Media TravelJust another WordPress weblog

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

Barcelona,the second city from Spain,after Madrid is a very beautiful city.Guell Palace and Saint Family Church are two from these main attractions, builded by the same architect,Antoni Gaudi.
Saint Familly Church,a huge build,isn’t ready yet and the people have been working from this since 1882.People hope process of construction will be ready in 2020.Also,Guell Palace has an interesting iron portal and a complicated model.Definettly is worthing if you are near by to stop and organise one Stag Weekends in Barcelona that you will not forget.
Milla House was build by the same architect:Antoni Gaudi.Rather,spanish people named it La Pedrera.
Other attraction is Les Rambles,a lot of boulevard where everthing is possible.For example there exist restaurant’s, coffe house, florists, etc or you can go marketing on La Boqueria, Placa Reial. Arts visit is the Joan Miro museum with pictures and sculptures of this artist.There exist also pictures of Pablo Picasso,an very important painter.It deserve to be visited.It can be seen whole city from two hills.The one is Montjuic hill,and the other,Tibidabo, is close by seaport. If you are the more like the party type you can visit  Stag Parties in order to benefit from others experiences.
An very health activity is the Barcelona Bike Tour.A group of people need to take a tour of Barcelona city with bike in 3 hours.This course will bring you to these faimous places mentioned above.We could say sport is the best activity for someone who need relax and healthy.
Another activity day represent water sports on a banana boat.So interesting but at the same time funny and helpful.
At night,in such a beautiful town,you can find a lot of locals where you will have dinner and unlimited drinks.So,most people do this:they classify some couple or groups and organize after a competition with food and drinks and the best group wins.
If all these activities aren’t enough,try then an formula 1 driving or parachute jumping,surely you will find a new dynamic way to have fun in Barcelona.Majority of people know Barcelona city from his representative soccer player:Ronaldinho. A perfect online resource can be found here Stag Nights in Barcelona.
For an excellent holiday,we suggest to stay somewhere through Les Rambles,where isn’t too noisy.

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 26 /PRNewswire/ — Goway Travel, a leading travel agency specializing in expeditions to Australia, New Zealand, the South Pacific, Asia and Africa and GE Money, today announced a multi-year agreement to offer the GE Money travel finance program on Goway packaged tours, vacations and other travel-related expenses.
The private-label credit card program, managed by GE Money’s Sales Finance unit, provides a menu of offers and promotions, including deferred interest for six months with monthly minimum payments as well as extended payment financing on one-time trips or ongoing travel.
“The GE Money travel card is a great option for people to make travel plans, track expenses and manage payments,” said Peter Lacy, vice president of finance for Goway Travel. “Our travelers look for trips and holidays that provide once-in-a-lifetime experiences, and now we offer a financing program that fits their needs and budgets.
“For more than 38 years, Goway travel has offered a wide range of travel experiences, including independent and fully escorted tours, adventure travel, air/land packages and romance and luxury themed excursions. The GE Money travel Finance Program can be used on any of Goway’s itineraries and departures.”
“GE is excited to build a strategic relationship with Goway travel to provide this flexible service offering,” said Dave Luster, vice president and leader, travel for GE Money — Sales Finance. “Now travelers and adventurers have a financing option that helps to make the most of their travel dollars.”
About Goway Travel
Since 1970, Goway has been providing unforgettable travel experiences to Asia, Africa, and Australia. Today, they offer a wide choice of travel ideas to more than 40 countries.
About GE Money
With more than $200 billion in assets, GE Money (), a unit of General Electric Company, is a leading provider of retail banking and credit services to consumers and retailers in more than 50 countries around the world. With more than 130 million global customers, GE Money, based in London, UK, offers a range of financial products, including private label credit cards, personal loans, bank cards, mortgages, debt consolidation and home equity loans and credit insurance. GE Money’s Sales Finance unit, based in Kettering, Ohio, provides private label credit card programs and financial services for consumers through dealers; national, regional and independent retailers; associations; contractors; manufacturers; healthcare practices; and service providers in more than 20 industries including: automotive, consumer electronics and appliances, elective health care, floor covering, home design and improvement, home furnishings, jewelry, music, powersports, outdoor power equipment, sporting goods and travel.GE
is a diversified global infrastructure, finance and media company that is built to meet essential world needs. From energy, water, transportation and health to access to money and information, GE serves customers in more than 100 countries and employs more than 300,000 people worldwide. GE is Imagination at Work.
Goway Travel

