Expedia.com Omni Hotels Signs Inventory and Direct Connection Agreement with Expedia.com and Hotels.com
BELLEVUE, Wash. – August 24, 2004 – Expedia, Inc. and Hotels.com™today announced they have signed a national agreement with Omni Hotels to provide Expedia.com®and Hotels.com customers with enhanced access to the 40 luxury hotels across the Omni Hotels brand.
As part of the agreement, Omni Hotels is implementing a direct connection with Expedia®and Hotels.com, which will benefit customers who will have access to absolute real-time information on room availability. The direct connection also makes it more efficient and cost-effective for individual hotel properties to manage inventory and rates available on each site through the Omni Hotels central reservations system.
“Expedia and Hotels.com provide a valuable marketing arm that complements our efforts to reach new, incremental customers,” said Tom Chevins, senior vice president of sales and marketing at Omni Hotels. “Consumers can now enjoy the convenience of shopping for our properties at these Web sites, whether they need a complete vacation package or a single room for a business trip.”
Expedia and Hotels.com customers will now find it easier than ever to find accommodations at any Omni Hotel, and the brand’s reach will extend to the nearly 30 million unique travel shoppers that visit Expedia and Hotels.com each month.
“Our mission at Expedia and Hotels.com is to help build the business of suppliers, such as Omni Hotels, by applying our marketing resources, technology leadership and industry expertise,” said Lloyd Frink, senior vice president of supplier relations at Expedia and Hotels.com. “This agreement underscores Omni Hotels’ commitment to providing exceptional services, beginning with the customer’s initial research and reservations all the way through the guest’s stay. We value our relationship with our suppliers and customers.”
About Omni Hotels
Omni Hotels, based in the Dallas suburb Irving, Texas, offers luxury accommodations and exceptional personalized service that’s surprisingly sensible at 40 hotels and resorts in North America. Omni Hotels provide four-diamond services, including exquisite décor, gourmet dining, wireless and high-speed Internet connectivity, an airline miles program, the Select Guest loyalty program, on-site business and fitness centers, in-room treadmills, as well as the award-winning Omni Kids program. Through an aggressive growth strategy, Omni Hotels is steadily expanding existing properties and entering new markets across North America, including a new luxury hotel in San Diego and a full-scale resort to open in Orlando later this year.
About Expedia, Inc.
Expedia, Inc. is the world’s leading online travel service and the fourth largest travel agency in the U.S. Expedia’s award-winning Expert Searching and Pricing (ESP) technology delivers the most comprehensive flight options available online. ESP also allows customers to dynamically build complete trips that combine flights, Expedia®Special Rate hotels and other lodging, ground transportation, and destination services and activities. Expedia’s quality and leadership have been recognized in awards such as PC Magazine’s “Editors’ Choice” and Forbes’ “Favorite General Travel Site.” Expedia is an operating company of IAC/InterActiveCorp (NASDAQ: IACI). CST: 2029030-40
About Hotels.com
Hotels.com is a leading provider of lodging worldwide, offering reservation services through its own websites (including www.hotels.com and others), its interactive affiliate network (www.IAN.com), and its toll-free call centers (1-800-2-HOTELS). Hotels.com gives travelers the widest selection of lodging accommodations from traditional hotels to vacation rentals at over 12,000 properties in more than 400 cities in North America, Europe, the Caribbean and Asia. The company is a one-stop shopping source for hotel pricing, amenities and availability, and also specializes in providing travelers with accommodations during sold-out periods. Hotels.com is an operating business of IAC/InterActiveCorp (NASDAQ: IACI). CST: 2059975-40.
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