preferred embodiment, and as discussed above, if the hotel lowers the room rate in response to market conditions (e.g., counteroffers, room rates being offered by other hotels), then all pending customer counteroffers that are equal to or higher than the new room rate set by the hotel are accepted at the new lower room rate set by the hotel. In addition, all other customers looking for hotel rooms are preferably offered the same new lower room rate for that hotel.

[55] In one preferred embodiment, customers are notified that their counteroffers have been accepted via an electronic message generated by either the hotel device 160 or the exchange module 120. Thus, the more the hotel lowers the room rate, the more customers will be electronically notified that their counteroffers have been accepted. Similarly, in a preferred embodiment customers whose counteroffers where not accepted are notified that the hotel lowered the room rate via an electronic message. Examples of electronic messages include email and text messages, push notifications from applications, telephone calls or any other form of electronic messaging.

[56] At step 240, an interface is provided on the customer webpage through which a customer can book a room at a hotel if the customer and the hotel agree on a room rate. In one embodiment, the customer and hotel are deemed to agree on a room rate if: (a) the customer accepts the room rate currently set by the hotel; or (b) if the hotel adjusts the room rate to an amount equal to or lower than a pending counteroffer from the customer. The interface prompts the customer to input details of the booking, such as number of rooms, check in and check out dates, number of guests, payment information, etc. [57] The present invention has been described above in connection with an online exchange between customers and hotels (B2C). However, as indicated above, the present invention can also implement an online exchange between customers (C2C) and an online exchange between customers and travel businesses (C2B), as will be explained in more detail below.

[58] Figure 3 is a flow chart of a method 300 for providing a C2C online hotel room exchange, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. In a C2C exchange, the hotel device 160 in Fig. 1 is replaced with another customer device 150.

[59] In the first step 310, a server 110 is provided that is configured to host one or more websites 130 that comprises one or more booking customer webpages (“booking customer webpage”) that provides a listing of hotel room bookings for resale by other customers that have booked hotel rooms (“offering customers”) in an area desired by the booking customer and a hotel room booking resale price for each listed hotel room. The website 130 may be any set of interconnected webpages (usually including a homepage and generally located on the server) and may be prepared and maintained as a collection of information by a person, group, or organization.

[60] The website 130 may be configured to prompt a user to enter his or her user name and password information and may be capable of receiving and sending hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) requests or a web container that generally provides an environment for servlets and Java Server Pages (JSP) to run. Additionally, the website 130 may gather browser history, internet protocol (IP) location, and other information from the user, and may provide additional promotional webpages to encourage users to revisit the website 130 and to keep the website relevant in searches by search engines.

[61] At step 320, an interface is provided on the booking customer webpage through which a booking customer can accept a hotel room booking resale price being offered by an offering customer or offer a different hotel room booking resale price (“counteroffer”) for the hotel room. At step 330, an offering customer webpage is provided that is accessible by the offering customer through which the offering customer can set a hotel room booking resale price and through which the offering customer can receive and respond to counteroffers from booking customers. In a preferred embodiment, the offering customer webpage also provides the offering customer with information regarding the hotel room booking rates being offered by other offering customers so that offering customers will compete among each other for booking customers.

[62] In one preferred embodiment, offering customers are provided with all the counteroffers for their hotel room bookings and can then choose to lower the hotel room booking resale price based on supply and demand.

[63] In one preferred embodiment, if the offering customer lowers the hotel room booking resale price in response to market conditions (e.g., counteroffers, hotel room booking resale prices being offered by other offering customers), then all booking customers with pending booking customer counteroffers that are equal to or higher than the new hotel room booking resale price set by the offering customer are notified that their counteroffer has been accepted. If multiple booking customer counteroffers are accepted, then preferably the booking customer that completes the purchase process first gets the hotel room. [64] In one preferred embodiment, booking customers are notified that their counteroffers have been accepted via an electronic message generated by either the offering customer device 150 or the exchange module 120. Examples of electronic messages include email and text messages, push notifications from applications, telephone calls or any other form of electronic messaging.

[65] At step 340, an interface is provided on the booking customer webpage through which a booking customer can purchase the hotel room booking if the booking customer and the offering customer agree on a hotel room booking resale price. In one embodiment, the booking customer and the offering customer are deemed to agree on a hotel room booking resale price if: (a) the booking customer accepts the hotel room booking resale price currendy set by the offering customer; or (b) if the offering customer adjusts the hotel room booking resale price to an amount equal to or lower than a pending counteroffer from the booking customer.

