System and method for creating an online exchange between lodging seekers and lodging providers for negotiating the price of rooms

The system of claim 2, wherein the exchange module comprises a set of computer readable instructions executable by the server to:

• provide a website comprising a webpage accessible by a customer (“customer webpage”) that provides the following information:
• (a) a listing of hotels;
• and (b) a price for a room (“room rate”) for each of the listed hotels, wherein the room rate for each of the listed hotels is provided to the exchange module by respective hotels;
• provide an interface on the customer webpage through which a customer can:
• (a) accept a room rate being offered by a hotel;
• or (b) offer a different room rate (“counteroffer”) for the hotel room;
• provide one or more webpages accessible by hotels (“hotel webpage”) through which hotels can set a room rate and through which hotels can receive and respond to counteroffers from customers;
• and
• provide an interface on the customer webpage through which a customer can book a room at a hotel if the customer and the hotel agree on a room rate.

A method of providing an online hotel room exchange, comprising:

• providing a server configured to host a web site comprising one or more webpages accessible by a customer (“customer webpage”) that provides:
• (a) a listing of hotels;
• and (b) a price for a room (“room rate”) for each of the listed hotels, wherein the room rate for each of the listed hotels is provided to the exchange module by respective hotels;
• providing an interface on the customer webpage through which a customer can:
• (a) accept a room rate being offered by a hotel;
• or (b) offer a different room rate (“counteroffer”) for the hotel room;
• providing one or more webpages accessible by hotels (“hotel webpage”) through which hotels can set a room rate and through which hotels can receive and respond to counteroffers from customers;
• and
• providing an interface on the customer webpage through which a customer can book a room at a hotel if the customer and the hotel agree on a room rate.