Expedia.com Rebrands: 'Where You Book Matters'

BELLEVUE, Wash., Jan. 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Expedia.com®, the world's leading online travel agency, today unveiled changes to its brand built around a simple yet powerful premise: "Where you book matters." The new tagline summarizes the strategy behind the new brand campaign launched over the holidays, which includes the new tagline, a redesigned brand logo, and an integrated advertising campaign initially featuring TV, print, outdoor, and online executions. The company's signature "dot.com" chorus will remain in place.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100106/AQ33533LOGO)

"We seek to change the mindset of many travelers that it doesn't really matter where you actually book your travel. Our new campaign will communicate the reasons why booking with Expedia.com makes all the difference, namely because of the superior value, ease and convenience Expedia.com offers," said Paul Leonard, vice president of brand marketing at Expedia.com. "We're also choosing to strike a different tone in our advertising than the rest of the industry, one that recognizes that our travelers are confident people looking for a terrific partner to get them the trip that they want, and are not helpless people in need of a protector."

The launch of Expedia.com's new brand campaign marks the midpoint of a process that began in early 2009, when the company began a rigorous search for a new advertising agency. That process culminated in July, when Expedia.com announced that The Martin Agency had bested a field of more than 100 top firms to be its creative agency of record.

Expedia.com is rolling out a series of nationally broadcast television ads in 2010. The first TV spot, "Girls' Weekend," introduces a visual metaphor of "building blocks" that represent the unique and personal way in which travelers interact with Expedia.com to plan and book their travel. "Girls' Weekend" was directed by acclaimed director Sophie Gateau, as were each of Expedia.com's first three TV spots in the campaign.

Expedia.com's new logo, featuring a more classic and timeless design while maintaining the visual expression of the globe and a plane, was designed by LPK, a leading international design agency headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio.

"If consumers continue to get bombarded with messages that imply that they have no control over their travel fate, they'll start to believe it," said Halle Hutchison, director, brand marketing, Expedia.com. "And when the moment arrives when their research is complete and they click to book, they'll experience worry rather than excitement. And that's a shame. Because travelers who book with Expedia.com can be confident that they got the right trip at a great price."

Expedia.com delivers an unparalleled array of travel options, which allows travelers to mix and match those options to book the trip they desire. Expedia.com also provides an easy and convenient booking experience with features including the Fare Alert tool that delivers bargain fares for flights directly to a computer desktop, a Seat Guru service offering expert advice on the best airplane seats, the Deal Finder tool that delivers attractive destination deals to a Google home page, and a Traveler Opinions feature that provides the inside scoop and user ratings on hotels from people who have actually stayed there, and more.

About Expedia.com

Expedia.com is the world's leading online travel site, helping millions of travelers per month easily plan and book travel. Expedia.com (http://www.expedia.com/, 1-800-EXPEDIA) aims to provide personalized service, the latest technology and the widest selection of vacation packages, flights, hotels, rental cars, cruises and in-destination activities, attractions, and services. With the Expedia Best Price Guarantee, Expedia.com promises to offer to its customers the best rates available online for all types of travel. Expedia.com is an operating company of Expedia, Inc. (Nasdaq: EXPE).

Expedia.com is a registered trademark of Expedia, 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.© 2010 Expedia, Inc. All rights reserved. CST: 2029030-40

SOURCE Expedia.com