Grays Ecsape Replaces Ubid4rooms.com

GraysEscape.com has been revealed as the name of new offer-based hotel reservation website to be launched next week by Australia’s largest online auction house, GraysOnline.

The unique, game-changing site succeeds the Ubid4rooms.com website that GraysOnline purchased earlier this year to enter the accommodation market as a major player for the first time. Launched by former hotelier, Gary Berman, in 2008, the award-winning Ubid4rooms.com was turned off today, July 24, in preparation for GraysEscape.com going live next week.

GraysEscape.com will allow the 1.1 million people who visit GraysOnline.com every month to purchase accommodation by making an offer to a hotel, with the hotelier accepting or bargaining with the customer for another rate within three hours.

Now general manager of the new travel unit at GraysOnline, Mr Berman said he was excited to see his vision for a rate bargaining website for the hotel industry mature into the “big league”.

“I always believed passionately in the concept of Ubid4rooms to revolutionise the way we book accommodation and GraysOnline is an ideal partner to take that vision forward to a whole new level,” said Mr Berman.

“GraysEscape will enable more customers to negotiate directly with more hotels via a controlled discounting system that will save consumers money and help hoteliers fill empty rooms in what is a challenging economic environment,” he said.

“Our domestic tourism industry urgently needs innovative ways like this to boost business so GraysEscape will prove a win-win for travellers and hoteliers.”

Based on the concept that ‘a vacant room is revenue lost forever’, GraysEscape.com will differ from GraysOnline’s auction model as it will allow customers to make offers directly to hotels, with no competitive bidding. The system will allow hotels to offer guests lower-than-advertised rates on a confidential, one-on-one basis without the agreed rates going public or affecting brand integrity.  

Accommodation providers keen to list with GraysEscape can call Gary Berman on 02 4365 1007 or 0410 458 166 or email Gary.Berman@grays.com.au

Source: Accommodation Association of Australia, 24 July 2012