LYCOS RETRIEVER
Orbitz: Orbitz Search Engine
built 618 days ago
Orbitz's value proposition is its return of low fares for flights, hotels and car rentals from its search engine. To get those results, Chism said, Orbitz does not accept payment for favorable search engine returns from airline carriers. In turn... that means less revenue for Orbitz, and the approach requires decision makers to keep costs manageable.
Created by co-founders of Orbitz, Travelocity and Expedia, Kayak.com helps consumers make informed decisions in their travel planning. The site, which launched February 7, 2005, offers a comprehensive search engine that scours over 100 online travel sites for prices and information. Kayak.com displays more choices of available itinerary/price combinations than any other travel site, and is the first to integrate consumer reviews and ratings and other relevant travel information with real-time prices and availability. Kayak.com's investors include Sequoia Capital, America Online, Inc. and General Catalyst Partners
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Orbitz.com's inventory includes 455 airlines, tens of thousands of lodging properties and 22 rental car companies, as well as a wide selection offered by leading vacation package providers and cruise lines. Air search results are presented in an easy-to-use matrix that displays a vast array of travel options to consumers without favoritism toward any supplier, enabling consumers to easily identify and select the price and supplier that best meets their individual needs. In fact, Orbitz makes finding the lowest airfare easier than any other travel website, due to its intuitive booking process powered by an award-winning flight search engine. Its comprehensive selection includes OrbitzSaver discount hotel room rates on more than 16,500 properties and the widest selection of car rental companies on the Internet.
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The Orbitz site had been billed as being powered by the fastest search engine in the world, custom designed at MIT. However, users experienced a number of technical glitches, particularly relating to international flights. There were ... compatibility problems with older web browsers and with AOL, and complaints of inadequate customer service. An Orbitz spokesperson accused competitors of a "smear campaign."
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Orbitz founders saw early on that the online travel marketplace, if worth billions, would be worth billions more in coming years. As soon as they launched in 2001, they started talking about how they would have differentiating software to ensure customers had many options and good price deals. In fierce aggressive mode against competitors, Travelocity and Expedia, Orbitz promised it would make good on its customer –care mission by being the first site with an advanced-technology search engine for a comprehensive listing of fares and schedules.
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The agency will produce a series of ads and place them with the largest travel Internet operators such as Expedia, Skyauction, Priceline, Orbitz and Travelocity. In addition, an e-mail campaign to international travelers as well as search engine optimization efforts will be executed to complement the initiative.
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