[66] Figure 4A is a flow chart of a method 400 for providing a C2B online hotel room booking exchange, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

[67] In the first step 410, a server 110 is provided that is configured to provide a listing of hotel room bookings for resale by customers that have booked hotel rooms (“offering customers”), including a hotel room booking resale price for each listed hotel room booking, to a Global Distribution System (GDS), Channel Managers, Providers or a CRS that is accessible by travel business sites. The server 110 is also configured to host a website 130 comprising one or more booking customer webpages (“booking customer webpage”). The website 130 may be any set of interconnected webpages (usually including a homepage and generally located on the server) and may be prepared and maintained as a collection of information by a person, group, or organization.

[68] The hotel room bookings for resale by offering customers are listed on multiple travel business sites that receive listings via GDS, Channel Managers, Providers or a CRS. Examples of such travel business sites include Trivago^® and Expedia^®. An example of a how a hotel room booking for resale by an offering customer is listed on a travel business site is shown in Fig. 4B, which is a screenshot of a webpage 450 from Trivago’s website. The webpage 450 displays hotel room listings from hotels and other travel business sites such as Travelocity and Booking.com. The webpage 450 also displays a listing 460 from a hotel room booking for resale by an offering customer. The listing 460 is identified with the entity“HotelForex” which is a business entity that runs the online hotel room exchange of the present invention. Preferably, a booking customer that clicks on a the“HotelForex” listing 460, which is offered by an offering customer, is redirected to the website 130 hosted by the server 110.

[69] The website 130 may be configured to prompt a user to create an account or, if the customer already has an account, to enter his or her user name and password information and may be capable of receiving and sending hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) requests or a web container that generally provides an environment for servlets and Java Server Pages (JSP) to run. Additionally, the website 130 may gather browser history, internet protocol (IP) location, and other information from the user, and may provide additional promotional webpages to encourage users to revisit the website 130 and to keep the website relevant in searches by search engines. [70] At step 420, one or more offering customer webpages are provided that are accessible by an offering customer through which an offering customer can set a resale price for the hotel room booking for listing on multiple travel business sites via the GDS, Channel Managers, Providers or a CRS, and through which an offering customer can receive and respond to counteroffers from booking customers via the booking customer webpage. In one preferred embodiment, offering customers are provided with all the counteroffers for their hotel room booking and can then choose to lower the hotel room booking resale price based on supply and demand.

[71] At step 430, an interface is provided on the booking customer webpage through which a booking customer can accept a hotel room booking resale price being offered by an offering customer or provide a counteroffer for the hotel room booking to the offering customer.

[72] At step 440, an interface is provided on the booking customer webpage through which a booking customer can purchase the hotel room booking if the booking customer and the offering customer agree on a hotel room booking resale price. In one embodiment, the booking customer and the offering customer are deemed to agree on a hotel room booking resale price if: (a) the booking customer accepts the hotel room booking resale price currendy set by the offering customer; or (b) if the offering customer adjusts the hotel room booking resale price to an amount equal to or lower than a pending counteroffer from the booking customer.

[73] Figures 5-19 are sample screenshots of customer webpages and Figures 20-31 are sample screenshots of hotel management webpages from an exemplary website 130, illustrating an example of how customers, offering customers and hotels interact with the online hotel room exchange implemented by the system 100.

[74] Figure 5 is a sample screenshot of a webpage 500 presented to customers when they first access the hotel room exchange. The webpage 500 may include a listing of the most popular regions based and a listing of the most popular hotels. The webpage 500 may also give customers the option of logging in via log in button 510 if they already have an account, or signing up for an account via button 520 if they do not have an account.

[75] Figure 6 is a sample screenshot of a webpage 600 that is presented to a customer if they click on the log in button 510 in Fig. 5. The webpage 600 prompts the customer to enter the information necessary to log into the system.

[76] Figure 7 is a sample screenshot of a webpage 700 that shows the search results for a hypothetical hotel room search. The search parameters are entered by the user via a search interface 710. Examples of search parameters include location, check in and check out dates, number of rooms and number of guests. A filter interface 720 may also be provided to allow customers to filter the search results based on one or more parameters, such as the hotel’s“star rating,” type of accommodations, price, etc.

