Orbitz for Business, the corporate travel brand of Orbitz Worldwide (NYSE: OWW), and StarCite, Inc., the leading provider of web-based solutions to strategically manage corporate meetings and events, today launched Orbitz for Business Meetings, a new meetings booking channel powered by StarCite and delivered through the Orbitz for Business website.  Orbitz for Business customers can now quickly and easily source meeting venues from and send e-RFPs to hotels and other suppliers.

Orbitz for Business Meetings allows customers and meeting planners to access thousands of potential venues, compare highly competitive supplier rates and review project status using an integrated online booking process.  Hotels that opt-in to the Orbitz for Business Meetings channel will immediately benefit from increased visibility with hundreds of thousands of qualified, in-market business travelers.
“Orbitz for Business Meetings gives corporate meeting planners an automated way to plan, source and manage meeting venues through the same familiar interface they use to book flights, hotels and car services,” said Frank Petito, president, Orbitz for Business.  “We are excited to expand our relationship with StarCite, which adds an important piece to the growing spectrum of travel products we deliver to customers.  With an intuitive, easy-to-use system and a great shopping experience, our customers can now book thousands of the best venues at the best locations while saving time and money in the process.”

“We’re thrilled to partner with Orbitz for Business to reach an even wider audience of meetings buyers and travel professionals,” said Greg Dukat, CEO, StarCite.  “Orbitz for Business customers will benefit from easy access to information about meetings venues and a booking process that delivers competitive prices, and suppliers participating in the Orbitz for Business Meetings channel will have access to a new and rich channel for high-quality meetings business.”

By enrolling in Orbitz for Business Meetings, hotels and other venue providers will be listed whenever an Orbitz for Business customer searches for an on-site meeting in the suppliers’ local markets.