Expedia today announced the formation of a corporate travel advisory board to guide the development of Expedia`s next generation corporate travel management products and services.
The mission of the Expedia Corporate Advisory Board (ECAB) is to solicit and incorporate feedback from travel managers, suppliers and professionals who represent the diverse travel interests of small- to large-sized companies.

The formation of the ECAB follows Expedia`s recent announcements of its extension into corporate travel and the acquisition of Seattle-based Metropolitan Travel. Together, Expedia and Metropolitan will unite corporate travel experience and expertise with the latest technology to deepen Expedia`s offerings as a full-service travel provider for businesses. “Expedia`s excellence in the leisure space has been built on substantial customer feedback and testing,” said Byron Bishop , senior vice president for corporate travel for Expedia, Inc. “We look forward to applying a similar process of feedback from key constituents in the development of our corporate travel services. The ECAB will unite the insights of corporate travel managers, business travelers and suppliers to shape our next generation service.”

Inaugural board members represent corporations as well as leading travel suppliers. Corporations, such as Avanade Inc., Nordstrom, Inc., REI, L-3 Security & Detection Systems, Intermec Technologies Corp. and Washington Mutual, Inc., will offer insight into what travel managers require in a business travel solution.

“The combination of Expedia`s market-leading technology and Metropolitan`s track record of superior corporate customer service results in the best of both worlds for customers like Avanade,” said Michael S. Lewis, global procurement manager for Avanade, Inc. “In one seemingly simple, yet very profound move, they will give their corporate customers both flexibility and empowerment, while maintaining service levels regularly unobtainable from typical on-line services. I believe that the combination of Expedia and Metropolitan will herald a fundamental shift in how corporations manage their travel, resulting in increased use of technology and higher relative service levels with a more cost-effective solution.”

The travel industry suppliers working with Expedia to share their needs and desires for the new corporate products include Delta Air Lines, Hyatt Hotels Corp., Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, Inc. and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts.

“As a strategic partner of Expedia, we are excited to represent the airline perspective on the Expedia Corporate Advisory Board,” said Pam Elledge, director of agency and corporate programs at Delta Air Lines. “We look forward to being instrumental in shaping the products and services Expedia is building for its next generation corporate technology solution. Our participation supports Delta`s goal of providing all customers with a means to purchase the Delta product on their own terms.”

 

Related storoies on ITN:

(12/08/2002) New Expedia Tools Focus on the Whole Hotel
(25/07/2002) Expedia, Inc. Reports Record Revenue
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