Follow Local Drink-clinations: Hotels.com® and T.G.I. Friday's® Team Up to Help Vacationers Pair the Top End of Summer Destinations with the Coolest Cocktails

DALLAS, Aug. 22, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- As the summer winds down and the days start to get shorter, Hotels.com®, the hotel experts, and T.G.I. Friday's, America's most iconic bar and grill, have teamed up to help end-of-summer travelers tap into the local culture with some of the most popular local summer cocktails. The new Hotels.com® Sip Statistics™ identifies the most-popular drinks in some of the top 15 U.S. summer getaway locations so travelers can follow local "drink-clinations" as they extend summer celebrations into the fall.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120822/DA60858-INFO)

"The Sip Statistics is a fun way to discover the drinks that are the favorites of the locals in various vacation destinations across the nation," said Taylor L. Cole, director of public relations and social media for Hotels.com in North America. "Friday's® has even provided their summer drink recipes so travelers can enjoy their favorite summer flavors – no matter where they are or what time of year it is."

"This summer, our guests have come into our bars all over the world – whether in their hometowns or in their travels - to beat the heat and enjoy scratch made drinks with fresh, seasonal ingredients," said Matt Durbin, vice president of beverage and bar for T.G.I. Friday's. "No matter where they travel as the summer winds down, we invite guests to come in, cool off and enjoy our great corner bar vibe while sipping local cocktail favorites mixed and muddled to perfection by the best bartenders in the business."

Long Island Iced Tea – New York City

Hotels.com Sip Statistics evaluates four classic summer drink categories – Margarita, Long Island Iced Tea, Mojito and Tropical – and ranks the most popular drink category by city. Overwhelmingly, the most popular drink in nearly every market is Friday's very own creation and global sensation, the Long Island Iced Tea.

There's no better way for travelers to enjoy this classic concoction than by visiting Friday's in New York City, where the restaurant was born and where more cocktails are ordered than in any other market. Visitors can take in the city's sights and sounds during the day and in the evenings feel the energy and vibe of the night at Friday's bar with the latest twist on this classic cocktail, the Blackberry Long Island Tea.

Mojito – Chicago, Miami & Denver

The second most popular summer drink is the Mojito, which is favored in markets such as Chicago, Denver and Miami. Travelers can relax at Lake Michigan in Chicago, dance the summer nights away in Miami or spend the day exploring Larimer Square or Coors Field in Denver, all while sipping on a refreshing, sweet and minty Fresh Watermelon Mojito at Friday's.

Margarita – Austin, Dallas, Houston & San Antonio

To drink like the locals in Texas, travelers can't go wrong by ordering a Margarita, and if they're bold enough, they can indulge in the sweet heat of chipotle and pineapple with Friday's new take on the classic margarita, the Tiki Torch. Austin, Texas is the only city where the Margarita beat out the Long Island Iced Tea as the number one drink. Out of the six cities where Margarita is the number two drink, three of them are in Texas, including Dallas, Houston and San Antonio. This should come as no surprise, since the first frozen margarita machine was invented in Dallas in 1971.

Tropical – Orlando & Philadelphia

Tropical drinks were the third most popular, behind Long Island Iced Tea drinks and Mojitos in cities such as Orlando and Philadelphia. Adventurous vacationers in these cities can try out the pirate's life by voyaging through the Pirates of the Caribbean ride in Orlando, or step back in time at the Liberty Bell or Betsy Ross House in Philadelphia. After a full day of exploring, travelers can close the night with scrumptious rum cocktails like the Strawberry Rum Smash, Friday's new take on the pirate's drink of choice.

Extend Your Summer

Now sun worshipers can have the feeling of summer year-round by mixing a few of Friday's unique summer cocktails right at home. And, great summer travel deals are still available through the Hotels.com Labor Day Sale to squeeze in some more summer fun before the season ends.

To book, visit www.hotels.com, call 1-800-2-hotels, use the Hotels.com mobile apps, or find tailored deals through the Hotels.com Deals Facebook app. Other news, images and infographics are available in the Hotels.com media room: http://press.hotels.com/en-us/.

Travelers can also stay in-the-know using Friday's Mobile App for iPhone and Android, which provides updates about happy hours, special drinks and menu promotions as well as the latest happenings at local Friday's restaurants. The app also gives Friday's guests the ability easily find the closest Friday's restaurant and quickly pay the tab directly from their phones when ready to call it a night or run to catch a flight.

For more news and updates from T.G.I. Friday's, guests can follow the brand on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/TGIFridays), Twitter @TGIFridays and YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/user/tgifridays).

About Hotels.com®
Hotels.com is a leading online accommodation booking brand. Through its global network of websites, Hotels.com, LP connects travelers with almost 155,000 properties around the world, ranging from international chains and all-inclusive resorts to local favorites and bed & breakfasts, together with all the information needed to book the perfect stay. Hotels.com, LP benefits from one of the largest hotel contracting teams in the industry, obtaining the best rates for its customers, and offers frequent sales, special deals and promotions. There are more than 6.5 million Guest Reviews on the websites from users who have actually stayed in the hotels to ensure customers can make an informed choice when booking. Through Hotels.com, LP's industry-leading loyalty program Welcome Rewards®, customers can earn a free night for every 10 nights stayed at more than 65,000 hotels. Under its Price Match Guarantee, if a customer can find the same deal for less on a prepaid hotel, Hotels.com, LP will refund the difference. Travelers can book online or by contacting one of the multilingual call centers. Special apps for mobile phones and tablets can also be downloaded at www.hotels.com/deals/mobile_app/ enabling customers to book on the go with access to 20,000 last minute deals. Hotels.com publishes an award-winning twice-yearly review of international hotel room price trends called the Hotels.com Hotel Price Index™, which is now produced in 31 individual country editions, with North American data available at www.hotel-price-index.com. Follow Hotels.com on Facebook at www.facebook.com/hotelsdotcom, on Twitter at www.twitter.com/hotelsdotcom and on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/hotelsdotcom. Hotels.com is part of Expedia, Inc., the largest online travel company in the world with an extensive portfolio that includes some of the world's best-known brands. 

Hotels.com, Hotels.com Sip Statistics, Finding You The Perfect Place and the Hotels.com logo are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Hotels.com, LP. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners. © 2012 Hotels.com, LP. All rights reserved. CST # 2083949-50

About T.G.I. Friday's®
T.G.I. Friday's restaurants offer authentic American food and exciting drinks in an atmosphere that provides an energizing Friday feeling – any day of the week. Friday's® guest recognition program, Give Me More Stripes®, rewards loyal guests with great deals and fun events year-round, creating an engaging customer experience. As the original casual dining restaurant, T.G.I. Friday's differentiates itself with a unique point of view which promises to exhilarate its guests with the feeling of Friday. T.G.I. Friday's, which operates more than 900 restaurants in more than 60 countries, is also famous for its knowledgeable and charismatic bartenders, approximately 8,000 of whom compete annually for the title of the "Greatest T.G.I. Friday's Bartender in the World." T.G.I. Friday's believes in the importance of acting responsibly and as a result its Responsible Business Program is focused on positively impacting the economic and environmental well-being of the communities and neighborhoods in which it operates. For more information, visit www.fridays.com.

Press contacts:

Megan Tyrie – Finn Partners for Hotels.com
Phone: (212) 593-5815
Email: [email protected]

Taylor L. Cole, APR
Hotels.com North America
Phone: (469) 335-8442
Email: [email protected]

Nicole Bott – Peppercom for T.G.I. Friday's
Phone: 212-931-6168
[email protected]

SOURCE Hotels.com