Expedia

Expedia, Inc. is an internet-based travel agency based in Bellevue, Washington, USA. The company provides a host of services including airline tickets, hotel reservations, car rentals, cruises, vacation packages, and telephone travel agents. The company's operations extend to the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Austria, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, and Australia.

Expedia was purchased by USA Networks in 2001, which changed the company's name to InterActiveCorp in 2003. The IAC banner now includes a range of businesses under the Expedia name, including Expedia, Expedia Corporate Travel, TripAdvisor, Classic Vacations, eLong, Hotels.com, and Hotwire.com. Expedia uses Worldspan as their main computer reservations system.

Expedia is favored by customers for the ease of researching, planning, and purchasing a whole trip. The company provides direct access to its travel products and services through its North American Web site. The company's clientele includes many consumer segments; from families booking a summer vacation to individuals intersted in a quick weekend getaway. Expedia's popularity stems from the fact that it offers its various services from a wide selection of partners. Customers are at liberty to compare and choose according to their budget.