Orbitz today has launched an advanced hotel search engine designed to make booking a hotel room easier, faster, and more in step with the needs of travellers.

Customers can now use one or all of the following criteria to fine-tune their search of Orbitz` 40,000 hotels worldwide:

An extensive, new “Points of Interest” list that includes such categories as golf courses, restaurants, museums, gyms, sports arenas, colleges, even churches and temples;

An added search field for “Amenities” with 10 options including room service, swimming pools, pet-friendly places and meeting facilities;

Star ratings that narrow the field from luxury to budget lodgings.

Quick searches by hotel name allowing users to zero-in on their preferred brand.

“We`ve been working to take our hotel searches to the same high level of functionality found on our airline booking pages,” said Jeff Katz, Orbitz CEO and president. “This advanced search engine is the key to getting quick, flexible, easy-to-read and unbiased results.”

The search logic in Orbitz` hotel database accurately finds hotels within a range defined by the customer - anywhere from one mile to 25 or more from a desired point (e.g., an airport). With this level of accuracy, a traveler can enter a U.S. or Canadian address and find a hotel within walking distance, or name a shopping mall within a five-minute drive.

“We looked at the kinds of places people like to be near-not only conveniences like restaurants and gyms but events that spur people to get out and travel, like hockey games and concerts,” said Jeff Thomas, Orbitz Hotel Manager. “We came up with a list that`s more inclusive than others we`ve seen, and which gives users more control over searches and displays.” Listings run the gamut from popular urban attractions like New York City`s Metropolitan Museum of Art to amusement parks and marinas, from landmark restaurants to outlet stores.

Other upgrades expected by year`s end include the display of most-current room availability and rates, as well as the ability to input loyalty program membership information.

Launched in June 2001, Orbitz is a full-service online travel agency with the most low fares along with deals on lodging, car rentals, cruises and vacation packages. Orbitz` state-of-the-art search engine scans up to two billion flights and fares from 450 airlines in seconds and lays out easy-to-read, comprehensive grids for air and car rental choices all in one screen. Hotel listings also come up on easy-to-read pages. Founded by the world`s leading airlines, the site offers the Internet`s most extensive collection of low-cost, Web-only fares available to buy in one place.
www.orbitz.com.

 
 

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