[77] A viewing interface 730 is also preferably provided that allows a customer to choose in what order the room listings are displayed. Examples of options that may be offered to customers include ordering the listings based on: (1) most discounted; (2) most haggled; (3) top sellers; (4) price from low to high; and (5) price from high to low.“Most haggled” will order the listings based on the which hotels received the most counteroffers. [78] Each room listing 740 preferably includes a photo of the hotel or property, the location of the hotel, the“star rating” of the hotel, the standard rate set by the hotel for that room and the current rate 760 that the room is being offered by the hotel or by an offering customer that has already booked the room and is re-selling it (referred to in the figures as a“vendor”) . Each room listing 740 also preferably includes an indicator 765 that indicates whether the rate 760 shown for the room being listed is the rate offered by the hotel or by a vendor. A counteroffer button 750 (hereinafter also referred to as a“Haggle Now” button) is provided that a customer can click in order to submit a counteroffer for the room.

[79] In a preferred embodiment, the current rate 760 set by the hotel or vendor cannot be changed for a predetermined period of time (e.g., 30 minutes). Thus, the current rate 760 shown to the customer preferably remains constant for a predetermined period of time. Further, in a preferred embodiment, a hotel is allowed to decrease the number of hotel rooms available for booking but is not allowed to increase the number of hotel rooms available for sale for a predetermined period of time (preferably 24 hours).

[80] In addition, each room listing 740 preferably includes a trend indicator 770 that indicates a rate trend. For illustrative purposes, it is assumed that the predetermined period of time that hotels must keep an offer price for a room constant is 30 minutes. As an example, the trend indicator 770 can be an arrow, with an upward facing arrow indicating that the last time that the hotel or vendor adjusted the room rate they increased the rate, and a downward facing arrow indicating that the last time that the hotel or vendor adjusted the room rate they lowered the rate. Optionally a square or other indicator is used to indicate that after the predetermined period of time over which hotels and vendors must keep their room rate constant, the hotel or vendor kept the room rate the same. Thus, this mimics a “ticker tape” in a traditional securities market.

[81] Each room listing 740 also preferably includes a button 770 that a customer can click to show the room rate that other vendors are offering for the same type of room. If a customer clicks on button 770, they are preferably presented with a pop up window 780, as shown in Figure 8. The pop up window 780 shows the room rates that all other vendors are offering for the same type of room.

[82] If a customer clicks on one of the room rates being offered, they are preferably presented with the webpage 900 shown in Figure 9. Webpage 900 preferably provides details about the hotel and information about the room. The webpage 900 is for a room rate that is being offered by a vendor. Thus, webpage 900 shows details about the vendor’s offer in a hotel/vendor offer section 910.

[83] The customer can choose to book the room at the current rate by clicking the “Buy Now” button 930, or the customer can choose to make a lower offer for the room (“counteroffer”) by clicking the“Haggle Now” button 920. If the customer chooses to make a counteroffer, the hotel or vendor (a vendor in the example shown) will be provided with their counteroffer, as well as the counteroffers from other customers. This will give the hotel or vendor information regarding supply and demand that they can use to determine whether or not to adjust room rate. [84] The hotel/ vendor offer section 910 preferably includes a listing of offers from at least some of the other vendors offering the same room. A button 945 is preferably included that will list the offers from all vendors offering the same room.

[85] When a customer clicks on the“Haggle Now” button 920, they are preferably presented with a counteroffer webpage 1000 shown in Figure 10 for entering information about the customer’s counteroffer. The counteroffer webpage 1000 preferably includes a rate section 1010 that allows the customer to enter the rate they want to offer for the room. In the example shown in Fig. 10, the rate section 1010 is in the form of a slider that a customer can drag left to lower the rate and drag right to increase the rate. Once the customer sets the rate they want to pay, they can click on the“Haggle Now” button 1020, which preferably takes them to webpage 1100 shown in Figure 11.

[86] Webpage 1100 prompts the customer to enter their email address in email address section 1110, which will be used to communicate with the customer regarding the status of their counteroffer. Although not shown, the webpage 1100 can also give the customer the option of entering a mobile phone number if they prefer to receive a text message instead of or in addition to an email notification. Once the customer enters their email address and/or mobile number, they can click on the“Haggle Now” button 1120 to submit the counteroffer. Once the counteroffer has been submitted, a confirmation webpage, such as the confirmation webpage 1200 shown in Figure 12, is presented to the customer.