BETHESDA, Md., Aug. 25 /PRNewswire/ — No one knows the ins and outs of travel better than the globe trotting frequent travelers who belong to Marriott Rewards. Now those members can exchange candid travel advice through a new online travel community - Marriott Rewards Insiders - and share their personal tips on everything from the best beach resorts to where to find the best sushi, to favorite wireless hot-spots for business travelers.
Marriott Rewards Insiders is a lightly moderated online community, and is built specifically for members to share their travel stories, ask questions from other members and give advice and recommendations. Powered by leading social media marketing agency LiveWorld, the site is open to the program’s 3.5 million Elite members and will open to all members later in the year.
“Our members told us they wanted a place where they could talk to each other without interference from sponsors trying to sell them something,” said Ed French, senior vice president, Marriott Rewards. “We designed an innovative digital lobby to give them a place to share their stories and get authentic, honest information from other frequent travelers just like them.”
How does it work? Members can either use the site to just read information or set up their profile and post questions, comments or responses. They can also sign-up for alerts, which are sent when a post is created in a forum the member wants to follow. They can be emailed or posted in the member’s profile. Marriott Rewards Insiders offers “expressive profiles” that allow members to personalize their online identification by uploading pictures or avatars, providing travel preferences and personal interests and identifying their home town.
Marriott Rewards points can be earned at over 2,800 Marriott International hotels around the world, including Marriott Hotels & Resorts, JW Marriott Hotels & Resorts, Renaissance Hotels & Resorts, Courtyard by Marriott, Residence Inn by Marriott, Fairfield Inn by Marriott, TownePlace Suites by Marriott, SpringHill Suites by Marriott, Marriott Vacation Club, Horizons by Marriott Vacation Club and Grand Residences by Marriott Vacation Club.
Members may redeem points for hotel stays, frequent flyer miles, cruises, car rentals, brand-name merchandise and more. Marriott Rewards has been named “Best Hotel Rewards Program” by the readers of Business Traveler, Global Traveler, travel Savvy, Executive travel and BusinessWeek magazines.
To make a reservation, members can call 1-800-228-9290 or visit Marriott.com. For information about Marriott Rewards, guests can call 1-800-450-4442 or log onto MarriottRewards.com.
About LiveWorld
LiveWorld is the go-to social media marketing agency for everything Fortune 1000 companies need to leverage the power of social network to build their brands and their business. LiveWorld thinks differently about how companies can use social networks for customer dialogue and relationships and is the only company that offers the combination of a full technology platform, community management and marketing strategy, all in one place. This combination - unique in the industry - is the reason why more blue chip companies turn to LiveWorld than any other firm for their ongoing, integrated social media marketing strategy and implementation. With 24 years of experience, an extensive applications hosting platform, and a track record of delivering over 1 million hours of moderation services, LiveWorld offers its clients a team of experienced community managers and moderators who oversee activity and user content online. LiveWorld deploys its services in more than 70 country-language combinations, and is the trusted partner of leading brands worldwide, including: A&E, The Campbell Soup Company, eBay, HBO, HSBC, Kraft Foods, LeapFrog, Marriott, Neutrogena, MINI Cooper USA, TJX, QVC and many others. LiveWorld is headquartered in San Jose, California with additional offices in New York City and London. For further information visit
MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL, Inc. is a leading lodging company with more than 3,000 lodging properties in the United States and 66 other countries and territories. Marriott International operates and franchises hotels under the Marriott, JW Marriott, The Ritz-Carlton, Renaissance, Residence Inn, Courtyard, TownePlace Suites, Fairfield Inn, SpringHill Suites and Bulgari brand names; develops and operates vacation ownership resorts under the Marriott Vacation Club, Horizons by Marriott Vacation Club, The Ritz-Carlton Club and Grand Residences by Marriott brands; operates Marriott Executive Apartments; provides furnished corporate housing through its Marriott ExecuStay division; and operates conference centers. The company is headquartered in Bethesda, Md., and had approximately 151,000 employees at 2007 year-end. It is ranked as the lodging industry’s most admired company and one of the best companies to work for by FORTUNE(R), and has been recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with the 2007 Sustained Excellence Award and Partner of the Year since 2004. In fiscal year 2007, Marriott International reported sales from continuing operations of $13 billion. For more information or reservations, please visit our web site at .
Release Available on Media Dedicated Resource Site:

Marriott International, Inc.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 22 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — AAA projects a slight decrease in the number of Americans traveling during the Labor Day holiday weekend. Nearly 34.38 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home this Labor Day holiday weekend, down 0.9 percent, or almost 320,000 Americans, from the 34.7 million who traveled last year. This year marks the first decline in Labor Day holiday travel since 2006.
“More travelers concerned about the economy, gasoline prices and rising airfares are opting to travel by train, bus, motorcycle and cruise ship to their holiday weekend destinations,” said AAA President and CEO Robert L. Darbelnet. “This trend points to a desire on the part of the American public to seek alternatives to flying and driving to enjoy the traditional end of summer vacation.”
Approximately 28.64 million Americans (more than 83% of all holiday travelers) expect to travel by automobile, a 1.1 percent decrease from the 28.97 million people who drove to their holiday destinations last year.
The national average for self-serve regular gasoline is $3.69 per gallon. Americans traveling by automobile will encounter gasoline prices about 40 cents less than the Fourth of July travel holiday, but still 91 cents more than this time last year.
Almost 3.96 million Americans (11.5 percent of holiday travelers) intend to travel by airplane, a 4.5 percent decrease from the 4.14 million people who flew last year.
A projected 1.8 million Americans (5 percent of holiday travelers) plan to travel by train, bus or other mode of transportation. That represents an increase of 12.5 percent (or 200,000 travelers) more than the 1.6 million who traveled by a mode other than automobile or airplane last year.
AAA’s Leisure travel Index (LTI), which is based on available rates this holiday, reveals that Labor Day holiday travelers can expect increases in other travel costs when compared to last year. Those traveling by airplane will find air fares over the holiday weekend 15 percent higher last year. AAA advises travelers that many airlines now charge fees for checked baggage and other services that were previously complimentary, so travelers should check with the airline or their travel counselor about any additional fees for their trip. Hotel rates for AAA Three Diamond hotels are unchanged from last year’s Labor Day holiday travel period.
AAA’s LTI shows an average increase in car rental prices of two percent. However, car rental rates vary from location to location, with some cities in AAA’s index showing significant increases, while others show significant decreases compared to a year ago. AAA’s index for car rentals is based on the average lowest intermediate size car daily rate in 20 U.S. airport locations. The rates do not include sales tax, insurance or other miscellaneous charges.
The greatest number of Labor Day holiday weekend automobile travelers will originate in the West with 7.2 million, followed by the Southeast with 6.6 million; Midwest, 5.5 million; Northeast, 4.8 million; and Great Lakes, 4.5 million.
The West is expected to produce the largest number of air travelers with 1.5 million, followed by the Southeast with 1.3 million; Northeast, 500,000; Great Lakes, 400,000; and Midwest, 300,000.
The AAA Fuel Gauge Report Web site () lists average daily prices for the nation, all 50 states and more than 250 localities for all grades of gasoline.
Research for Labor Day weekend holiday travel projections are derived from the travel Industry Association’s (TIA) Holiday travel Forecast Model. The model was developed based on consumer travel intentions and TIA’s quarterly travel forecast data. The travel intentions data are collected through an online survey of over 2,000 adults nationwide, supplemented by an additional 6,500 Americans surveyed from the top 10 states of travel origin in the United States. Historical travel volume and other economic data such as GDP, disposable income, employment and travel costs (including fuel prices) are also incorporated into the model. Analysis of the data and the forecasts are produced by the travel Industry Association, which conducts special research for AAA.
As North America’s largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides more than 51 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. AAA clubs can be visited on the Internet at .
AAA news releases can be downloaded from .

(Logo: )

Available Topic Expert(s): For information on the listed expert(s), click
appropriate link.
Mike Pina

Troy Green

AAA

NEWTON, Mass., Aug. 20 /PRNewswire/ — TripAdvisor(R), the world’s largest travel community, today announced the results of its annual fall travel survey of more than 1,900 travelers worldwide. Eighty-two percent of U.S. respondents plan to travel for leisure this autumn, up from 70 percent who said they took pleasure trips last fall. Twenty-six percent of U.S. respondents said they will travel more this autumn than last, while 49 percent intend to travel the same amount as one year ago. Fifty-eight percent of travelers said they plan to fly this autumn for their leisure travel, while 48 percent plan to drive.
Autumn Incentives
Twenty-nine percent of U.S. respondents, and 25 percent of respondents worldwide, plan to take more car trips this fall than they would have if gas was still at its summer high prices. The top reason for Americans to travel this autumn is that the timing is most convenient, according to 22 percent, while 17 percent pointed to fewer tourists and crowds. Twenty-four percent of U.S. respondents said they expect to take a “staycation” this fall.
Twenty-seven percent of all survey respondents surveyed said economic concerns would be the greatest deterrent for traveling during the fall, however, 39 percent said nothing would deter them from taking an autumn trip.
Laborious Travel
Thirty-one percent of respondents from the U.S. said they will travel for Labor Day weekend, nearly equal to 30 percent who said they traveled last Labor Day weekend. Sixty-seven percent of U.S. respondents plan to drive for Labor Day weekend, while 26 percent intend to fly.
New England Dreamin’, but Goin’ South
While New England is the favorite fall destination according to 24 percent of worldwide travelers, more travelers plan to visit the southern U.S. (14 percent) than New England (10 percent) this autumn.
Travelers Leafing and Grape-ful
Twenty-one percent of U.S. travelers plan to take a trip to view the colorful foliage this fall, while 17 percent of worldwide respondents intend to do the same. Twenty-six percent of U.S. respondents, and 22 percent of worldwide travelers, said they will visit a winery in autumn. Fifty-eight percent of U.S. respondents plan to go to a festival this fall and 14 percent intend to visit an arts and crafts festival, and 12 percent a beer festival/Oktoberfest.
Still Keen on the Beach Scene
Despite cooler temperatures, 33 percent of worldwide travelers said they’ll visit a beach this autumn. Thirty-five percent of those surveyed plan to travel to a city destination, and 25 percent will travel to a historical site. Twenty-nine percent of travelers intend to take a romantic getaway this fall, 23 percent a weekend break, and 21 percent a family adventure.
“Fall is shaping up to be a strong season for TripAdvisor travelers and even a modest drop at the gas pump, fuels their enthusiasm,” said Michele Perry, vice president of global communications for TripAdvisor.
About TripAdvisor Media Network
TripAdvisor(R) Media Network, operated by TripAdvisor, LLC, attracts nearly 32 million monthly visitors* across 12 popular travel brands, TripAdvisor(R), , , , , , , , , , and . TripAdvisor-branded sites make up the largest travel community in the world, with 24 million monthly visitors*, six million registered members and 15 million reviews and opinions. Featuring real advice from real travelers, TripAdvisor-branded sites cover 300,000 hotels and attractions and operate in the U.S. (), the U.K. (), Ireland (), France (), Germany (), Italy (), and Spain (). TripAdvisor(R) Media Network provides travel suppliers with graphical advertising opportunities and a cost-per-click marketing platform. Collectively, the sites comprising the TripAdvisor Media Network have won hundreds of awards and accolades from press and industry worldwide. TripAdvisor and the sites comprising the TripAdvisor Media Network are operating companies of Expedia, Inc. .
TripAdvisor is a registered trademark of TripAdvisor LLC in the U.S. and/or other countries.
(C) 2008 TripAdvisor LLC. All rights reserved.
*Source: comScore Media Metrix, May 2008
TripAdvisor

MCLEAN, Va., Aug. 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International’s (HSMAI) Affordable Meetings(R) National and Event Technology Expo(TM) pre-show survey revealed that planners are noticing an increase in the amount of technology used for meetings, big and small.
Respondents to the survey are planning to attend the Affordable Meetings(R) National Conference & Exposition and Event Technology Expo(TM), Sept. 10-11, 2008, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C.
The majority of meeting and event planners (57.5 percent) said they are incorporating technology into their meetings with the use of online registration, followed by video conferencing (20.4 percent), social networks (17.7 percent) and blogs (14.2 percent). Others mentioned the increasing use of electronic surveys, cyber cafes, and podcasts.
Planners also said that more education about technology and the options available would make their jobs easier. As one respondent said, “My job would be easier if I had a better understanding of meeting technology and how I can incorporate social networking into live events.”
“To help planners find the resources they need in the technology space, we are launching the first annual Event Technology Expo in conjunction with Affordable Meetings,” said Robert A. Gilbert, CHME, CHA, president and CEO of HSMAI. “Both will provide an opportunity for planners to connect with vendors and update their knowledge in both planning and technology-areas through 42 educational seminars and workshops.”
Planners said that meeting technology resources (44.2 percent) is one of the top five vendors they will be seeking at Affordable Meetings National, an increase of nearly 10 percent compared to the Affordable Meetings(R) Mid-America pre-show survey in April. Others are in need of hotel and resort locations (84.1 percent), venues (57.5 percent), promotional items (54.9 percent) and transportation (43.4 percent).
The economy also continues to be a factor in meeting planning. Increasing travel costs, such as hotel rates, air fares and gas prices have cut into budgets for other meeting items such as food and beverage, technology and materials. Many planners cited the rising hotel rates and fees for amenities such as high-speed Internet and fitness centers as major factors in how they’re planning future events. Beyond that, they are also looking for better communication from hotel staffs.
Additionally, planners are moving towards “greener” options for meetings. Planners noted a shift to recycle, reduce waste by reducing the use of water bottles and cans, and decrease on-site meeting materials, relying on electronic information and meetings technology.
More than 2,000 attendees, representing meeting and event planners from a variety of organizations, with a majority representing corporate, association and independent sectors and the balance from government, non-profit, education, religious and medical/health care organizations, trade show management and the military, are expected to visit HSMAI’s Affordable Meetings National and Event Technology Expo 2008 show. Attendance at HSMAI’s Affordable Meetings National and Event Technology Expo is free-of-charge for qualified meeting and event planners.
HSMAI’s Affordable Meetings remains a top conference for meeting planners looking for cost-saving advice as they go about their day-to-day responsibilities.
Exhibitors and hotel sales professionals attending Affordable Meetings National can also find additional educational opportunities by registering for HSMAI’s hotel Sales Strategy Conference on Sept. 9 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. Visit for more information.
Booth space is still available at Affordable Meetings National and can be obtained by contacting Stephanie Leon-Santiago, exhibit sales coordinator, GLM, (914) 421-3213 e-mail: .

