Orbitz and ebookers to feed MSN content

Thursday, 02 Jul, 2008 0

Orbitz.com and UK sister brand ebookers.com have inked a deal with Microsoft to be its online travel agency for its travel portal on both sides of the Pond.

The sites will power all of MSNâ€™s travel services including air, hotel, package holiday, cruise and car rental.

The July 1 launch means that UK MSN customers can use ebookerâ€™s Price Guarantee which refunds the difference if they find a cheaper fare elsewhere. US customers will use Orbitzâ€™ Price Assurance service which refunds the difference if another Orbitz customer books the same flight for less. They can also use the OrbitzTLC which contacts customers by email, text and phone when there is a status update on their itineraries.

CEO and president of Orbitz Worldwide Steve Barnhart said: â€œOur partnership with MSN will provide additional visibility and traffic to both Orbitz.com and ebookers.com, strengthening growth in both the United States and the United Kingdom. As one of the largest internet destinations in the world, MSN represents another significant win for growing our co-branded distribution.”

By Dinah Hatch

Bev

Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.