Tourism Queensland launches online bookings site

Tourism Queensland will launch its own "last-minute" accommodation bookings website this week to compete with similar sites such as http://www.wotif.com and http://www.lastminute.com.au.The site will be located at http://www.bestrates.com.au.

Paul Scurrah, the general manager of Sunlover Holidays, a Queensland travel wholesaler which is part of the commercial division of Tourism Queensland, said websites like wotif.com had been increasing their market share.

Some industry pundits have claimed hoteliers are losing up to a quarter of their room rates to hotel booking sites which generally sell rooms at considerable discounts.

The value of room bookings made through wotif.com, which sells rooms within a 14-day lead time, now totals around $150 million annually. The site attracts around a million visitors a month.

Paul Scurrah, the general manager of Sunlover Holidays, a Queensland travel wholesaler which is part of the commercial division of Tourism Queensland, said websites like wotif.com had been increasing their market share.

Some industry pundits have claimed hoteliers are losing up to a quarter of their room rates to hotel booking sites which generally sell rooms at considerable discounts.

The value of room bookings made through wotif.com, which sells rooms within a 14-day lead time, now totals around $150 million annually. The site attracts around a million visitors a month.