Click here to view the exhibitor prospectus or go to
Attendee information for HSMAI’s Affordable Meetings(R) National is available by calling 914-421-3200 Ext. 7777. For additional information and a complete program schedule, visit or go to .
Event Technology Expo(TM) at HSMAI’s Affordable Meetings(R) National is an exposition and conference addressing all aspects of technology as it relates to tradeshows, meetings, and special events. For information regarding exhibiting, contact Rob Weissman, Co-Producer, 212-679-9212, . Call 914.421.3200 Ext 7777, for information on attending Event Technology Expo. Visit for more information.
About HSMAI’s Affordable Meetings(R) National
HSMAI’s Affordable Meetings National will once again offer attendees the opportunity to meet and do business with more than 450 exhibiting companies during a unique exposition that will showcase venues, products and services to help produce various types of meetings and events. Year-after-year, the highly-acclaimed trade exposition is a main attraction for attendees looking to meet and network with knowledgeable suppliers who are determined to help produce valuable meetings and assist with purchasing decisions. Exhibitors represent hotels and resorts, university conference centers, unique meeting sites, convention and visitor bureaus, transportation companies, trade publications, software and audio/visual businesses, and other meeting and convention suppliers. HSMAI’s Affordable Meetings is owned and presented by the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International Americas region and managed by GLM, a dmg world media business. Visit or email for more information.
About HSMAI
HSMAI is an organization of sales and marketing professionals representing all segments of the hospitality industry. With a strong focus on education, HSMAI has become the industry champion in identifying and communicating trends in the hospitality industry, and bringing together customers and members at annual events, including HSMAI’s Affordable Meetings(R). Founded in 1927, HSMAI is an individual membership organization comprising more than 7,000 members worldwide, with 40 chapters in the Americas Region. For more information on HSMAI, contact the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International, 1760 Old Meadow Road, Suite 500, McLean, Va. 22102; (703) 506-3280; fax (703) 506-3266, or visit the website at .
Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International

CHICAGO, Aug. 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Orbitz.com (), a pioneer in online travel, today announced it is the first major online travel company to offer a dedicated vacation rental site (). Through a partnership with Zonder, a leading vacation rental provider, Orbitz is giving its customers access to the largest portfolio of vacation homes that can be booked instantly online through a major online travel company.
(Logo: )
Created to give customers a user-friendly, one-stop experience for finding the best lodging options, Orbitz’ vacation rental () properties include unique offerings of private homes, condo rentals (), cabin rentals () and villas for a variety of budgets and vacation experiences. With Zonder’s platform, Orbitz travelers view real-time availability and receive immediate booking confirmations.
“Orbitz continues to demonstrate leadership and innovation as the first major online travel company to give our customers dedicated access to this growing segment of the travel industry,” said Steve Barnhart, Chief Executive Officer and President of Orbitz Worldwide. “In today’s challenging economy, travelers can benefit from the price savings and the extra space and amenities that come with alternative lodging options. With the addition of vacation rental inventory, Orbitz customers have another option when planning a vacation () that suits their needs and budget.”
Orbitz vacation rentals give customers the tools to easily find and book vacation rentals online. Travelers can easily browse top destinations or a search for a specific destination and find a vacation rental that meets their needs by refining their search with a number of options, including:
— Price
— Number of travelers
— Distance to destination
— Amenities (hot tub, pool, pet friendly, internet access, etc.)
— Property Type (house, condo, cabin, etc.)
— Location Type (ocean view, beach front, ski-in/ski-out, etc.)
— Household Comforts (BBQ, blender, dishwasher, microwave, etc.)
— Outdoor Recreation (surfing, skiing, fishing etc.)
— Services (in-unit laundry, grocery store, etc.)

Orbitz vacation rentals () offer benefits for travelers looking for options not traditionally available at hotels (), such as full kitchens to save on food costs from dining out, private laundry units, a private pool or hot tub, additional space for groups and families and the privacy of their own home or unit.
Weekly rates for a vacation rental () on Orbitz.com range from $107/night for a 2-person condo in Lake Tahoe, CA to $138/night for a 6-person private home in Orlando, FL. Examples of vacation rentals and pricing available on Orbitz include:
— 3 Bedroom, 3 Bath Ski-in/Ski-Out Vacation Home in Vail, CO, 7 Nights
(mid Sept), from $260 a night
— 2 Bedroom, 2 Bath Beach Vacation Rental in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, 7
Nights (mid Sept), from $102 a night
— 3 Bedroom, 2 Bath Vacation Condo in Orlando, FL 7 Nights (mid Sept),
from $118 a night

