"Computers in Business" Supplement
December 12th 2010
by Adrian Weckler
"Roomex Books its place in Online World"
It seems like decades ago that we queued up in a travel agent's shop to book a hotel room abroad. Today, virtually all of this is done online for a fraction of the price.
But where do you go to book your room? Jack Donaghy hopes it is Roomex.com, the Dublin-based hotel booking engine that he is steadilty growing.
....."there is no doubt that Irish companies can become global players online," said Donaghy. " We've been doing between €4 million and €5 million in bookings per annum, but we're growing really, really fast at the moment. We're up to almost 100,000 hotels now."
Despite the company's global reach, most of Roomex's business still lies in Ireland and Britain. But Europe has started to log on to the company's service......
Click here for more on Page 10
Sunday Business Post
"Money & Markets Section"
November 21st 2010
by Dermot Corrigan
"The Technology to grow and succeed"
The 2010 Deloitte Fast 50 programme show that Irish tech companies are continuing to achieve impressive growth: Third place went to hotel booking site Roomex.com with an aggregate growth rate of 2847 per cent.
............David O'Flanagan, partner with Deloitte, Dublin, said that "the Deloitte Fast 50 was "a badge of honour" in the technology sector. It is a programme that Deloitte runs internationally, so it is widely recognised in the US, in Britain and across Europe. In the Irish context, technology is one of the sectors that has real potential to change our lives and create technology."
Siicon Republic
"Deloitte Fast 50 Awards Winners Announced"
November 15th 2010
by Shane Hulgraine
Winners of the Deloitte Technology Fast 50 awards, which took place this weekend, have been announced.
The awards, which are now in their eleventh year, rank the fastest-growing technology companies in Ireland and Northern Ireland.
Software Asset Management Ireland (SAMI), an IT solutions and software supply company, took first place in this year’s awards, while iSite – IT specialists – achieved second place and Roomex.com came in third place.
Fast-growing tech companies
“In spite of the challenging financial market conditions, the 2010 Deloitte Fast 50 shows that Irish technology companies are continuing to show impressive growth. We are particularly impressed to see the increase in winners who are competing on the world stage, especially in the areas of software development and in the B2C sector (business to consumer),” said David O’Flanagan, partner with Deloitte, Dublin, at the awards.
Irish Independent
"Weekend Travel Supplement"
October 2nd 2010
by Pol O Conghaile
Website of the Week
These may not be the most auspicious of times for Irish-owned hotel booking sites (this summer 1800hotels.ie filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the US). That hasn't troubled Roomex.com, however, which lists more 80,000 properties worldwide. The Dublin-based site recently beefed up its offering to include searches based on places of interest, and there are some tasty special offers too (10pc off standard rates at the Dublin Airport Clarion, for instance). Only time will tell if Roomex can challenge the likes of hotels.com, but a good old-fashioned offline feature augurs well - the site comes with a free advice phone number.
The Irish Times
"GO" Travel Supplement
"GO" Advice Section - Go Ask Joan
September 25th 2010
by Joan Scales
How can we be sure internet booking is safe?
Question: My husband and I are going away for a week in October to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary. I have booked flights to Tenerife and we are interested in staying in La Gomera..... Secondly, is there a culture of booking hotels close to check-in dates for a reduced price in Spain? We'd love to stay in a posh hotel such as the Parador, but the prices are too dear for us. We'd be interested in waiting another week or two to see if prices do come down, but don't want to be left without accommodation.
Answer: In reply........ As to booking later rather than sooner, hotel prices generally increase the closer to the date you get - however, at this time of the year prices are unlikely to go up. I have seen four-star hotels in Tenerife for under €80 per night. Have a look at roomex.com for good deals.
