USA Today debuts iPhone travel app

October 7, 7:13 PMPhoenix Travel ExaminerJay Hammond

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Hotel Pool. Copyright 2009 J. Hammond All rights resered

Any traveler knows USA Today is ubiquitous in most hotels, resorts and newsstands catering to non-residents. On October 7, USA Today is going a step farther by launching AutoPilot, an iPhone Travel application (for the iPhone or iPod Touch) on the Apple App Store. USA Today AutoPilot is sponsored by Hampton Hotels.

“USA Today is synonymous with travel. Travelers love us and we love being everywhere they need us with innovative new products,” said Matt Jones, vice president, mobile strategy and operations, Gannett Digital. “USA Today AutoPilot for iPhone extends our service to travelers to a new platform, truly meeting all of their mobile travel needs.”

The USA Today AutoPilot iPhone Application provides travelers with the tools, utilities and features they need to manage their travel experience combined with the familiar look and feel of USA Today. Among the features offered through the AutoPilot app are:

• AutoPilot – allows users to track trip and flight itineraries in an easy-to-use digest format. AutoPilot offers real-time updates as your location and travel needs change by using the GPS capabilities of your iPhone or iPod Touch and your schedule as a guide.
• Flight Tracker & Delays – keeps track of your departing or arriving flight by flight number, airport or route. Up-to-the-minute delay information is available for more than 16,000 airports, 1,400 airlines and 100,000 daily flights.
• Travel Directory – offers quick, one-click phone number or web site access to a comprehensive directory of travel providers, ranging from airlines, hotels and car rental agencies.
• Weather – delivers current weather conditions, up-to-the-minute regional radar and the five-day forecast based on your GPS location. You can also review national weather maps including Doppler radar, temperature and precipitation forecasts.
• USA Today destination & travel feature content – read USA Today travel blogs such as Today in the Sky, Hotel Check-in and many more.

The USA Today AutoPilot iPhone application was designed and developed in cooperation with Mercury Intermedia of Brentwood, TN. Sponsored by Hampton Hotels, it is available for FREE for iPhone or iPod Touch from Apple's App Store at www.itunes.com/appstore.

Hampton Hotels, part of the Hilton Worldwide Portfolio of Brands, is a leader among mid-priced lodging. There are 16 Hampton properties serving travelers in the greater Phoenix metro area.

“USA Today's AutoPilot sponsored by Hampton Hotels allows consumers access to the world of travel,” said Judy Christa-Cathey, vice president brand marketing, Hampton Hotels. “Consumers will now have the opportunity to be connected directly to their Hampton Hotel of choice, making booking a room a seamless process for travelers who already know Hampton's great value and exceptional guest experience all backed by it's 100 percent Satisfaction Guarantee.”