HotelTonight’s ‘magic’ words make it easier to search for the right hotel

Last-minute accommodation booking service HotelTonight has a set of 13 “magic” words that you can use to help you find the right hotel.

Available for iOS and Android, HotelTonight helps you find a place to stay when you haven’t booked anything in advance. In addition to the location, there are probably specific amenities, styles, and a price range that you’re looking for. That’s where these words come into play, some of which are:

• Luxe: luxury hotels only
• Hip: hip hotels only
• Basic: budget hotels only
• Pets: pet-friendly hotels
• WiFi: those that offer free Wi-Fi
• Drinks: hotels with a bar
• Max100: rooms for up to $100 per night

To use these keywords in HotelTonight, enter the city you want to stay in and then type in your magic word. You’ll then see a list of cities, and, if there’s an emoji next to any of them, you can tap on the corresponding location to see your results. The multiple listings help you identify the correct city (“San Francisco, CA” not “San Francisco del Rincon, Mexico”). The system isn’t perfect yet, but it’s only the first iteration, so hopefully the workflow will improve.

The launch of this feature comes four months after the company upgraded its business model to help people not only make same-day bookings, but also reserve a second night’s stay at hotels at a 30 percent discounted rate. HotelTonight CEO Sam Shank said at the time that it was “important that we continue to find unique ways to keep our customer experience fresh and help our hotel partners preserve brand loyalty.”

With these new keywords, users will be able to find what they’re looking for more quickly and precisely. Here’s the complete list of magic words you can use and the associated emojis that are displayed: