AT&T Interactive and Expedia Affiliate Network Announce Online Tool for Finding and Booking Hotels

GLENDALE, Calif. and DALLAS, Feb. 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- AT&T Interactive and Expedia Inc., doing business as Expedia Affiliate Network, today announced a distribution agreement that helps travelers conveniently check hotel rates, room availability and book rooms on AT&T Interactive's YELLOWPAGES.COM and YP.COM local search websites. In addition to AT&T Interactive's comprehensive business listings, user reviews, and video profiles, the new hotel booking functionality supports AT&T Interactive's ongoing content growth. The booking feature is co-branded with hotels.com, a subsidiary of Expedia ®.

"Aligning with AT&T Interactive gives Expedia a way to reach consumers who are already looking for local hotel information," said Sunil Bhatt, vice president and general manager for Expedia Affiliate Network. "In turn, Expedia's hotel content such as maps and points of interests, hotel photos, and virtual tours will give visitors to YELLOWPAGES.COM and YP.COM another tool to make informed decisions about where to spend their time away from home."

Access to more hotel content and booking capabilities is another key feature that enables visitors to AT&T Interactive local search properties to find the information they need when planning their trip - including finding local hotspots, restaurants, and local tourist attractions.  According to PhoCusWright U.S. Online Travel, more than 39 percent of all travel bookings are now being done on the web.

"Our agreement with Expedia creates a natural extension to the travel and hotel information already available on YELLOWPAGES.COM and YP.COM – enhancing the local search experience for those who visit our sites," said Mike Fordyce, senior vice president of Business Development for AT&T Interactive. "Adding the ability to check for hotel availability and book rooms increases user engagement, giving our advertisers the opportunity to gain exposure among a growing audience who is turning to the Internet for travel information."

About AT&T Interactive

AT&T Interactive, a subsidiary of AT&T Inc., is an industry leader in creating local search products and services that empower consumers to find and connect with businesses across the devices and interactive platforms they use most - including online, mobile, and TV. Formed in 2005 and renamed in 2008, AT&T Interactive develops, manages and delivers online and mobile advertising products for AT&T - including its flagship property http://www.yellowpages.com. The AT&T Interactive Network* is ranked the number 32 Web property in the US, reaching more than 33 million monthly unique visitors (comScore Dec. 2009 Top Properties Ranking report).

*The unique visitor number for the AT&T Interactive Network includes unduplicated visitors for the following sites: YELLOWPAGES.COM, ATT.net, AnyWho, 411.com, Areaguides.net.

About AT&T

AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) is a premier communications holding company. Its subsidiaries and affiliates–AT&T operating companies – are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation's fastest 3G network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet and voice services. AT&T offers the best wireless coverage worldwide, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries. It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verse(SM) and AT&T | DIRECTV(SM) brands. The company's suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world. In domestic markets, AT&T Advertising Solutions and AT&T Interactive organizations are known for their leadership in directory publishing, advertising sales and interactive local search applications. In 2009, AT&T again ranked No. 1 in the telecommunications industry on FORTUNE® magazine's list of the World's Most Admired Companies.

© 2010 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. AT&T, the AT&T logo and other AT&T related marks contained herein are trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T affiliated companies. All other marks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.

About Expedia Affiliate Network (EAN):

Expedia Affiliate Network (EAN) is part of the Expedia Inc. group, the leading online travel company in the world. Since launching in 1996, the company's Expedia.com brand has grown to become the world's single most popular online travel booking site, generating more leisure travel bookings than any other travel agency - online or offline.

EAN works with more than 10,000 private label partners globally, among them many pre-eminent airlines, hoteliers, rail companies, destination marketing organizations, portals and market-leading online travel agencies.  EAN's distribution platform allows these partners to offer their website users access to Expedia's highly competitive travel products, including hotels, dynamic packages, car hire, flights, insurance and destination services, and benefit from unrivalled supply quality, and leading merchandising tools. Further information about EAN can be found at www.ean.com.

About Hotels.com

Hotels.com is a recognized hotel expert and the leading provider of lodging worldwide offers close to 85,000 properties worldwide, along with all the information needed to book the perfect trip.  With their industry-leading loyalty program, welcomerewards™, guests booking on hotels.com earn one free night's stay for every 10 nights booked.  Hotels.com-branded sites serve travelers in 60 countries.

SOURCE AT&T Interactive

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