Expedia Announces the Initiation of Bookings Through Sabre Travel Network and Support for Efficient Access Solution Program

BELLEVUE, Wash., and SOUTHLAKE, Texas, July 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Expedia, Inc. , the world's leading online travel company, today announced the activation of its long-term technology partnership with Sabre Travel Network, a Sabre Holdings company, as Expedia.com(R) and Expedia(R) Corporate Travel began processing reservations through the Sabre global distribution system (GDS). At the same time, Expedia and Sabre announced an extension of their existing relationship to 2012. Expedia(R) also announced its support of Sabre's Efficient Access Solution (EAS) program.

Commenting on the agreement, Paul Brown, president of the Expedia(R) Partner Services Group, said, "We are pleased to announce today not only the commencement of air bookings with Sabre, but also our support of their EAS program. We see Sabre's EAS program as the best new program in the marketplace, providing an optimal combination of a comprehensive definition of full content, and protections and support for travel agencies. We look forward to developing a strong relationship with Sabre as we transition a portion of our business towards them."

Tom Klein, Sabre Holdings' executive vice president and group president of Sabre Travel Network/Sabre Airline Solutions, added, "Our entire team is very excited about helping Expedia to diversify its distribution providers and obtain the benefits of Sabre's efficient marketplace. Expedia's support of the EAS program demonstrates that the program balances the needs of both travel agencies and airlines." Klein added, "Sabre's EAS program is a balanced, multilateral approach that provides key long-term assurances and a broad set of protections, including full content and service fee protection, for travel agents in the U.S., Bermuda and the Caribbean."

About Expedia, Inc.

Expedia, Inc. is the world's leading online travel company, empowering business and leisure travelers with the tools and information they need to easily research, plan, book, and experience travel. Expedia, Inc. also provides wholesale travel to offline retail travel agents. Expedia, Inc.'s portfolio of brands includes: Expedia.com(R), hotels.com(R), Hotwire(R), Expedia(R) Corporate Travel, TripAdvisor(TM) and Classic Vacations(R). Expedia, Inc.'s companies also operate internationally with sites in Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Australia, and China, through its investment in eLong(TM). For more information, visit http://www.expediainc.com/ .

About Sabre Travel Network

Sabre Travel Network, a Sabre Holdings company, provides access to the world's leading global distribution system (GDS). The Sabre GDS is a ready- built efficient marketplace that connects suppliers, including hundreds of airlines and thousands of hotels, with more than 50,000 travel agency locations. Suppliers get access through one single connection; travel agents get real-time access to thousands of travel products from multiple suppliers through one source integrated into their businesses; consumers get access to a global supermarket of the world's greatest travel possibilities.

Key brands of Sabre Travel Network include GetThere, the leading Web-based corporate travel reservation technology, and Jurni Network, the unique leisure travel agency consortium in the United States that enables members to sell more products from preferred travel suppliers using sophisticated market intelligence.

Sabre Holdings connects people with the world's greatest travel possibilities by retailing travel products and providing distribution and technology solutions for the travel industry. More information about Sabre Holdings is available at http://www.sabre-holdings.com/ .

NOTE: Expedia and Expedia.com are either registered trademarks or trademarks 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.