Hostelworld.com launched an iPhone specific version of its budget accommodation service. iPhone users who visit hostelworld.com will experience a website designed for optimal use on the device. There they can view hostel ratings, photos and content, make and review previous bookings in an iPhone layout. Users can bookmark the site onto their iPhone home screen for easy access.

Niamh Ni Mhir, Hostelworld’s Chief Marketing Officer commented “We’re delighted to announce the launch of Hostelworld’s iPhone application. Technology is becoming increasingly significant in the travel sector, therefore we need to be constantly innovating and looking for new ways of reaching our target audience”.

She continued “Backpackers are an extremely tech savvy market and are well known early adoptors of new technology. According to a recent survey we conducted we found that 95% of backpackers bring either a laptop, digital camera, iPod or mobile phone with them when travelling. With the iPhone set to be the device of choice it was imperative for us to develop and launch an iPhone application with strong core functionality for those on the move, especially as we have noticed a significant increase in the number of visitors to the site from the iPhone since its initial launch.

The launch of the iPhone application is a follow on from Hostelworld.com’s mobile booking site mobile.hostelworld.com which launched last July.