A HOTEL-finding service for people who don't know where they are is being launched tomorrow by Rob Hughes.

Working from an office in the hi-tech Tredomen Busin-ess & Technology Centre, the Newport man has spent the last 18 months preparing his Ukseeka business for take-off.

He said: "Imagine you had driven down the M4 and were somewhere in Wiltshire but you weren't exactly sure and you needed a hotel for the night.

"By texting the word 'HOTEL' to our 82772 number our location-based service technology (LBS) will position you and send you details of the nearest hotel and how to get there."

The system will feature increasing refinements so that eventually you will be able to seek accommodation by price or star rating, and specify features such as disabled access, pet facilities, alcohol availability and so on.

"Regular users will be able to submit a profile of their needs, so that when their text comes in, the response is automatically based on their specific needs." The revenue model for Ukseeka is based on royalties on the text message charges and the service has been licensed by Vodaphone, T-mobile, Orange and O2.

"The service is aimed at the 95 per cent of people who have access to a mobile phone when they're on the move, rather than the much smaller percentage who have lap-tops with wireless connections.

"So you could say it's for the masses rather than the minority."

Mr Hughes developed the idea for Ukseeka from his experiences as a manager at a Cardiff-based recruitment company.

"One of the most difficult and time-consuming parts of the job was finding accommodation for the workers we were sending all over the UK.

"I was often in the office in the early hours of the morning trying to sort things out and I thought there had to be an easier way to do it.

"Two years ago the firm was bought out and I thought this was the time to start my own business."

The accountants Watts Gregory helped Mr Hughes with his business plan which has enabled him to attract public finance in the form of an Assembly Investment Grant and two private investors.

After hearing about Ukseeka, Andrew Davies, Wales minister for economic development, said:

"The Assembly Investment Grant is one of the most innovative schemes in the UK, and I'm pleased to see it being used to support such an innovative idea,"

"Business travel and tourism is a vital part of the economy's prosperity and this invention has great potential to drive further growth.

"I wish UKSeeka every success for the future."

The business will be formally opened tomorrow by Caerphilly AM Jeff Cuthbert and regional member William Graham from Newport.

Should the hotel service prove a success, Mr Hughes will follow it up with similar services for consumers' common needs.

He aims to recruit an extra two staff for each service which launches. You can check out the firm's website at www.ukseeka.com