A new online hotel booking site, hotels2go, has entered the lucrative Australian market with a highly successful marketing ploy – a free Apple Ipad 2 with every holiday booked.

Having secured exclusive discounts from leading hotels and resorts in key Australian travel destinations including Bali, Thailand, Vietnam, Vanuatu and Fiji, hotels2go is offering customers a free Ipad or an extra $500 off as soon as they make a booking.

In two weeks hotels2go’s sales have risen 400% as a result of the initiative.

Hotels2go Managing Director, Lance Martin said today “I think we are successful because our business model is to offer our customers more, rather than less” he said.

“We opted for Ipads because there is a natural synergy between technology and travel.

“In the old days people took photos, had to have them developed at high cost and then tried to recall their travel memories solely from physical images long after the experience. 

“Now you can stay at a stunning resort and save both your visual and personal experiences on a smart phone or tablet computer – then share them electronically with the world in an instant as a personal travel blog everyone can follow.

 “That’s why giving away Apple Ipads with our exclusive resort holiday offers has been such a hit” Martin said.
“Sure, we may have to reduce our margins, but it is a highly competitive space and we would prefer to have loyal, happy customers and brand trust over the longer term.