Atlanta Tops the Hotwire 2010 Travel Value Index

SAN FRANCISCO, March 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Hotwire.com®, a leading travel discount site, today announced the results of its fifth annual Hotwire® Travel Value Index study, naming Atlanta as the top 2010 destination for vacation deals. Hotwire's Travel Value Index showcases the top 10 cities where consumers planning their next trip can find the best value and entertainment options.

The Hotwire Travel Value Index is based on a statistical model combining both in-house and third party research.  Hotwire evaluates 75 U.S. markets, rating them across three individual categories to generate an overall ranking for consumer vacation value.  The formula includes:

• Low prices on air, rental car, and hotel (50 percent of overall score)
• Discounts on air, rental car, and hotel (25 percent of overall score)
• Affordable entertainment, overall appeal and choice of accommodations (25 percent of overall score)

"Hotwire's planning tools help consumers find great deals throughout the year, but it's particularly important now," said Clem Bason, President of the Hotwire Group.  "We're on the cusp of Spring Break, and the busy summer season is right behind it.  So if you want to stretch your travel dollars, the latest Travel Value Index will definitely point you in the right direction."

Travelers to this year's top ranked city Atlanta can find deep discounts on a wide variety of quality hotels and car rentals, as well as affordable entertainment and attractions including the World of Coca-Cola Tour, CNN Studio Tour and Centennial Olympic Park. Other cities scoring high marks in discounts and low prices include runner-up Orlando, Dallas-Fort Worth and new addition Raleigh. Meanwhile, cities like Los Angeles and Miami shine with their affordable entertainment ratings, offering vacationers plenty of activities to fit any budget.

According to the Hotwire Travel Value Index, the top 10 U.S. places for value vacations this year include:

"It's not surprising that Atlanta made its way back to the top of the list," said Bason. "New inventory and the dip in Atlanta's convention business have created an opportunity for consumers to find amazing deals and discounts this year."

Hotwire is able to find amazing deals in top locations because it works with hotels, airlines and car rental companies to fill unsold inventory, which means that customers will find deals that they won't see anywhere else.

For more information about the Hotwire Travel Value Index, visit: http://www.hotwire.com/destination/travel-value-index2.jsp

About Hotwire

Hotwire.com is a leading discount travel site with low rates on airline tickets, hotel rooms, rental cars, cruises and vacation packages. Launched in 2000, Hotwire negotiates deep discounts from its travel suppliers to help travelers book unsold airline seats, hotel rooms and rental cars. J.D. Power and Associates 2008 Independent Travel Web Site Satisfaction Study(SM) recognized Hotwire for ranking "Highest in Customer Satisfaction Among Independent Travel Web Sites, Three Years in a Row." Hotwire is an operating company of Expedia, Inc. CST: 2053390-40. NST: 20003-0209. For more information, visit http://www.hotwire.com/.

Hotwire, Hotwire.com and the Hotwire logo are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Hotwire, 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 Hotwire, Inc. All rights reserved. CST# 2053390-40.

SOURCE Hotwire.com