Hotwire.com , a leading discount travel site, today announced the results of the August 2009 Hotwire Hotel Rate Report. This monthly report features the top 10 cities in North America where hotel rates have dropped the most. When combined with Hotwire's already discounted prices, the Hotel Rate Report will help guide customers to the destinations that will maximize their travel dollars. New York City and Vancouver top the list with the largest reductions in hotel prices compared to the previous year, with Minneapolis placing in the top 10 for the first time.

The Hotel Rate Report is intended to guide customers to destinations with exceptionally good seasonal prices that will maximize their travel dollars. Hotwire is able to find great deals because it works with hotels, airlines and car rental companies to fill unsold inventory, which means that customers will find deals that they won't see anywhere else.

New York City and Vancouver top the August Hotel Rate Report with a 26 percent drop. This is the first time New York has topped the list. In addition, it's the fourth consecutive month that Vancouver placed in the top five. Also inching up the hotel rate report are sun-soaked cities such as Jacksonville, Las Vegas and Miami (percent drops of 22, 21 and 21, respectively).

When compared to the same time last year, the top 10 hotel price reductions for August 2009 include:


                                               Example of a Current
  Rank     Hotel Market     Price Drop       Hotwire Deal, US$/Night
   1        New York City      26%               3-star       $133
   2        Vancouver, BC      26%               3-star        $85
   3        Jacksonville, FL   22%               4-star        $75
   4        Las Vegas, NV      21%               4-star        $74
   5        Miami, FL          21%               4-star        $89
   6        Tampa, FL          21%               4-star        $64
   7        San Diego, CA      19%               3-star        $88
   8        San Antonio, TX    19%               3-star        $69
   9        Oahu, HI           18%               3-star        $65
  10        Minneapolis, MN    17%               3-star        $83

"The travel downturn is really hitting everyone now, not just the big tourist destinations," said Clem Bason, President of the Hotwire Group. "Whether you're traveling to a big city like New York, a beach town like San Diego, or some place a little different like San Antonio, there are deals to be had and during the summer high-travel months no less. "

For more information about the Hotwire Hotel Rate Report, visit:

About the Hotwire Hotel Rate Report | The Hotwire Hotel Rate Report will run results during the first week of each month. Results are calculated by looking at Hotwire stay dates for select regions in the current month, and comparing prices in the current month against Hotwire prices in the same month in the prior year. Prices are compared within the same star rating categories for consistency, and the percent change in price for each region is generated as an overall average of the changes in those categories. The prices in the chart above are examples for a particular star rating category within that market, and actual prices may be higher or lower than the example that is provided.

About Hotwire | Hotwire.com is a leading discount travel site with low rates on airline tickets, hotel rooms, rental cars, cruises and vacation packages. Launched in 2000, Hotwire negotiates deep discounts from its travel suppliers to help travelers book unsold airline seats, hotel rooms and rental cars. J.D. Power and Associates 2008 Independent Travel Web Site Satisfaction Study(SM) recognized Hotwire for ranking "Highest in Customer Satisfaction Among Independent Travel Web Sites, Three Years in a Row." Hotwire is an operating company of Expedia, Inc. CST: 2053390-40. NST: 20003-0209. For more information, visit /.

Hotwire, Hotwire.com and the Hotwire logo are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Hotwire, Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. Other logos or product and company names mentioned herein may be the property of their respective owners. 2009 Hotwire, Inc. All rights reserved. CST# 2053390-40.

Chris Fucanan
Atomic PR for Hotwire.com
+1-415-439-4219
Hotwire.com