Expedia is contributing a challenge grant of up to $100,000 to the National Academy Foundation for a scholarship program to assist students impacted by the Gulf Coast region hurricanes.Expedia will match all other travel industry contributions to the program in 2006 up to $100,000. TIA’s Foundation kicked off the challenge with a $10,000 donation.

Expedia’s initiative could provide up to $200,000 to fund 15 to 30 two and four-year scholarships for graduating seniors who pursue post secondary education with a concentration in or some specialization in the travel and tourism industry.

Those eligible for the scholarships are NAF students in Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas who are pursuing an educational program in travel and tourism but lack the financial resources necessary. Students will be selected in 2006 and 2007.

“The entire travel and tourism industry responded with incredible generosity to the immediate needs in the Gulf and in Mexico following the 2005 hurricanes, and we’re glad that we were able to be a part of that response,” said Dara Khosrowshahi, CEO of Expedia, Inc.
“This particular commitment to the scholarship fund reflects our belief that the issues of poverty and access to opportunity that the hurricanes brought into sharp relief also need to be addressed in our response. We want this contribution to provide hope and new opportunities in our industry for many young people, allowing them to succeed and their families to flourish.”
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