Expedia and IHG Sign New Long-Term Agreement

LONDON, November 15 /PRNewswire/ --

- New Long-Term Relationship Pairs Two High Growth, Global Travel Leaders

    WORLD TRAVEL MARKET -- IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) (LON: IHG;
NYSE: IHG) and Expedia, Inc. (Nasdaq: EXPE) today announced they have entered
into a multi-year agreement under which consumers can now book IHG hotels on
Expedia(R) sites globally. The agreement will result in the addition of more
than 3,700 hotels across all IHG brands, including InterContinental Hotels &
Resorts, Crowne Plaza, Hotel Indigo, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express,
Staybridge Suites and Candlewood Suites, to the hotel selection on Expedia
and hotels.com(R) branded points of sale globally, as well as Hotwire(R) and
Expedia(R) Corporate Travel.


    "IHG continually seeks to extend the reach of our brands to deliver our
customers additional convenience in booking their accommodations and we are
delighted to work with Expedia in such a way that will greatly benefit our
guests," said Eric Pearson, senior vice president, Distribution Marketing,
IHG.


    As a further testament to the relationship, IHG is participating as the
launch partner for Expedia, Inc.'s new media-based pricing model. The
dynamic, two-part economic model will blend transaction pricing with media
pricing based on clicks on specific IHG properties in Expedia.com and
hotels.com search results. Expedia and IHG collaboratively developed this
innovative approach to distribution marketing -- a first in online travel --
where IHG will receive significant benefits from value-added media placement
throughout the Expedia network in addition to the bookings they receive from
Expedia.


    "This agreement with IHG not only underscores Expedia, Inc.'s focus on
forging long-term, mutually beneficial relationships with our partners, but
it also exemplifies our innovative approach to working with them," said Paul
Brown, president, Expedia North America and Expedia, Inc. Partner Services
Group. "We believe that our new media-based pricing model is truly
ground-breaking in its ability to help our hotel partners maximize both
their exposure to, and transactions from, the highly qualified customers in
Expedia, Inc.'s global marketplace."


    "We are pleased to be the launch partner to Expedia, as IHG has always
been an innovator in the online arena," added Pearson. "As one of the largest
online advertisers in the industry, we welcome new opportunities to further
leverage our marketing spend and return on investment in the online space."


    IHG properties are currently available on Hotwire.com(TM). They will be
available on Expedia Corporate Travel by December 2007, with all
participating hotels becoming available on Expedia and hotels.com branded
sites globally in 2008.



About IHG

    InterContinental Hotels Group PLC (IHG) of the United Kingdom
[LON: IHG, NYSE: IHG (ADRs)] is one of the world's largest hotel groups
by number of rooms. IHG owns, manages, leases or franchises, through various
subsidiaries, over 3,800 hotels and more than 571,000 guest rooms in nearly
100 countries and territories around the world. IHG owns a portfolio of well
recognised and respected hotel brands including InterContinental(R) Hotels &
Resorts, Crowne Plaza(R) Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn(R) Hotels and Resorts,
Holiday Inn Express(R), Staybridge Suites(R), Candlewood Suites(R) and Hotel
Indigo(R), and also manages the world's largest hotel loyalty programme,
Priority Club(R) Rewards with over 37 million members worldwide.


    The company pioneered the travel industry's first collaborative response
to environmental issues as founder of the International Hotels and
Environment Initiative (IHEI). The IHEI formed the foundations of the Tourism
Partnership launched by the International Business Leaders Forum in 2004, of
which IHG is still a member today. The environment and local communities
remain at the heart of IHG's global corporate responsibility focus.


    IHG offers information and online reservations for all its hotel brands
at http://www.ihg.com and information for the Priority Club Rewards programme
at http://www.priorityclub.com. For the latest news from IHG, visit our
online Press Office at http://www.ihg.com/media



About Expedia(R) Partner Services Group

    Expedia(R) Partner Services Group offers its supplier partners choice,
seamless coordination and complete access to our vast traveler base. The
formation of the Partner Services Group is a testament to Expedia's
commitment to continually refine the way we conduct business by seeking our
suppliers' input and customizing our services to meet their needs.



About Expedia, Inc.

    Expedia, Inc. is the world's leading online travel company, empowering
business and leisure travelers with the tools and information they need to
easily research, plan, book and experience travel. Expedia, Inc. also
provides wholesale travel to offline retail travel agents and in-destination
concierge service and activity desks for travelers. The Expedia, Inc.
portfolio of brands includes: Expedia.com(R), hotels.com(R), Hotwire(R),
Expedia(R) Corporate Travel, TripAdvisor(R), Expedia Local Expert(TM),
Classic Vacations(R) and eLong(TM). Expedia, Inc.'s companies operate more
than 50 global points of sale with sites in North America, South America,
Latin America, Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific. Expedia, Inc.
was recently added to the S&P 500 index. For more information, visit
http://www.expediainc.com/ (Nasdaq: EXPE).


    Expedia and Expedia.com are either registered trademarks or trademarks of
Expedia, Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. Classic Vacations is either
a trademark or registered trademark of Classic Vacations, LLC in the U.S.
and/or other countries. hotels.com is either a trademark or registered
trademark of hotels.com, L.P., a subsidiary of hotels.com in the U.S. and/or
other countries. Hotwire is either a trademark or registered trademark of
Hotwire, Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. TripAdvisor is either a
trademark or registered trademark of TripAdvisor, LLC in the U.S. and/or
other countries. Other logos or product and company names mentioned herein
may be the property of their respective owners.



(C) 2007 Expedia, Inc. All rights reserved. CST: 2029030-40

    
    Web site: http://www.expedia.com
              http://www.ihg.com


LONDON, November 15 /PRNewswire/ --