Orbitz.com becomes first major online travel company to offer dedicated vacation rental inventory

CHICAGO, IL (August 19, 2008) – Orbitz.com today announced it is the first major online travel company to offer a dedicated vacation rental site (http://vacationrentals.orbitz.com/).

CHICAGO, IL (August 19, 2008) – Orbitz.com today announced it is the first major online travel company to offer a dedicated vacation rental site (http://vacationrentals.orbitz.com/). Through a partnership with Zonder, a leading vacation rental provider, Orbitz is giving its customers access to the largest portfolio of vacation homes that can be booked instantly online through a major online travel company.

Created to give customers a user-friendly, one-stop experience for finding the best lodging options, Orbitz’ vacation rental properties include unique offerings of private homes, condo rentals, cabin rentals and villas for a variety of budgets and vacation experiences. With Zonder’s platform, Orbitz travelers view real-time availability and receive immediate booking confirmations.

“Orbitz continues to demonstrate leadership and innovation as the first major online travel company to give our customers dedicated access to this growing segment of the travel industry,” said Steve Barnhart, chief executive officer and president of Orbitz Worldwide. “In today’s challenging economy, travelers can benefit from the price savings and the extra space and amenities that come with alternative lodging options. With the addition of vacation rental inventory, Orbitz customers have another option when planning a vacation that suits their needs and budget.”

Orbitz vacation rentals give customers the tools to easily find and book vacation rentals online. Travelers can easily browse top destinations or a search for a specific destination and find a vacation rental that meets their needs by refining their search with a number of options, including:

– Price
– Number of travelers
– Distance to destination
– Amenities (hot tub, pool, pet friendly, internet access, etc.)
– Property Type (house, condo, cabin, etc.)
– Location Type (ocean view, beach front, ski-in/ski-out, etc.)
– Household Comforts (BBQ, blender, dishwasher, microwave, etc.)
– Outdoor Recreation (surfing, skiing, fishing etc.)
– Services (in-unit laundry, grocery store, etc.)

Orbitz vacation rentals offer benefits for travelers looking for options not traditionally available at hotels, such as full kitchens to save on food costs from dining out, private laundry units, a private pool or hot tub, additional space for groups and families and the privacy of their own home or unit.

Orbitz has partnered with Salt Lake City-based Zonder to bring this portfolio of vacation rentals to its customers. Zonder provides rich, accurate content about each property, a photo slideshow, a detailed description of the property and amenities, and a proprietary search technology that gives customers a faster, easier way to find and book the perfect vacation rental property. Zonder is a trusted intermediary between the property manager and the renter, facilitating all rental payments directly, so travelers no longer have to take the personal risk of sending their payment and personal information directly to an unknown party.

“This deal is a very big milestone for the vacation rental industry, which has seen tremendous growth in popularity,” said Bob Barnes, CEO of Zonder. “We are happy Orbitz has selected Zonder as their partner to bring vacation rentals to travelers everywhere.”

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Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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