[87] The confirmation webpage 1200 preferably includes a button 1210 that a customer can click to view the status of any other counteroffers he or she has made, and a button 1220 that a customer can click to initiate a search for hotels similar to the one for which he or she submitted a counteroffer.

[88] The hotel or vendor receives counteroffers made by all customers for the room or rooms they are offering. In a preferred embodiment, if the hotel or vendor lowers the room rate in response to market conditions (e.g., counteroffers, room rates being offered by other hotels or vendors), then all pending customer counteroffers that are equal to or higher than the new room rate set by the hotel or vendor are accepted at the new lower room rate set by the hotel or vendor. In addition, all other customers looking for hotel rooms are preferably offered the same new lower room rate for that hotel.

[89] Customers whose counteroffers are accepted are preferably presented with the webpage 1300 shown in Figure 13. Alternatively, or in addition, an email and/or a text is sent to the email address and/or mobile number that the customer provided when submitting their counteroffer that alerts them that their counteroffer has been accepted. The webpage 1300 preferably includes a button 1310 that allows the customer to book the room at the agreed upon rate.

[90] In a preferred embodiment, if the number of accepted counteroffers submitted by customers exceeds the number of available rooms at the accepted rate, then the rooms will be allocated in the order in which customers complete the booking process. For example, if a hotel or vendor offered 10 rooms and 15 customer counteroffers were accepted by the system 100 based on the hotel or vender adjusting the room rate, then the first 10 customers to book the room will receive the 10 available rooms. [91] In another preferred embodiment, the website 130 can provide the customer with the opportunity to submit a payment method, such as a credit card, prior to submitting a counteroffer. Then, customers that submitted a payment method will have their rooms automatically booked if their counteroffers are accepted. If the number of accepted counteroffers submitted by customers with included payment methods exceeds the number of available rooms at the accepted rate, then the rooms will be allocated in the order in which customers submitted their counteroffers.

[92] The webpage 1300 presented to the customer is for a customer that did not submit a payment method with the counteroffer. The customer can complete the booking by clicking the button 1310, which will bring up the webpage 1400 shown in Figure 14.

[93] Webpage 1400 includes a section 1410 for the customer to enter room information and guest information. The webpage 1400 also preferably includes a section 1420 that provides a summary of the room booking. Section 1420 can provide, for example, the name and picture of the hotel, the booking dates, the vendor that resold the room (if applicable), room information, the original price of the room, the amount discounted as a result of the successful counteroffer, and the counteroffer price that was accepted. Once the customer enters the requested information in section 1410, they can click button 1430 to continue the booking process, which will bring up the webpage 1500 shown in Figure 15.

[94] Webpage 1500 includes a section 1510 for the customer to enter payment information such as, for example, credit card information. Once the customer enters the requested information in section 1510, they can click button 1520 to continue the booking process, which will preferably bring up the booking confirmation webpage 1600 shown in Figure 16.

[95] The confirmation webpage 1600 can also provide additional information, such as a list of hotels similar to the hotel that was just booked by the customer, as shown in section 1610, and a list of other rooms being offered by the vendor from which the customer just booked the room, as shown in section 1620.

[96] The booking process and webpages shown in Figs. 13-16 in connection with a customer’s counteroffer being accepted can also be used if the customer chooses to book a room without submitting a counteroffer, for example, by clicking the“Buy Now” button 930 on webpage 900 (Fig. 9).

[97] The website 130 preferably provides the customer with a webpage through which the customer can monitor all counteroffers that the customer has made, such as the webpage 1900 shown in Figure 17. The webpage preferably allows the customer to list counteroffers that have not yet been accepted by clicking button 1910, accepted counteroffers by clicking button 1920 and rejected counteroffers by clicking button 1930.

[98] Figures 18-29 are sample screenshots of hotel webpages that make up the hotel management website used by hotels to manage the rooms they are offering via the system 100. Although the screenshots shown in Figs. 18-29 are customized for use by hotels, a website with similar functionality can be provided to customers that want to resell hotel room bookings. Thus, the functionality described below in connection with Figs. 18-29 can be applied to a reseller management website. [99] Webpage 2000 shown in Figure 18 shows an overview for a hotel chain (the hotel chain shown is “Continental Tunel Residence”), including new counteroffers for rooms, sold rooms, and historical information regarding number of customers viewing the hotel’s listings and the counteroffers made by customers.

