TIA Announces Innovator of the Year Finalists
Winners to be Recognized at TravelCom, April 8-10
MARCH 28, 2008. The Travel Industry Association has announced the semi-finalists for the TravelCom'08 Innovator of the Year Awards, which recognize companies whose outstanding innovations in the areas of technology, eCommerce and distribution have transformed their business and had a broad impact on the travel industry.
The first place winners and runners-up will be honored during TIA's TravelCom on April 10 in Chicago, along with Sir Richard Branson, Founder and Chairman of the Virgin Group of Companies, who will receive TIA's first ever Steve Fossett Innovation Award, an annual honor established to recognize an industry leader who has broken ground, pushed boundaries and revolutionized the industry, leaving a long lasting legacy of beneficial change.
In addition to receiving the Fossett Award, Branson will speak at TravelCom on innovation and its changing role in business today and tomorrow. Other TravelCom speakers include the leaders of Google, Travelocity, Priceline, YouTube, Orbitz Worldwide, American Express and Forrester Research. Nearly 300 companies have already registered delegates for this year's TravelCom.
Companies in the final competition for Innovator of the Year Awards in the Established category (in business at least five years) and their respective products entries include:
---|- Amadeus for Altea Customer Management Solution and its eCommerce Airline Suite;
---|- Avis Rent A Car for Where2 GPS Navigation, Portable Internet Access, Electronic Toll Collection and Avis Chauffeur Drive;
---|- Hotwire for Deal Engine, Flexible Date Search and Airfare Savings Hub;
---|- Orbitz Worldwide for TLC Traveler Update; and
---|- Travelocity for ExperienceFinder Planning Tool.
New Innovator Award (companies in business less than five years) semi-finalists and their respective product entries include:
---|- Kayak.com for Travel 2.0;
---|- Virgin Charter for its online marketplace for charter services; and
---|- Yapta, Inc. for its web browser add-on.
For more information and to register for TIA's TravelCom08, go to www.TIA.org/TravelCom.
Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) is a global leading lodging company based in Bethesda,Maryland, USA, with more than 4,200 properties in 80 countries and territories. Marriott International reported revenues of nearly $14 billion in fiscal year 2014. The company operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts under 19 brands, including: The Ritz-Carlton®, BVlgari®, EDITION®, JW Marriott®, Autograph Collection® Hotels, Renaissance® Hotels, Marriott Hotels®, Delta Hotels and Resorts®, Marriott Executive Apartments®, Marriott Vacation Club®, Gaylord Hotels®, AC Hotels by Marriott®, Courtyard®, Residence Inn®, SpringHill Suites®, Fairfield Inn & Suites®, TownePlace Suites®, Protea Hotels® and MoxyHotels®. Marriott has been consistently recognized as a top employer and for its superior business ethics. The company also manages the award-winning guest loyalty program, Marriott Rewards® and The Ritz-Carlton Rewards® program, which together surpass 50 million members. For more information or reservations, please visit our website at 
