Berlin-based Columbus Internet, the company behind the trip-planning application Travel WithMe, and Hostelworld.com, the world’s leading provider of online reservations to the budget, independent and youth travel market today announced the launch of Hostel WithMe, the world’s first real-time collaborative accommodation booking application.

Hostel WithMe utilizes Hostelworld.com’s vast inventory of properties in over 180 countries, which each include detailed descriptions of the facilities and high-quality photos. Live availability and pricing information is available on all the accommodation presented and a link is provided to allow secure credit-card booking. Google Maps and Google Streetview are also integrated, so users can check out the location and area surrounding their accommodation.

When several people are using Hostel WithMe simultaneously, and one of them views an accommodation, this is visible to all the others in real-time. If the accommodation is potentially suitable, it can be added to a shortlist of proposals, which each person can comment or vote on.

Hostel WithMe is also an ideal tool for organizing travel for a group. The organizer can identify appropriate accommodation in advance, and then submit a list of proposed accommodations to the group for commenting and voting. For the first time, the 89% of people who don’t travel alone (Only 11% of people do!) can use the internet to conveniently make joint decisions on their accommodation.

Hostel WithMe is provided as a gadget within Google Wave, Google’s new online tool for real-time communication and collaboration.

“Hostel WithMe makes it really easy and enjoyable for a group of people to plan going away together” said Andrew Sittermann, CEO at Columbus Internet. “People no longer need to email each other lists of confusing links.”

Santina Doherty, VP of Commercial Development at Hostelworld.com commented “As market leaders in the budget accommodation space Hostelworld.com has always been committed to innovation and the use of best of breed technology, which is why we’re excited to be partnering with pioneering products like the Hostel WithMe app. By allowing our product to be available through the app on Google wave a whole new audience can now enjoy the value and choice that is featured on Hostelworld.com".