Expedia.com Selected as PC Magazine's Top Site for Online Hotel Booking

In the October 15 issue, PC Magazine tested the hotel offerings of six travel sites and chose Expedia as the site that stands out among its peers. PC Magazine considered criteria such as search functionality, available hotels, room prices, and ease-of-use. The review specifically praised Expedia.com® for the number of hotels represented (Expedia works with 45,000 hotels, of which more than 6,000 are Expedia® Special Rate hotels), as well as the ability for travelers to combine a hotel booking with add-on destination services and activities -- such as tickets to theme parks and sightseeing tours.

According to the review: "In terms of search features, the number of hotels represented, and extras, Expedia.com rules. ... We especially like the idea that you can buy tickets to events -- often at bargain rates -- while booking a room." (PC Magazine, October 15, 2002).

PC Magazine also liked Expedia's recently announced know-before-you-go features, which provide detailed lodging information so that travelers can learn as much as they can about a property before they book it. Features such as 360-degree virtual property tours, expanded photo displays, and maps with neighborhood descriptions, help customers find the hotel room that best fits their personal needs.

"Receiving recognition as Editors' Choice from PC Magazine, which is widely respected for its reviews, affirms Expedia's leadership position in providing customers with the information and tools they need to easily find the ideal hotel room," said Erik Blachford, president of Expedia, North America. "Our know-before-you-go features enable travelers to get acquainted with the look and feel of a hotel, which they would never be able to do by just seeing a brochure."

Expedia's hotel partners have also benefited from these site features with the ability to showcase their properties like never before, ensuring that their guests have the opportunity to check out their home away from home in advance.

One hotelier whose guests have benefited from Expedia's enhanced hotel booking features is William Koo of Aston Hawaii, which manages 19 condominium resorts on four Hawaiian islands.

"Expedia is a top booker of our room nights, and the 360-degree virtual tours and images have enhanced our hotels' sales," said Koo, assistant vice president, U.S., international sales and e-commerce at Aston Hawaii. "A picture says a thousand words, and these features offer vacation planners the opportunity to become familiar with our resorts and hotels 'virtually' on their desktop computers, without ever leaving the comfort of their homes."

About Expedia, Inc.

Expedia, Inc. is the world's leading online travel service and was the eighth largest travel agency in the most recent United States agency rankings. To meet the needs of travelers around the globe, it operates Expedia.com in the United States and localized versions throughout Europe and Canada. Expedia.com helps travelers travel right with a wide variety of travel products and services, such as Expedia® Special Rate hotels and vacation rentals with the guaranteed lowest prices.* Expedia's quality and leadership have been recognized in awards such as PC Magazine's "Readers' Choice" and "Editors' Choice" Awards, Forbes' "Favorite General Travel Site," and Yahoo! Internet Life's "Best Overall Travel Site." Expedia is a majority-owned subsidiary of USA Interactive USAI.