Deal with Europe's Largest Hotelier Provides Orbitz Worldwide's portfolio of brands with access to more than 1,100 new properties globally
CHICAGO, Feb 17, 2009 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- Orbitz Worldwide (NYSE: OWW), a leading global online travel company, today announced a multi-year distribution agreement deal with Europe's largest hotelier, the Accor Group.
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The agreement provides Orbitz Worldwide access to Accor brands around the world, including the Sofitel, Pullman, Novotel, Mercure, MGallery, Suitehotel and Orbis properties. Customers using Orbitz (www.orbitz.com) and CheapTickets (www.cheaptickets.com) in the Americas, ebookers (www.ebookers.com) in Europe and HotelClub (www.hotelclub.com), which operates globally, will initially have access to more than 1,100 Accor properties around in the world.
"Orbitz Worldwide's agreement with the Accor Group provides a wider selection to our customers who want to book a merchant hotel in Europe," said Peggy Bianco, group vice president, global hotel supplier relations, Orbitz Worldwide. "With our growing base of customers around the world and industry leading technology, more hoteliers are finding a valuable partner in Orbitz Worldwide."
Highlights for hotels who partner with Orbitz Worldwide include:
-- An average of 14.7 MM(1) unique visitors came to an Orbitz Worldwide
site each month in 2008
-- In 2007, travelers using an Orbitz Worldwide site drove more than
$10BN(2) a year in travel-related gross bookings.
-- In January 2009, Orbitz Worldwide completed the migration of its new
technology platform in Europe, powering hotel and package bookings.
-- In 2008, Orbitz Worldwide grew its global network of hotel market
managers to include expanded coverage in Europe and Asia Pacific.
-- Orbitz Worldwide brands help hotels facilitate bookings in more than 120
countries.
The Accor Group is a European leader in hotels offering customers over 40 years of expertise in the lodging industry. Some quick facts on Accor Hotels:
-- Includes nearly 4,000 hotels within its portfolio of brands
-- Enables stays in nearly 500,000 rooms
-- Offers a lodging presence in 90 countries.
-- Accounts for 73% of the company's hotel revenues within Europe
-- In France alone, Accor generates around 33% of its revenue
About Orbitz Worldwide
Orbitz Worldwide is a leading global online travel company that uses innovative technology to enable leisure and business travelers to research, plan and book a broad range of travel products. Orbitz Worldwide owns a portfolio of consumer brands that includes Orbitz (http://www.orbitz.com), CheapTickets (http://www.cheaptickets.com), ebookers (http://www.ebookers.com), HotelClub (http://www.hotelclub.com), RatesToGo (http://www.ratestogo.com), the Away Network (http://www.away.com), and corporate travel brand Orbitz for Business (http://www.orbitzforbusiness.com). For more information on how your company can partner with Orbitz Worldwide, visit http://corp.orbitz.com.
Orbitz Worldwide uses its Investor Relations website to make information available to its investors and the public at http://www.orbitz-ir.com. You can sign up to receive email alerts whenever the company posts new information to the website.
(1) comScore Media Metrix Report, December 2008.
(2) Press Release. "Orbitz Worldwide, Inc. Reports Fourth Quarter 2007 and
Year-End 2007 Results." March 6, 2008.
SOURCE
Orbitz Worldwide
