By O'Rourke Hospitality
August 2010

Do you have a smartphone or plan to buy one in the next 90 days? If not you’re quickly becoming a minority. To accommodate the tremendous increase in users, manufacturers and providers are pumping out a dizzying array of smartphone options and hi-tech features to choose from. But, while the bevy of Blackberries, Palms, Droids and Motorolas are providing tempting eye candy for consumers, one phone still leads the pack in both adaptation and satisfaction - Apple’s iPhone.

ChangeWave's latest smartphone survey of 4,028 consumers, concluded June 24, 2010, shows an explosive burst in consumer demand over the immediate 90-day period.


In addition to this dramatic climb in consumer demand for smartphones in general, ChangeWave found some stunning stats around the desire for particular phones between March and June 2010.

 
This state-of-the-industry information is particularly important to businesses looking to develop a custom mobile application to engage mobile and smartphone users. While it can be difficult to parse out where you should focus your efforts, you’ll clearly want to put your energy into the market segment with the largest percentage of users, which at this point in time is Apple iPhone users.

SmartStay not only believes that this segment is the current consumer’s top choice, but we feel that it will continue to attract the most users and even more importantly, please the most users. After all, you don’t just want to reach these tapped-in travelers, you want to make their trip planning experience the best it can be - leaving them with a more than favorable view of your brand.


Your custom-built SmartStay App is an extension of your marketing and revenue generating efforts and it is imperative that the experience be as seamless and intuitive as possible.  Apple’s iPhone will continue to innovate on a level far above the competition and that is where we believe our clients should be - far above their competition.
 
If you would like to learn how you can get an iPhone App for your hotel please call O'Rourke Hospitality Marketing at 978-465-5955 or send an email to [email protected].