Happy Hotels, a Filipino-owned travel booking app, was launched in the market last Friday, aiming to compete with global players in the tourism industry by catering to traveler needs depending on their budgets and expertise in local festivities. The app allows local and foreign travelers to book hotels, bed and breakfast establishments, and dormitels as fast as one minute while providing a “Calendar of Events” that details upcoming fiestas and festivities all over the country to help users plan their trips. Furthermore, the app’s founder and CEO, Jason Lao, said that the platform understands the entire ecosystem, including needs of both travelers and business owners, differentiating it from other apps in the market. The app also has a “Near Me” section that provides information on accommodations near the users. To date, the app now offers accommodations in popular spots including Boracay, Siargao, Tagaytay, Metro Manila, and Cebu, with over 100 partner properties. It plans to expand to more areas and partner with 500 hotels, dormitels, and BNBs every year. Moreover, Happy Hotels aims to empower local business owners and their workforce by providing them with a platform to expand their market and reach more customers. The app’s charitable arm also stands out, with at least 5 to 10 percent of users’ booking fees going to one of the platform’s partner non-profit institutions. Lao said more services would be offered soon to make it an all-in-one travel platform. Happy Hotels said partnered with UnionBank to facilitate its payment options.