Expedia.com Travel Programs Generate More Than $1 Million in Revenues for Program Participants And Add New Members

Expedia.com Travel Programs Generate More Than $1 Million in Revenues for Program Participants And Add New Members

REDMOND, Wash., April 2, 1998 — The Microsoft® Expedia
™
.com Travel Network and Associates programs are growing rapidly, and participating companies are reaping the benefits through increased revenues and an ever-expanding customer base. Participants also gain access to the in-depth travel content and powerful booking engine of Expedia.com.

Since its launch in January 1998, for example, the Expedia Travel Network has generated more than $1 million in additional revenues for participating companies, due to travel services purchased by the more than 1.5 million monthly visitors of Expedia.com.

“Joining Expedia.com has opened new doors for us. We have seen an increase in site recognition, traffic and, most importantly, sales,” said John Ricks, vice president of marketing, Online Vacation Mall, a charter member of the Expedia Travel Network. “The reputation of Expedia as an industry leader, superior technology and extensive marketing support have greatly expanded our capabilities and given us access to millions of pre-qualified customers.”

New participants in the Expedia Travel Network include Continental Vacations, American Express Vacations and Hotel Reservations Network. The Expedia Associates Program also has shown significant growth since its launch, with several new companies joining, including MSNBC, InfoSpace Inc. and Outrigger Hotels & Resorts.

“As part of Microsoft’s commitment to online travel, we are committed to being a solid contributor in the travel and Internet communities by offering innovative marketing and cobranding opportunities,” said Simon Breakwell, group manager, travel business unit at Microsoft. “Our travel programs are fostering the growth and expansion of online travel as well as increasing revenue for participants.”

The Expedia Travel Network (http://expedia.com/etn/) is a one-stop travel shopping mall offering vacation packages, cruises, resorts and travel merchandise from many leading suppliers. More than 20 companies have joined Expedia.com to offer consumers information on their products and direct Internet access to purchasing travel on the Web. These companies include Amtrak, Cruise Outlet, the Online Vacation Mall, SuperClubs Resorts, TravelSmith, Celebrity Cruises, Delta Vacations, Flyfishing Travel Online, Golf Travel Online, Holland America Cruise Line, Renaissance Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, VacationSpot.com, Continental Vacations, American Express Vacations and Hotel Reservations Network.

The Expedia Associates Program links the leading travel booking engine of Expedia.com with participating members’ Web sites through cobranding agreements and equips these sites with the full functionality of the features and services of Expedia.com. Expedia.com puts the ability to plan and purchase airline tickets and car and hotel reservations at their users’ fingertips without the need to link elsewhere on the Web. Throughout the travel booking process, the members’ and the Expedia.com brand appear jointly within the cobranded pages. Members of the Expedia Associates Program include American Express Co., CondeNast’s Epicurious Travel, Infoseek Corp., Wired’s Hotbot, The Mining Co., National Car Rental, MSNBC, InfoSpace Inc., 24/7 Media, Corbis Trip and Outrigger Hotels & Resorts.

About Expedia.com and Microsoft

Microsoft Expedia.com is the place to go on the Web to purchase travel tickets and book accommodations and car rentals securely. Expedia.com offers in-depth destination content and travel news as well as mapping, address finding and direction services. Since its inception in October 1996, Expedia.com has become one of the Web’s most successful electronic-commerce sites with travel sales for January 1998 exceeding $12 million. A recent study by new-media audience-measurement firm Media Metrix – The PC Meter Company ranked Expedia.com as the fastest-growing online travel service for 1997. In addition, Expedia.com was given the 1998 Excellence in Software Award (a.k.a. The Codie Award) for the Best Internet Commerce World Wide Web site.

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/ , the Expedia Travel Network and the Expedia Associates Program.

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 and Expedia 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.

Note to editors: Contact information for Expedia Associates Program and Expedia Travel Network members is available upon request. If you are interested in viewing additional information on Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft Web site at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/ on Microsoft’s corporate information pages.

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