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Carlson Hotels Worldwide Selects Expedia

Carlson Hotels Worldwide, a leading global hotel company, and Expedia,
Inc., the world’s leading online travel service and the fourth largest
travel agency in the U.S., today announced that Expedia, Inc.‘s WWTE(TM)
private label booking solution will power the creation of hotel vacation
packages online for all of its brands. Carlson’s five hotel brands,
spanning luxury to economy, include Regent International Hotels (
http://www.regenthotels.com/ ), Radisson Hotels & Resorts (
http://www.radissonvacations.com/ ), Park Plaza Hotels & Resorts (
http://www.parkplaza.com/ ), Country Inns & Suites By Carlson (
http://www.countryinns.com/ ) and Park Inn ( http://www.parkinn.com/ ).
The WWTE solution provides a booking engine and access to travel products
and services to expand and improve Carlson Hotels’ customers’
travel-planning online. Customers now can book on the Radisson-branded Web
site, and combine a flight and/or car rental with any of more than 435
Radisson hotels and resorts worldwide. Destination services and
activities, including restaurant reservations and tickets to theme parks
and attractions, are also available.

Customers of Carlson’s four other hotel brands can book their rooms on the
brand site and then use a “Vacation Package” link to Expedia.com(R) for
easy access to the same great air and car rental options, as well as a
multitude of destination services and activities.

“At Carlson Hotels, we want to address all of the needs of our customers
and give them the advantage of saving time and money by booking their
whole trip online—including flights, car rentals, and events and
activities,” said Kathy Hollenhorst, vice president, Relationship
Management and Development, Centers of Expertise-Carlson Companies, parent
organization of Carlson Hotels Worldwide. “The new vacation packages
booking solution provided by WWTE increases vacation planning
opportunities for our customers.”

“Adding a premier hotel company such as Carlson Hotels Worldwide to the
WWTE roster demonstrates the value that we bring to the sites of travel
suppliers,” said Barney Harford, senior vice president of air, car and
private label at Expedia, Inc. “We are excited about the opportunity to
have our dynamic packaging technology powering the vacation package
offering of such a respected travel brand.” 

Minneapolis-based Carlson Hotels Worldwide, part of Carlson Hospitality
Worldwide, includes five hotel brands, totaling 874 hotels in 67
countries. Hotel brands include: Regent International Hotels, one of the
most respected brands in the luxury segment of the lodging industry;
Radisson Hotels & Resorts(R), one of the world’s leading full-service
hotel companies with more than 435 locations in 61 countries; Park
Plaza(R) Hotels & Resorts, positioned in the mid-scale segment of the
full-service hotel category, has 34 hotels globally and is known for its
great value and customer-focused service culture; Country Inns & Suites By
Carlson(R), one of the fastest growing, mid- tier lodging chains with over
325 locations offering excellent value with upgraded services and
amenities; and Park Inn(R), with over 70 hotels worldwide, is a unique
emerging hotel brand offering a relaxed environment in the economy
category and is poised for aggressive global growth.

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Carlson Hotels Worldwide is a division of Carlson Companies, a global
leader in the marketing, travel, and hospitality industries. Ranked among
the largest privately held corporations in the United States,
Carlson-related brands and services employ about 190,000 people in more
than 140 countries. 

WWTE, operated by Expedia, Inc., provides private label booking solutions
for travel suppliers looking to enhance their product offerings. The WWTE
private label solution gives travel suppliers the ability to enhance their
own Web sites with industry leading cross-sell and dynamic packaging
solutions offering access to highly competitive travel products and
services. Additional information about WWTE can be found at
http://www.wwte.com/ . Expedia, Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of
IAC/InterActiveCorp . CST: 2029030-40

Expedia, Expedia.com, the airplane logo and WWTE are either registered
trademarks or trademarks of Expedia, Inc. in the United States, Canada
and/or other countries. Other products and company names mentioned herein
may be trademarks or their respective owners.
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