Online Travel Leader Expedia Signs Strategic Partnership Agreement With Canada's Leading Low-Cost Carrier WestJet

CALGARY, Canada and BELLEVUE, Wash., Jan. 31, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Expedia, Inc., the world's largest online travel company (Nasdaq: EXPE), today announced a multi-year strategic distribution agreement with WestJet (TSX: WJA), Canada's leading  low-cost airline offering more than 400 daily flights to 70 destinations throughout Canada, The United States, Mexico and the Caribbean.  Under the renewed agreement, WestJet's full schedule of fares and inventory will continue to be made available to the millions of consumers who book their travel each month on Expedia®, Egencia® and Hotwire® sites in the United States and Canada.

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The decision to partner with Expedia signifies the airline's ongoing commitment to offer its full selection of flights through the most effective and efficient distribution channels available, including Expedia's online travel marketplace, via the global distribution system (GDS) model.

"Our partnership with Expedia enables us to market our complete inventory of WestJet flights to a targeted audience of travel shoppers through one easy-to-use, streamlined marketing channel," said Duncan Bureau, Vice President of Sales for WestJet.  "We're confident our business will continue to thrive as we reach millions of unaffiliated new travelers each month through our participation in the Expedia marketplace."

"We pride ourselves on intelligently matching global travel demand with the world's most comprehensive selection of travel products and services available anywhere," said Greg Schulze, Vice President of Tour and Transport for Expedia Partner Services Group.  "Including high-value travel suppliers like WestJet in our cache of dynamic travel offerings is indicative to the level of value we're able to provide to travelers the world over."

About WestJet

WestJet is Canada's preferred airline, offering scheduled service throughout its 70-city North American and Caribbean network.  Inducted into Canada's Most Admired Corporate Cultures Hall of Fame and named one of Canada's best employers, WestJet pioneered low-cost flying in Canada.  WestJet offers increased legroom, leather seats and live seatback television provided by Bell TV on its modern fleet of 91 Boeing Next-Generation 737 aircraft.  With future confirmed deliveries for an additional 44 aircraft through 2016, WestJet strives to be one of the five most successful international airlines in the world.

About Expedia® Partner Services Group

Expedia® Partner Services Group offers its supplier partners choice, seamless coordination and complete access to our vast traveler base. The formation of the Partner Services Group is a testament to Expedia's commitment to continually refine the way we conduct business by seeking our suppliers' input and customizing our services to meet their needs.

About Expedia, Inc.

Expedia, Inc. is the largest online travel company in the world, with an extensive brand portfolio that includes more than 90 localized Expedia.com®- and Hotels.com®-branded sites; leading U.S. discount travel site Hotwire®; leading agency hotel company Venere.com™; Egencia®, the world's fifth largest corporate travel management company; the world's largest travel community TripAdvisor® Media Network; destination activities provider ExpediaLocalExpert®; luxury travel specialist Classic Vacations®; and China's second largest booking site eLong™. The company delivers consumers value in leisure and business travel, drives incremental demand and direct bookings to travel suppliers, and provides advertisers vast opportunity to reach the most valuable audience of in-market travel consumers anywhere through TripAdvisor Media Network and Expedia Media Solutions. Expedia also powers bookings for some of the world's leading airlines and hotels, top consumer brands, high traffic websites, and thousands of active affiliates through Expedia® Affiliate Network.  (NASDAQ: EXPE)

Expedia and Egencia are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Expedia, Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries.  Hotwire is 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. © 2011 Expedia, Inc.  All rights reserved.  CST: 2029030-50

SOURCE Expedia, Inc.