Expedia, Inc. Enters New Partnership With Omni Hotels
Agreement Delivers One of North America’s Leading Luxury Hotel Brands to Expedia Customers
BELLEVUE, Wash., Feb. 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Expedia, Inc. (NASDAQ: EXPE), the world’s leading online travel company, today announced it has expanded and extended its multi-year partnership with Omni Hotels. The enhanced relationship provides Expedia® customers complete access to Omni’s luxury hotels while providing Omni with online marketing opportunities across the Expedia network of travel sites.
“Omni’s luxury hotels consistently rank among the leaders in Expedia’s customer satisfaction surveys,” said Melissa Maher, vice president of strategic accounts, Expedia® Partner Services Group. “This partnership underscores our commitment to providing travelers with access to award-winning hotels and illustrates the value Expedia brings to its partners by helping them build their business through our global network of travelers.”
Under the agreement, Omni will use Expedia® Connect technology to increase the speed, security and accuracy of its bookings through Expedia Web sites while reducing reservation costs. Omni will also gain access to marketing opportunities across Expedia and hotels.com® Web sites worldwide.
As the leading online travel company in the world, Expedia, Inc. delivers value to its supply partners by providing superior marketing and sales opportunities, and driving incremental revenues. More than 60 million unique monthly visitors worldwide visit Expedia, Inc.’s Web sites.
“Exceeding customer expectations and creating memorable experiences for our guests through unsurpassed service is our central mission,” said Kerry Kennedy, director of e-commerce, Omni Hotels. “Our agreement with Expedia enables us to extend that service with additional convenience for our customers while leveraging the strength of Expedia’s market presence to help meet business objectives.”
About Expedia® Partner Services Group
Expedia® Partner Services Group offers its supplier partners choice, seamless coordination and complete access to our vast traveler base. The formation of the Partner Services Group is a testament of Expedia’s commitment to continually refine the way we conduct business by seeking our suppliers’ input and customizing our services to meet their needs.
About Expedia, Inc.
Expedia, Inc. is the world’s leading online travel company, empowering business and leisure travelers with the tools and information they need to easily research, plan, book, and experience travel. Expedia, Inc. also provides wholesale travel to offline retail travel agents. Expedia, Inc.’s portfolio of brands includes: Expedia.com®, hotels.com®, Hotwire®, Expedia® Corporate Travel, TripAdvisor® and Classic Vacations®. Expedia, Inc.’s companies also operate internationally with sites in Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Australia, Japan and China, through its investment in eLong™. For more information, visit http://www.expediainc.com/ (NASDAQ: EXPE).
About Omni Hotels
Omni Hotels was recently ranked “Highest in Guest Satisfaction Among Upscale Hotel Chains” in the J.D. Power and Associates 2006 North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Study(SM) for the second year in a row. The brand creates compelling, memorable guest experiences by tempting the senses in innovative ways, surrounding them with a balanced blend of scents, sounds, sights, textures and tastes. Omni Hotels offers luxury accommodations at 40 hotels and resorts in leading business gateways and leisure destinations across North America. From exceptional golf and spa retreats to dynamic business settings, each location features four-diamond services, including award-winning signature restaurants, Wi-Fi connectivity and unique fitness options. Omni’s mission for total customer service is further supported by its “Power of One” program that empowers associates to make on-the-spot decisions to meet or exceed guest expectations. Guests can locate hotels and book accommodations by visiting http://www.omnihotels.com/ or by calling 1-800-THE-OMNI.
* The study is based on responses from 42,211 guests who stayed in a hotel between January and June 2006. Thirteen upscale hotel chains were ranked in the study. http://www.jdpower.com/ .
NOTE: Expedia and Expedia.com are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Expedia, Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. Classic Vacations is either a trademark or registered trademark of Classic Vacations, LLC in the U.S. and/or other countries. hotels.com is either a trademark or registered trademark of hotels.com, L.P., a subsidiary of hotels.com in the U.S. and/or other countries. Hotwire is either a trademark or registered trademark of Hotwire, Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. TripAdvisor is either a trademark or registered trademark of TripAdvisor, LLC in the U.S. and/or other countries. Other logos or product and company names mentioned herein may be the property of their respective owners.
SOURCE: Expedia, Inc.
CONTACT: press only, Katrina Thomas of Expedia, +1-425-679-4317, or
press@expedia.com</br/>
Web site: http://www.expedia.com/