Orbitz has partnered with Salt Lake City-based Zonder to bring this portfolio of vacation rentals to its customers. Zonder provides rich, accurate content about each property, a photo slideshow, a detailed description of the property and amenities, and a proprietary search technology that gives customers a faster, easier way to find and book the perfect vacation rental property. Zonder is a trusted intermediary between the property manager and the renter, facilitating all rental payments directly, so travelers no longer have to take the personal risk of sending their payment and personal information directly to an unknown party.
“This deal is a very big milestone for the vacation rental industry which has seen tremendous growth in popularity,” said Bob Barnes, CEO of Zonder. “We are happy Orbitz has selected Zonder as their partner to bring vacation rentals to travelers everywhere.”
To book a vacation rental on Orbitz.com, visit .
About Orbitz
Orbitz () is a leading online travel () company that enables travelers to search for and purchase a broad array of travel products, including airline tickets, hotel rooms, rental cars, cruises () and vacation packages. Since launching its website to the general public in June 2001, Orbitz has become one of the largest online travel sites in the world based on gross travel bookings. On Orbitz, consumers can search more than 80,000 suppliers worldwide including airlines (), hotels (), vacation rentals () and car rental () companies. Orbitz is a brand that is owned and operated by Orbitz Worldwide .
About Zonder
Based in Salt Lake City, Utah, Zonder () was the first vacation home rental distributor to offer accurate, real-time availability and online bookings. In addition to marketing the largest portfolio of vacation homes that can be booked instantly online, Zonder bookings are backed up by the Zonder Guarantee. Only Zonder gives consumers and partners the necessary tools to efficiently search through tens of thousands of vacation home rentals and narrow their results using a variety of filtering criteria. In addition, Zonder offers partners a powerful, flexible technology platform that makes it simple to add vacation rentals to their product offerings. Founded by search industry veterans, it is the technology behind Zonder that enables its powerful search, filtering and real-time booking capabilities.

Orbitz.com

SOUTHAMPTON, England, Aug. 14 /PRNewswire/ — Today’s unfavorable exchange rate is making the quest to travel and see the world more challenging than ever but experienced travelers know that, right now, those same currency fluctuations are making one of travel’s ultimate “trophy trips” more affordable than ever. Priced in US dollars and immune to exchange rate variations, Cunard’s World Cruises aboard flagship Queen Mary 2 and the new Queen Victoria — as well as a host of shorter segment voyages that bear all the hallmarks of a classic Cunard World Cruise — combine the tradition, elegance and glamour of the Golden Age of Ocean travel with compelling itineraries to some of the world’s most storied and celebrated ports of call.
Available fares make Cunard’s legendary World Cruises more sensible than comparable five-star travel experiences on land since, at sea, meals and entertainment are included. For travelers without the luxury of time to sail a full World Cruise, both ships offer shorter segment voyages ranging from 15-30 days with fares starting at $122 per day, per person.
Space is still available on some of the most popular segments including Queen Mary 2’s 28-day Ft. Lauderdale to Los Angeles segment with fares starting from $122 per day, per person; 15-day Los Angeles to Sydney segment with fares starting from $160 per day, per person; and 31-day Singapore to New York segment with fares starting from $171 per day, per person.
Queen Victoria’s 17-day New York to Los Angeles segment offers fares from $200 per day, per person; the 23-day Los Angeles to Sydney segment offers fares $209 per day, per person; 27-day Sydney to Singapore segment offers fares from $237 per day, per person; and 32-day Singapore to Southampton voyage offers fares from $215 per day, per person.
“More than ever, today’s luxury travelers seek experiences that bring both value and meaning to their lives,” says Carol Marlow, president of Cunard Line. “Across all levels of accommodation, a Cunard voyage is a pinnacle travel experience which continues to include all gourmet meals, entertainment and enrichment programmes.”
Whether guests are onboard for the full World Cruise or a shorter segment voyage, they’ll have the opportunity to experience the Line’s award-winning Cunard Insights Enrichment Programme. Among the speakers scheduled to appear are oceanographer-meteorologist Joe Bishop, astronaut Walter Cunningham, ocean liner authority and color commentator William Miller and adventurer Harvey Mann.
For more information and to book 2009 World Cruise segment voyages on Queen Mary 2 or Queen Victoria, consult your travel Professional, call toll-free 1-800-7-CUNARD or go to .
To view the expanded version of this release, including details on the Ports of Call for each segment voyage, click here.
About Cunard Line
Cunard Line, operator of the luxury ocean liners Queen Mary 2, QE2 and Queen Victoria, has long been synonymous with the quest for new discoveries and the epitome of British finesse since the company’s first paddle-wheeled steamer, Britannia, crossed the Atlantic in 1840. Cunard voyages bring together like-minded travelers who relish the Cunard hallmarks of impeccable White Star Service, fine dining, sophisticated adventure, the legacy of historic voyages and transatlantic travel. A new Queen Elizabeth joins the fleet in autumn 2010.
Cunard Line