IRISH INTERNET ASSOCIATION
October 18 2008
Roomex.com wins Deloitte Technology Award Fast 50 Rising Star
Roomex.com was awarded the Deloitte Technology Rising Star Award for 2008 at the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin last night. With growth of over 3,100% over the last 3 years, Roomex.com is fast becoming one of the most widely used booking hotel portals in Ireland and Europe.
Speaking after the awards ceremony last night, Jack Donaghy, Managing Director of Roomex, was absolutely delighted with the award and excited for the future - "We're thrilled and somewhat surprised with the award - it's a vindication of all the hard work we have put in over the last 3 years. Roomex.com is becoming a strong online brand and beginning to get good traction across Europe and we expect to double sales again next year. We will increase from the 20,000 hotels worldwide that we have at present to 75,000 hotels by the end of 2008 and we will continue to bring better prices to our growing customer base which already exceeds 100,000."
This is not the first time Mr. Donaghy has featured in the Deloitte Technology Fast 50 Awards - his original company, Webtrade, a web development firm also based in Dublin, has been listed in the Fast 50 for the past 7 years, culminating in a 3rd place finish in 2004 !
GAZETTE
July 20 2008
Roomex raises the bar online
Rathfarnham-based Roomex.com has just announced an increase in bookings of 40% in the first six months of 2008.
This represents almost €3.5million worth of hotel bookings in the first six months of 2008.
Jack Donaghy, the managing director of Roomex.com, said that the increase in bookings had given rise to a number of factors.
Significant online marketing campaigns with the likes of Google, Facebook and Pigsback.com have substantially increased awareness of the Roomex.com brand..
He also cites the discounted prices and the repeat customer discount scheme for over 20,000 hotels worldwide on the new website, www.roomex.com, as being major factors of growth over the last six months.
Roomex.com has also added several new features this year, including customer hotel reviews and 26 major city video travel guides.
"We expect to increase the number of hotels on our website to over 60,000 before the end of the year, with even more discounts," said Donaghy.
"On top of this, we are updating the way in which the website works , giving it a more of an 'web2.0' feel, which will make it even easier for our customers to find and book hotels around the world."
SUNDAY TIMES
January 6 2008
Better social networks could ensure Ireland achieves above its grade by Sandra O Connell
Jack Donaghy, MD of Roomex sees his company's marketing activities embracing "social media such as Facebook, blogging and viral marketing." That perspective should be shared and endorsed by county enterprise boards throughout Ireland. Not embracing social media will confine a small business to the digital underclass.
THE SUNDAY BUSINESS POST
September 30 2007
Article: Roomex invests €200,000 in website relaunch
Online portal Roomex has invested €200,000 in the redevelpoment and marketing of its own web service RoomexHotels.com In January, The company relaunched its website with a new range of features designed to entice customers and its attract repeat business. It has also invested in two seperate marketing campaigns with Google and Pigsback.com.
........Since Donaghy established Roomex in 2004, he said, the number of hotels featured on the site have grown from 300 to 20,000 hotels worldwide.September 23 2007.
SUNDAY TIMES
September 23 2007
Features: Small Business - 'A paradise of profits is just a click away' by Sandra O Connell
JACK DONAGHY is an "early adopter" in internet parlance. an accountant by profession, he took a detour off his career path to set up Webtrade, a web-development, in 1998. Six years later a client asked him to design a website offering discounts on Irish hotel rooms. The accountact in him was so impressed that he bought the business and Roomexhotels.com is now one of the fastest growing sites of its kind in the market. It has gone global with more than 20,000 hotels, from Antigua to Zambia, on its books.
............."We have a huge amount of our business coming from repeat of our business coming from repeat customers," he said. "We also send out a monthly e-mail newsletter featuring special offers and promotions. That help tie people to us further."
Donaghy has been in charge at RoomexHotels.com for only 18 months, but, by this time next year, he plans to have 50,000 hotels on his site. He also plans to increase staff numbers from five to 30 in the next year.
To succeed online he believes you need to make it easy to transact business and focus on creating and retaining customer trust.
