Hotel e-commerce specialist TRAVELCLICK has partnered with mobile app developer Mobiata to launch a free iPhone and Android app called StayHIP. The app enables user to find and book boutique hotels across more than 170 cities in 45 countries.

Users can search for hotels by city, price, or keyword (e.g. ‘contemporary’, ‘luxurious’). There’s also a ‘Hotels Near Me’ feature to find boutique hotels close by.

Each hotel listing includes a description, photo gallery, with images viewable at full screen with one touch, and streaming video. StayHIP users can also choose to view rates, room types, and real-time availability.  When a guest decides to book a stay, the booking is completed within the app. Email confirmations are sent based on the user’s personal contact information, and users can share their booking information with friends on Facebook and Twitter. For future reservations, user information is stored on the user’s device.

“StayHIP is the future of mobile travel applications,” says TRAVELCLICK chairman and CEO, Robert Post. “We expect the emergence of more and more targeted mobile apps like StayHIP, enabling consumers to find and book the perfect stay.”

The app is part of TRAVELCLICK’s holistic mobile solution, which also includes mobile websites, mobile booking engines, and mobile advertising. According to web analytics company Compete, almost  40 per cent of smartphone owners are researching leisure travel on their mobile devices, while more than 25 per cent have used their phone to book a hotel room. Mobile booking revenue for hotels is predicted to reach $76m (£53m) this year.

You can download the app via the Apple App Store, Android marketplace, or via the Mobiata website.