Orbitz anticipates that all of their ebookers websites in Europe will migrate to their global platform by the end of the year, however, they are unsatisfied with HotelClub, their accommodation-only brand, which is taking the luster out their success with ebookers. The travel booker’s HotelClub, a major international brand, saw a decline during the second quarter, and that drop-off has carried over to the current quarter. Steve Barnhart, the Chief Executive Officer of Orbitz Worldwide, said that they are not performing to the standard of the rate of growth that their biggest competitors have set. Orbitz is unsatisfied with that performance, and the HotelClub brand is obviously not consistent with their goal of expanding their share in the international marketplace for hotel accommodations, he continued. They are looking over all of their marketing operations and tactics in order to enhance that performance.

Converting traffic to their website via advertising is an even more important part of the strategy that Orbitz Worldwide has. Ad revenues during this year’s first half were up by 25 percent in comparison to the first half of 2007, and this growth is anticipated to increase during the third and fourth quarters of this year. Barnhart said that they have a portfolio with other advertising enhancements, of which they anticipate will make over their balance of this year into next year. As they establish those enhancements, they will have the chance to introduce them onto their worldwide websites where they are appropriate and relevant, he added.

Go to www.hotelclub.com -or- www.orbitz.com for more information.