Corporate News and Innovation

The world’s largest online travel company, Expedia.co.nz, has been voted by industry peers as the best Online Travel Company of the Year at the recent Travel Digest 2011 Industry Awards.

Expedia.co.nz was recognised as the best of the best in the New Zealand travel industry, based on a potential 6,000[1]industry reader nominations.

The Travel Digest Industry Awards, now in its fourth yearis awarded byTravel Digest, New Zealand’s leading monthly travel industry magazine, which has been published since 1980.

The awards recognise a number of leading travel providers, including the best airline, hotel and travel agent. Read more

Online travel company, Expedia, has announced the appointment of Demi Kavaratzis as Head of Transport, Australia and New Zealand.

In this role, Demi is responsible for managing and growing Expedia’s commercial relationships with airlines, car hire companies, insurance providers and tour suppliers in Australia and New Zealand.

Nicolas Chu, Managing Director of Expedia Australia and New Zealand, commented: “The strength of our many commercial relationships is key to Expedia’s ability to offer a one-stop-travel-shop to our customers. We are thrilled to that someone with Demi’s experience, passion and commitment is leading this crucial area of our business.” Read more

 First partnership of its kind globally between a low-cost carrier and an online travel agency

AirAsia, the world’s best low cost airline and Expedia, Inc., the world's largest online travel company, today announced the launch of a new joint venture company covering Asia Pacific and offering a complete range of great value flights, hotels, and holiday packages.

This is the first partnership of its kind globally between a low cost carrier (LCC) and an online travel agent (OTA).  This “marriage made in heaven” between the world’s largest online travel company, and the world’s most innovative airline, allows both companies to build on each other’s strength in bringing happiness through travel to the world’s travellers. Read more

The world’s largest online travel company, Expedia, has launched a new multi-million dollar marketing and advertising campaign in New Zealand and Australia. The campaign, which focuses on flight booking fees, throws down the gauntlet with local competitors who continue to charge their customers booking fees which, according to Expedia, offer no value to customers.

Research* commissioned by Expedia late last year found that almost three quarters of New Zealanders and Australians are angered when websites charge fees and believe they should not be charged. Read more

The world’s largest online travel company, Expedia, has thrown down the gauntlet with local competitors who continue to charge their customers booking fees which, according to Expedia, offer no value to customers.

While Expedia.co.nz continues to lead the campaign against fees, some online travel agents (OTAs) in New Zealand continue to charge customers fees of over $40 to book a flight. They also charge various fees to change/cancel a flight, hotel or package.

Research* commissioned by Expedia late last year found that around three quarters of New Zealanders are angered when websites charge fees and believe they should not be charged.

The key findings from the research* are: Read more