Lodging.com and Trip Network, Inc. have partnered to launch a more robust Lodging.com Web site, providing consumers with the ability to book airline tickets and rental cars, in addition to discounted hotel rooms, all at one easy location.

Caption: Jacob Stepan
Chief Operating Officer - Trip Network
These added features will complement Lodging.com’s already expansive and deeply discounted hotel inventory, with savings of up to 70 percent off rack rates at approximately 4,000 hotels, covering more than 500 markets, primarily concentrated in North America and the Caribbean.  Visitors to Lodging.com will see prominent links, enabling them to search and ultimately purchase air travel or car rentals directly from the site’s home page, broadening the services provided to consumers.

“Adding air and rental car booking to our site greatly enhances the experience, convenience, and ultimately the value we’re able to deliver to our growing customer base, already comfortable with purchasing elements of their travel online,” said Carl Marbach, president of Lodging.com.
Lodging.com has grown significantly over the past year. In 2002, the company tallied $190 million in gross bookings, a 340% percent increase from booking levels in 2001. 

“This new collaboration between Lodging.com and Trip Network is particularly exciting as it illustrates the Cendant value circle, with the inherent ability we have as a company to fully leverage our affiliated travel assets,” said Chris Annese, chief operating officer of Retail Travel Services for Cendant Corporation’s Travel Distribution Services.

Lodging.com was acquired by Cendant Corporation in August 2002. In November, Lodging.com’s hotel inventory was added to Trip.com

and CheapTickets.com

, the Web sites operated by Cendant independent affiliate Trip Network, providing their consumers access to more choices on hotels, at better prices than ever before.  In December, Lodging.com inventory was also added to Galileo International’s e-Agent portal, providing U.S.-based travel agencies the opportunity to book discounted hotel rates with a 10 percent commission.

“This relationship with Lodging.com furthers our strategy of forming strong, reciprocal co-brand alliances with solid partners,” said Jacob Stepan, chief operating officer of Trip Network, Inc. “The recent addition of Lodging.com’s hotel inventory to Cheap Tickets and Trip.com has significantly expanded our discounted hotel offering, and we expect Lodging.com will benefit from adding more services for its customers, as well.”

Related stories on ITN:

(12/12/2002) Galileo International Integrates Lodging.com Inventory

(02/10/2002) Online Hotel Reservations Site Lodging.com to Cut Jobs

(14/10/2002) Cendant Announces Acquisition of Lodging.com

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