Hotel Tonight Sticks To Their Core For SXSW Promotion Too

Hotel Tonight Founder: Sam Shank (r) with Hotel Tonight Team in front of their first Austin Room. (photo: Sam Shank)

Yesterday we brought you a story about SideTour and how instead of a huge alcohol induced binge party at South by Southwest, they hosted intimate “Side Tour” style gatherings with some successful start up companies like Tumblr and Etsy.

Another great start up, Hotel Tonight, stuck to their core of finding last minute rooms for their South By Southwest promotion.  Hotel Tonight Founder Sam Shank, rented an Airstream trailer for the companies on-site headquarters by day. By night, since rooms were scarce Shank and the Hotel Tonight team rented out the Airstream.

While it’s just an Airstream trailer, it was quite cozy. There was a couch when you walk in with a nice breakfast/dinner table, running water, a shower, bathroom, cooking area, king sized bed and a flat screen tv. Just what a South By Southwest go-er would need for the night.

More after the break



HotelTonight let their guests check in at around 8pm. They had to check out at 11am when Hotel Tonight started giving away free coffee and cocktails to anyone who came by to experience the East Side Drive In in Austin TX. They were also conveniently located next to one of our other favorite startups and apps, Trover was partying right next door.

Of course the guests in Hotel Tonight’s Airstream trailer were able to enjoy coffee and cocktails too.  The room in the Airstream went for $199 per night and Hotel Tonight matched that money and donated it to the Austin Children’s Center. Hotel Tonight billed the Airstream as their first ever room for rent in Austin Texas with plans to open up Austin in the app shortly.

Hotel Tonight renews a spin on the last minute hotel room app. They function the way HotWire did in their beta days, really great rates on hotel inventory for that night, and in some cases, a few surrounding nights.

Hotel Tonight populates hotels around you and gives you last minute rates on run of house rooms. The hotel’s are divided into categories  for hotel stays and there is a key in the FAQ and on the app itself. Basic is of course a basic room, not a 1 star room, but just the essentials. Luxury is of course more luxurious and nicer throughout. Rooms are priced accordingly and there is real value.

You can’t book on Hotel Tonight until 12noon local time. Since Hotel Tonight is truly filling last minute vacancies Shank told nibletz.com that hotels are literally keying in their inventory up until noon local time. That’s why rooms that are available on one day aren’t necessarily on the next. Hotel’s that participate with Hotel Tonight also have the freedom to set the rates the way that they want but understand that a bed unsold is a bed unsold. So for instance if you’re booking travel for a big busy weekend like a SXSW than the rate may be more than any given Sunday night.

When Hotwire first came on the scene in beta this is what they were doing however, now you can book out a Hotwire room a year in advance, so much for last minute deals right? You’ll also find that many of the Hotwire discounted hotels are only pennies away from their clearly posted rates on Hotels.com

The last, and probably biggest distinguishing factor with Hotel Tonight is that you know exactly what hotel, you’re booking and what the amenities are for that hotel. Now since you’re booking last minute rooms are typically run of house. That means you may be near an elevator machine room but for what you pay and what you get it’s definitely a value. Also, typically, if you check in and have a nice receptionist you’ll find you get the same type of room the guy who paid full price was in.

Hotel Tonight is available in the iOS app store and the Google Play Store. For more info visit hoteltonight.com