Ithaca, NY | Cornell's Center for Hospitality Research, and Expedia, Inc., the world’s leading online travel company, today announced they have renewed their partnership, signaling Expedia’s continued commitment to fostering educational development and research endeavors that benefit the travel and tourism industry and its future leaders. Expedia® is also sponsoring several field study internships for Cornell School of Hotel Administration students, who will study models of community-based sustainable tourism in South America.

This year, five Cornell students will travel to Mexico and Costa Rica to study community-based sustainable tourism and develop case studies of best practices. The students will use their learnings to inform the work of the World Heritage Alliance for Sustainable Tourism (WHA), of which Expedia is a founding member. Later this year, WHA will carry out its fourth Expedia Employee Service Program engagement in Baja California, where Expedia employees, representatives of the UN Foundation and a Cornell graduate student intern will work with local tourism groups to develop sustainable tourism-based economies while preserving the community’s cultural, physical and environmental integrity.

“We value the expertise Expedia brings as the global leader in online travel, and the opportunities it provides Cornell hospitality students,” said Joseph D. Strodel, Jr., director of corporate relations at the Cornell School of Hotel Administration. “Expedia has been a strong supporter of Cornell's hospitality research projects and we’re pleased to continue our relationship.”

Paul Brown, president of Expedia, Inc. Partner Services Group and Expedia North America will continue to serve on the center’s Advisory Board. In addition, Expedia will contribute its industry perspective and expertise to the center’s ongoing research exploring key issues facing the hospitality industry.

“The Center for Hospitality Research contributes valuable insights that foster continued growth and innovation in the hospitality industry,” said Brown. “I’m pleased to participate on the center’s Advisory Board and to have Expedia sponsor its worthwhile research and educational efforts.”

Brown continued: “Engaging Cornell students in our sustainability efforts allows us to tap the creativity of some of the industry's freshest thinking, while giving the students a first-hand look at what’s happening in the field through the eyes of a global travel industry leader.”

About Expedia, Inc.

Expedia, Inc. () is parent company to some of the world's leading travel companies, providing travel products and services to leisure and corporate travelers in the US and around the world. Expedia owns and operates Expedia.com, Hotels.com, Hotwire.com, TripAdvisor, Expedia Corporate Travel, Classic Vacations®, and a range of other US-based and international businesses. Together these brands make Expedia, Inc. the largest online travel agency in the world.

About the Center for Hospitality Research

A unit of the Cornell School of Hotel Administration, The Center for Hospitality Research (CHR) sponsors research designed to improve practices in the hospitality industry. Under the lead of the center’s 67 corporate affiliates, experienced scholars work closely with business executives to discover new insights into strategic, managerial and operating practices. The center also publishes the award-winning hospitality journal, the Cornell Hospitality Quarterly (formerly the Cornell Hotel and Restaurant Administration Quarterly). To learn more about center and its projects, visit .

Center partners and sponsors: AIG Global Real Estate Investment, American Airlines Admirals Club, Davis & Gilbert LLP, Deloitte & Touche USA LLP, Denihan Hospitality Group, Expedia, Inc., Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, Fox Rothschild LLP, HVS, JohnsonDiversey, Inc., LRP Publications, Marriott International, Inc., Marsh’s Hospitality Practice, Mobil Travel Guide, Nestlé, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Proskauer Rose LLP, Smith Travel Research, Southern Wine and Spirits of America, Inc., SynXis (a Sabre Holdings Corporation), Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces, Thayer Lodging Group, TIG Global, Travelport, WATG, and WhiteSand Consulting.

Center friends: 4Hoteliers.com • American Tescor, LLC • Argyle Executive Forum • Caribbean Hotel and Restaurant Buyers Guide • Cody Kramer Imports • Cruise Industry News • DK Shifflet & Associates • ehotelier.com • EyeforTravel • Fireman's Fund Insurance Company • Gerencia de Hoteles & Restaurantes • Global Hospitality Resources • Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP) • hospitalityInside.com • hospitalitynet.org • Hotel Asia Pacific • Hotel China • HotelExecutive.com • Hotel Interactive • Hotel Resource • International CHRIE • International Hotel and Restaurant Association • International Hotel Conference • International Society of Hospitality Consultants (ISHC) • iPerceptions • KPMG Japan/Global Management Directions • Lodging Hospitality • Lodging Magazine • Milestone Internet Marketing • MindFolio • PKF Hospitality Research • The Resort Trades • RealShare Hotel Investment & Finance Summit • Resort+Recreation Magazine • RestaurantEdge.com • Shibata Publishing Co. • Synovate • The Lodging Conference • TravelCLICK • UniFocus • WageWatch, Inc. • WIWIH.COM

Jennifer Macera
Associate Director
(607) 255-3101
CHR