[100] Section 2010 lists new offers for rooms and also allows the hotel to accept offers the new counteroffers by clicking on the“Accept” button next to the offer. The offers are organized based on property location (the hotel chain shown has properties at multiple locations). Section 2020 lists recendy sold rooms. Section 2030 graphically shows offers and reservations made for particular booking dates on a calendar. Section 2040 graphically and textually shows historical information regarding number of customers viewing the hotel’s listings and number of counteroffers for the hotel’s listings.

[101] Clicking on one of the entries in section 2010 preferably causes a pop up window to appear showing all the new counteroffers for that location, such as the pop up window 2050 shown in Figure 19. The counteroffers are preferably organized based on requested booking dates.

[102] The webpage 2000 also includes a website navigation section 2050 that allows one to navigate to different webpages. This webpage navigation section preferably appears in all webpages associated with the hotel’s management website. Clicking on“Overview” brings up the webpage 200 of Fig. 18. Clicking on“Counter Offers,” “Sold Rooms,” “Room Rates” and“Hotel Information” will bring up other respective webpages, some of which will be discussed in more detail below. [103] Clicking on“Counter Offers” in the navigation section 2050 will bring up webpage 2200 shown in Figure 20. Webpage 2200 lists counteroffers received grouped by the month of the proposed bookings. The information per line entry (month) includes total counteroffers and the average room rate (price) of the counteroffers. Each line entry includes a“Show All” button 2210 that one can click to show all the counteroffers for that month. For example, clicking on the“Show All” button 2210 for a monthly line entry will expand the entry to show all counteroffers for that month, as shown in Figure 21.

[104] The webpage 2200 also includes a price adjustment section 2210 that allows the hotel to adjust the rate for rooms that have pending counteroffers. The price adjustment section 2210 preferably allows a user to select rooms with booking dates that fall within a certain range before adjusting the room rate. In the example shown, the booking date range is adjusted with a slider.

[105] Figure 22 shows an example of how the rate for rooms with booking dates that fall within a certain range can be adjusted with the price adjustment section 2210. In the example shown in Fig. 22, the room rate is adjusted using a slider 2230. As the slider 2230 is dragged down, the room rate decreases and the number of counteroffers that will be accepted at the adjusted room rate is displayed next to the adjusted room rate. In the example shown in Fig. 22, the slider 2230 is dragged down until the adjusted rate is 300 TL (Turkish lira). At that rate, 18 counteroffers would be accepted, which is displayed net to the adjusted rate of 300 TL.

[106] Once a user adjusts the room rate with the price adjustment section 2220, the adjusted room rate is set by clicking button 2240. As discussed above, all pending customer counteroffers that are equal to or higher than the adjusted room rate set are then accepted at the adjusted room rate. In addition, all other customers looking for hotel rooms are preferably offered the same adjusted room rate for those rooms. Thus, the more the hotel lowers the room rate, the more customers will be electronically notified that their counteroffers have been accepted.

[107] Clicking on“Sold Rooms” in the navigation section 2050 will bring up webpage 2500 shown in Figure 23. Webpage 2500 preferably lists rooms that have been sold organized by booking date, and preferably includes total price information for the sold rooms.

[108] Clicking on“Room Rates” in the navigation section 2050 will bring up webpage 2600 shown in Figure 24. Webpage 2600 displays information on number of rooms on sale and room rates in a calendar format. The webpage 2600 also preferably uses color or greyscale visual indicators to indicate whether there are purchased rooms and/ or rooms with pending counteroffers for a particular booking day. In the example shown in Fig. 24, the visual indicator on May 1, 2019 indicates that no rooms for that date have been purchased, and that there are some pending counteroffers. The visual indicator for May 2, 2019 indicates some rooms have been purchased on that date and that there are no pending counteroffers. The visual indicator for May 3, 2019 indicates that some of the rooms have been purchased and that there are some pending counteroffers for rooms on that date.

[109] Webpage 2600 also allows a user to adjust the rate for individual rooms for a certain date range. This is done by clicking on button 2610, which brings up the pop up window 2620 shown in Figure 25, through which the rate of each room can be adjusted over a selectable date range.

[110] Referring back to Fig. 24, clicking on a visual status indicator on any date will bring up a pop up window that will give status details for the rooms on that date. For example, clicking on the visual indicators for May 1, 2019, will bring up the pop up window 2630 shown in Figure 26, which shows that there are counteroffers pending for 5 rooms on that date.

