Carlson Wagonlit Travel is piloting hotel-booking capability through its CWT To Go mobile app and plans to make it available to all users by year-end, the travel management company announced on Thursday.
Users in the pilot program can use the app to search hotels, view results on a map and book hotel rooms. Search results include preferred rates and properties per a corporate travel policy, and CWT service teams can retrieve bookings if travelers need further support.
Additionally, the app integrates with CWT's Portrait traveler profile tool, so it can pull traveler details, including credit card information and loyalty program membership, when travelers make hotel bookings. Users also can scan credit cards through their mobile devices' cameras when entering payment information.
Currently, only CWT employees in the United States, United Kingdom and Ireland have access to the app's hotel booking features, and the ability "will roll out to select CWT global clients shortly," according to the TMC. The majority of users will have access to it by the end of 2014.
Other features in the new version include more detailed flight alert information, a redesign for the Android platform and the ability to label entire trips or portions as "leisure" so that travelers can manage personal travel on the app.
CWT also is working on air and ground transportation booking functionality for the app, slated for release next year, according to The Beat.