BRISTOL, Conn. and CHICAGO, Aug. 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — ESPN.com and Orbitz.com, a leading online travel agency, today launched ESPN Sports Passport powered by Orbitz — an online community tool that gives sports fans a place to catalog and share their sports travel trips, game memories and milestones. This new online resource is the latest addition to ESPN Sports travel Powered by Orbitz.
(Logo: )
“ESPN Sports travel has been a fantastic, collaborative success that has served sports fans and travelers extremely well for two years,” said Marc Horine, vice president, digital partnerships, ESPN Digital Media. “With this new effort, we’re going to extend the collaboration beyond just ESPN and Orbitz — to our passionate users, by harnessing the power of new Web technologies and using them to tap into the inherently social aspects of both sports and travel.”
“Orbitz has always been ahead of the curve in offering new innovations to enhance the travel experience,” said Aaron Cooper, Group Vice President of Online Marketing for Orbitz Worldwide. “Through our continued partnership with ESPN.com, fans can not only book a trip to see their favorite team, they can share and compare their experience and memories with fans around the world.”
With ESPN Sports Passport fans are able to create and share an online catalog of their sports history, travel experiences and memories via blogs, photo and video sharing, stadium “collections” and more. The Sports travel Passport integrates seamlessly with ESPN’s robust SportsNation online community and utilizes the same registration and ESPN Fan Profiles used by fans.
The features and tools of ESPN Sports travel Passport powered by Orbitz aim to help fans:
– Preserve Memories. Fans can catalog their first game or track how many games they have seen your home team win. Fans can now keep track of every professional or collegiate event they have ever attended, describe their memories of the game, upload photos and even link directly to the boxscore from the game.
– Compete & Rate. Fans can see how their status as a fan stacks up against your friends or other ESPN users. ESPN’s Sports travel Passport powered by Orbitz will tell fans their rank for both events attended and stadiums visited.
– Collect. Not every fan competes — but some take in a game at every venue in a particular sport. Passport has a place for these sports travel explorers. It can help track total venues for each sport, defunct venues and venues that a fan has yet to visit.
ESPN and Orbitz have collaborated on ESPN Sports travel since 2006, providing fans with tools and content aimed at creating utility by combining two subjects people are passionate about: sports and travel. The section provides city profiles for more than 75 North American, Latin American and European sports destinations, city-specific sports calendars, stadium profiles and information, sports travel feature stories, trip ideas, travel planning information and easy access to Orbitz’s tools to book hotels, vacation packages, flights and destination services.
Check out Sports travel Passport:

And the ESPN Sports Travel:

About Orbitz

Orbitz () is a leading online travel company that enables travelers to search for and purchase a broad array of travel products, including airline tickets, hotel rooms, rental cars, cruises and vacation packages. Since launching its website to the general public in June 2001, Orbitz has become one of the largest online travel sites in the world based on gross travel bookings. On Orbitz, consumers can search more than 80,000 suppliers worldwide including airlines, hotels and car rental companies. Orbitz is a brand that is owned and operated by Orbitz Worldwide .
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 and operates a portfolio of consumer brands that includes Orbitz (), CheapTickets (), ebookers (), HotelClub (), RatesToGo (), the Away Network () and corporate travel brand Orbitz for Business (). For more information on how your company can partner with Orbitz Worldwide, visit .
About ESPN
ESPN, Inc. is the world’s leading multinational, multimedia sports entertainment company featuring a portfolio of over 50 multimedia sports assets. The company is comprised of six domestic television networks (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Classic, ESPNEWS, ESPN Deportes, ESPNU), ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNEWS HD simulcast services, ESPN Regional Television, ESPN International (34 networks, syndication, radio, web sites), ESPN Radio, ESPN.com, ESPN The Magazine, ESPN Enterprises, ESPN PPV, ESPN Zones (sports-themed restaurants), and other growing new businesses including ESPN360.com (Broadband), ESPN Mobile Properties, ESPN on Demand and ESPN Interactive. Based in Bristol, Ct., ESPN is 80 percent owned by ABC, Inc., which is an indirect subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company. The Hearst Corporation holds a 20 percent interest in ESPN.

