With many hotels achieving close to 40 per cent of bookings on the net, online accommodation distributor SiteMinder, has launched a new version of its direct booking engine product, 'TheBookingButton'.

SiteMinder's new-look Booking Button, which accommodation providers can use on their own website as a direct, commission-free booking engine, aims to significantly increase booking conversion percentages. The new, fully customisable Booking Button allows hotels to package rooms to include extras such as breakfast, late checkout and tours. The latest version also offers increased security, allows hoteliers to track return on investment on pay-per-click campaigns and also improves analysis of their online business.

SiteMinder debuted its Booking Button product in mid 2008 to help hotel customers capitalise on their fastest growing source of business - the internet.

SiteMinder Managing Director Mike Ford said the latest version of TheBookingButton underlined SiteMinder's ability to deliver cost effective, high quality products.

"More than a quarter of all accommodation bookings are now made online in many regions and that is set to grow strongly to 40 per cent over the next few years," said SiteMinder Managing Director Mike Ford.

"Every hotel needs its own fast, easy-to-use booking engine that can convert website traffic into confirmed bookings and that's what our Booking Button delivers. With new features and enhanced functionality, our properties have already seen a substantial increase in room night sales."

"The internet is the accommodation industry's fastest growing source of business, so we've invested a lot of time, money and energy into making our Booking Button a market-leading, must-have booking tool that hoteliers can use to lift bottom line profits. We're certain our enhanced Booking Button will help many properties capitalise on the growing trend towards booking online."

TheBookingButton allows properties to:

* Produce and manage special campaigns using corporate and promotional codes
* Facilitate more than 80 currencies, allowing guests to convert the booking total into their local currency
* Display multiple property listings, a key feature for property groups
* Analyse and measure direct online business through enhanced reporting functionality
* Track key statistical data through Google Analytics
* Monitor and track the success of Adword campaigns
* Customise and colour match to retain the look and feel of your own website and branding

TheBookingButton integrates seamlessly into hotels' own websites and into SiteMinder's channel management technology which enables hoteliers to list their rooms on dozens of booking sites around the world.