New York in springtime – it’s lots better than New York in January, and hotel rates reflect this. What better time to unveil a new online booking site promising low prices?

Tingo purports to offer that elusive but delectable commodity – the sure thing.

You book your room at the price listed on Tingo’s jazzy red, white and blue site. But hotel prices rise and fall like ocean waves or elevators and can change repeatedly during a week (or day). If the price drops before you check in, the site automatically rebooks the same room at the lower price. And if the price goes up, you’re locked in at the rate you booked originally. (more…)

Is Room Key the hotel version of the Empire Strikes Back?

Last week Roomkey.com, a new hotel search engine, went live. But instead of a third-party consolidator like Expedia or Travelocity, Room key is operated by a consortium of big-gun hotel chains whose properties it handles exclusively. (more…)

Hyatt Lex48 lounge.

Come early January, slow season at the city’s hotels, New York’s record-breaking tally of 90,000 hotel rooms may seem more like a glut than a victory lap.

What to do with all those rooms? Take a tip from Macy’s – or New York’s wildly successful Restaurant Week – and orchestrate a sale.

The first ever Hotel Week runs from January 6 through 15 at eight hotels, namely those with ties to the New York public relations firm that dreamed up the idea. (more…)