Orbitz Worldwide

NORWALK, Conn., Aug. 11 /PRNewswire/ — Record-high gas prices mean the cost of travel has risen dramatically, and increasingly higher prices are buried in fees and charges. Travelers only discover these higher costs when they arrive at the airline check-in desk and are charged an unexpected baggage fee or when they receive the credit card bill highlighting the total cost of gas for a rental car. To help travelers avoid these unpleasant surprises, Kayak.com has launched tools that educate travelers on the hidden costs of travel, enabling consumers to make a more informed decision about flights and rental car purchases.
“Higher oil prices affect travelers at every stage of their journey,” said Drew Patterson, vice president of marketing at Kayak.com. “Airlines now levy fees on everything from blankets to baggage, making it difficult for travelers to budget their trip. Four dollar per gallon gas prices make rental cars a far more expensive proposition. To help consumers make sense of these changes, Kayak.com has enhanced its air and rental car search results with fee calculators and tables to expose factors that might sway the user’s ultimate choice.”
Estimate Total Fuel Cost of Rental Car
According to AAA, 40 percent of Americans altered their vacation plans this summer because of high gas prices. In response to the rising cost of renting a car, Kayak.com launched a Miles Per Gallon (MPG) filter and Fuel Cost Calculator on the results page of its rental car search in an effort to provide the relevant information travelers need to make smart decisions.
In an industry first, Kayak.com’s Fuel Cost Calculator estimates the total cost of gas for a trip and instantly adds this figure to the daily rate of each car option. The Fuel Cost Calculator takes into consideration four factors: miles per gallon for each vehicle; average price of gas; number of estimated miles traveled during trip; and the type of driving including highway, city, and combination. While other gas calculators exist on the Web, Kayak.com is the only site that instantly updates the total price per day so users can compare the final price across rental car agencies and car class.
“Whether travelers are trying to save on green or be green, Kayak.com’s rental car search helps them make better decisions,” said Lincoln Jackson, director of product management at Kayak.com. “If you are traveling even a modest distance, the Fuel Cost Calculator can be used to find the best bargain - which is sometimes a more expensive car class with higher gas mileage. Eco warriors will like Kayak.com’s new filter for hybrid vehicles, which allows users to compare prices for hybrids only or compare the MPG and price of hybrids alongside those of other car classes.”
Kayak.com’s new MPG slider allows users to set parameters for acceptable fuel efficiency. The MPG range is dictated by the car results that are returned. The MPG rating is derived from FuelEconomy.gov and car manufacturer data and allows travelers to choose the most fuel efficient vehicle available for their trip requirements.
Airline Fees Exposed with Handy Chart
In response to an increase in existing airline fees and the emergence of new fees, the total cost of a flight doesn’t always end with the purchase. To help consumers calculate the total cost of their flight, Kayak.com has launched an Airline Fee Chart allowing travelers to easily view and compare an airline’s policy for five of the most popular fees without having to visit each carrier’s site. Available on the flight results page, this easy-to-navigate chart outlines the fee policies for baggage, meals, transporting pets, unaccompanied minor service and seat assignments with added legroom for 25 of the most popular carriers searched on Kayak.com. The chart also includes links to the fee sections of the carrier’s own website and urges users to confirm policies with the carrier.
Avoid Unsatisfactory Flights with Flight Quality Filters
If travelers are going to pay more for their flight, Kayak.com wants to make sure users get the most for their money. Hence, the site launched several “Flight Quality” features to expose factors that may make a flight undesirable.
New filters have been added that enable consumers to exclude red-eye or overnight trips and aircraft type (turbo props and/or regional jets). Users can also choose among a list of preferred layover airports and use a slider to filter for acceptable layover duration.
In addition to Flight Quality filters, Kayak.com flags certain flights within the results with a “Flight Quality Warning.” Symbols represent several factors that may sway a flier’s choice including a short connection time (under 45 minutes), long layover (over four hours), terrible on-time record (75% or less), departures and returns from different airports, red-eye flight, few seats remaining (only one or two seats left) and turbo prop plane. By hovering the mouse over the symbol, a text box appears explaining each warning.
About Kayak.com
Kayak.com, the largest travel 2.0 site in the world, is a global Internet media company operating Kayak.com, SideStep.com, TravelPost.com and TravelSearch.com. Kayak.com and SideStep.com display results from more than 400 travel sites, providing prices and itineraries for hundreds of airlines, more than 100,000 hotels, all leading rental car companies and 18 cruise lines. Kayak.com has won more awards since launch than any other travel site including “100 Best Products of 2007″ by PC World; “25 Sites We Can’t Live Without” by TIME Magazine; “Best Search Engine” by the Associated Press; and “Best of the Web” by BusinessWeek, Forbes.com and US News & World Report. Launched in 2005 by co-founders of Orbitz, Travelocity and Expedia, Kayak.com’s investors include General Catalyst Partners, Sequoia Capital, Accel Partners, Norwest Venture Partners, Trident Capital, Oak Investment Partners, Lehman Brothers Venture Partners and America Online, Inc. Kayak.com has sites in the UK, France, Germany, Spain, Italy and India. For more information, visit .
To learn more about Kayak.com, please contact:
Kayak.com