Orbitz Celebrates Fifth Birthday
JUNE 1, 2006. Starting June 1st, Orbitz is launching a five-week celebration encouraging its loyal customers and dedicated employees to "Take Five" out of their busy lives.
To kick-off the anniversary celebration, Orbitz is announcing a system-wide traveler appreciation sale with deals at hundreds of hotel properties.
In 2001, when it launched, Orbitz had the most low air fares online.
Orbitz was the first online travel company to introduce the unbiased flight matrix display that redefined the way people book travel.
Orbitz was the first online travel company to build an on-site customer care center (now known as the OrbitzTLC Center), staffed by former air traffic controllers, travel agents, weather specialists and journalists.
Orbitz was first to introduce OrbitzTLC flight delay alerts. Continuing in its propensity to be ahead of the curve, Orbitz was also the first online travel company to introduce the hotel neighborhood matrix, RSS feeds and most recently, travel podcasts.
Known as a great online travel site for flyers seeking to book airfare when it launched, Orbitz has turned into a site with high customer marks for booking hotels as well.
In 2005, in its first study of independent online travel sites, J.D. Power and Associates said Orbitz had highest customer satisfaction for independent travel web sites -- hotels, in its 2005 Independent Hotel Web Site Study(SM).
In November 2004, Orbitz was acquired by Cendant Corporation and became the flagship brand for the global consumer travel unit of Travelport, Inc. (formerly Cendant Travel Distribution Services Group, Inc.).
Some of Travelport's other consumer brands include CheapTickets ( http://www.cheaptickets.com/ ) in the Americas, eBookers ( http://www.ebookers.com/ ) and Octopus Travel ( http://www.octopustravel.com/ ) in Europe, and HotelClub.com and RatesToGo.com in Asia Pacific. In January 2005, Mitch Truwit was named president and CEO of the business unit responsible for growing the Orbitz brand.
"In 2006, Orbitz helped Travelport outgrow all its online competitors domestically by continuing its tradition of being first," said Mitch Truwit, president and CEO of global consumer travel, Travelport, Inc. "Orbitz continues to be first to market with innovations in customer care, reinventing the future of travel."
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