Expedia.com Offers Consumers One-Stop Online Travel Shopping
REDMOND, Wash., Jan. 27, 1998 — Looking for a faster way to shop for travel on the Internet? Now, with just one click of the mouse, Expedia.com has made it quicker and easier for you to research and purchase dream cruises, vacation packages and travel adventures by bringing some of the best travel sites on the Web under one umbrella – the Expedia
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Travel Network at (http://expedia.com/) .
Consumers now have a direct link to cruises, vacation packages and rentals, all-inclusive resorts, adventure-based travel and a myriad of other travel products and services through the Expedia Travel Network, which offers access to expanded research information, hard-to-beat rates and last-minute pricing specials.
More than 20 travel companies, including Royal Caribbean International, Delta Vacations, Sandals Resorts and TravelSmith are joining Expedia.com to give people one-stop travel shopping and purchasing on the Internet.
The Cruise Outlet link provides travelers descriptions of and great prices on cruises offered by leading cruise lines, including Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Holland America, Celebrity, Renaissance Cruises and Princess. Although cruises are still booked through a toll-free number, this link marks an important first step toward the availability of cruise bookings online.
“As online travel planning becomes more popular, consumers need an easier way to find the best travel options on the Internet,” said Adam Malcolm, director of operations, SuperClubs Resorts. “SuperClubs recognizes the value in reaching out to Expedia.com’s 1 million-plus members.”
“During the last 12 months, people told us they loved Expedia and, at the same time, are always looking for ways to save time and money when planning and purchasing their travel on the Internet,” said Simon Breakwell, group manager, travel business unit at Microsoft. “We responded to our members. For example, we decreased the numbers of screens between the opening page and fare information. Now, the Expedia Travel Network expands our offerings while providing centralized access to a wide variety of high-quality travel options.”
The Expedia Travel Network is working to provide direct access to the following charter member sites: Amtrak, Cruise Outlet, the Online Vacation Mall, Ski Travel Online, SuperClubs Resorts, TravelSmith, Abercrombie & Kent, AirCharterNet, Celebrity Cruises, Delta Vacations, Flyfishing Travel Online, Golf Travel Online, Holland America Cruise Line, Renaissance Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, Sandals Resorts, VacationSpot.com, TravelRes Direct and YachtWorld.com
The Microsoft® Expedia.com online travel planning service (http://expedia.com/) is part of the Microsoft Expedia family of travel and mapping products and services. These include the Microsoft Expedia Streets 98, Streets Deluxe 98 and Trip Planner 98 CD-ROMs http://www.microsoft.com/expedia/ .
Microsoft Travel Technologies is a platform suite comprising a server, applications and content designed to create the best buying experience for travel-related services online. Microsoft Travel Technologies is created with Microsoft BackOffice® family products including the Windows NT® Server operating system, Internet Information Server and Microsoft SQL Server
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. It is designed to support an interactive travel product that operates within an Internet or intranet environment, using any popular Web browser software, and is compatible with the top computer reservations systems.
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of products and services for business and personal use, each designed with the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take advantage of the full power of personal computing every day.
Microsoft, Expedia, BackOffice and Windows NT are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
Other product and company names herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.
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