[111] Clicking on the visual indicators for May 2, 2019 will bring up the pop up window 2640 shown in Figure 27, which shows one purchased room for that date. Clicking on the visual indicators for May 3, 2019 will bring up the pop up window 2650 shown in Figure 28, which shows one purchased room for that date and pending counteroffers for 5 rooms on that date.

[112] Clicking on“Hotel Information” in the navigation section 2050 will bring up webpage 3100 shown in Figure 29. Webpage 3100 allows a user to enter information regarding the hotel, such as address, hotel code, hotel name, star rating, etc.

[113] The foregoing embodiments and advantages are merely exemplary, and are not to be construed as limiting the present invention. The description of the present invention is intended to be illustrative, and not to limit the scope of the claims. Many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the screenshots of webpages shown in the figures are merely illustrative and can be modified (e.g., the layout, buttons, input fields, etc.) while still falling within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A system for providing on online hotel room exchange, comprising:

a server; and

an exchange module comprising a set of computer readable instructions executable by the server to provide an online hotel room exchange between customers that have booked hotel rooms (“offering customers”) and customers seeking hotel rooms (“booking customers”) in which the offering customers and the booking customers can dynamically negotiate a resale price for booked hotel rooms;

wherein the online hotel room exchange provides the booking customer with the identity and location of hotel rooms prior to the booking customer initiating a resale price negotiation process for a booked hotel room.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the exchange module comprises a set of computer readable instructions executable by the server to:

provide a website comprising one or more webpages accessible by the booking customer (“booking customer webpage”) that provides the following information: (a) a listing of hotel room bookings for resale; and (b) a resale price for a hotel room booking (“resale price”) for each of the listed hotel room bookings, wherein the resale price for each of the listed hotel room bookings is provided to the exchange module by offering customers; provide an interface on the booking customer webpage through which a booking customer can: (a) accept a resale price being offered by an offering customer; or (b) offer a different resale price (“counteroffer”) for the hotel room booking;

provide one or more webpages accessible by offering customers (“offering customer webpage”) through which offering customers can set a hotel room booking resale price and through which offering customers can receive and respond to counteroffers from booking customers; and

provide an interface on the booking customer webpage through which a booking customer can purchase a hotel room booking if the booking customer and the offering customer agree on a resale price.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the booking customer webpage provides booking customers with historical room rate information for each listed hotel room booking.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the offering customer webpage provides offering customers with information regarding the hotel room booking resale prices being offered by competing offering customers.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein a pending booking customer counteroffer for a hotel room booking is deemed accepted if the offering customer sets a new hotel room booking resale price for the hotel room booking that is equal to or lower than the pending booking customer counteroffer.

6. A system for providing on online hotel room exchange, comprising:

a server; and

an exchange module comprising a set of computer readable instructions executable by the server to provide an online hotel room exchange between customers that have booked hotel rooms (“offering customers”) and travel businesses seeking hotel rooms (“travel businesses”) in which the offering customers and the travel businesses can dynamically negotiate a resale price for booked hotel rooms;

wherein the online hotel room exchange provides the travel businesses with the identity and location of hotel rooms prior to the travel businesses initiating a resale price negotiation process for a booked hotel room.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the exchange module comprises a set of computer readable instructions executable by the server to:

provide a website comprising one or more webpages accessible by the travel businesses (“travel business webpage”) that provides the following information: (a) a listing of hotel room bookings for resale; and (b) a resale price for a hotel room booking (“resale price”) for each of the listed hotel room bookings, wherein the resale price for each of the listed hotel room bookings is provided to the exchange module by offering customers; provide an interface on the travel business webpage through which a travel business can: (a) accept a resale price being offered by an offering customer; or (b) offer a different resale price (“counteroffer”) for the hotel room booking;

provide one or more webpages accessible by offering customers (“offering customer webpage”) through which offering customers can set a hotel room booking resale price and through which offering customers can receive and respond to counteroffers from travel businesses; and

provide an interface on the travel business webpage through which a travel business can purchase a hotel room booking if the travel business and the offering customer agree on a resale price.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the travel business webpage provides travel businesses with historical room rate information for each listed hotel room booking.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the offering customer webpage provides offering customers with information regarding the hotel room booking resale prices being offered by competing offering customers.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein a pending travel business counteroffer for a hotel room booking is deemed accepted if the offering customer sets a new hotel room booking resale price for the hotel room booking that is equal to or lower than the pending travel business counteroffer.