The Microsoft Expedia.com travel service and Cahners Business Information, a subsidiary of Reed Elsevier plc, will work together to build a comprehensive database for hotel information on the Net.
The agreement extends an existing strategic relationship between Reed Elsevier and Microsoft, signed in 1997.
Under the terms of the new agreement, Cahners will become exclusive worldwide provider of advertising sales support for hotel directory advertising on Expedia.com and Microsoft Travel Technology licensed sites. The sites will carry in-depth listings of hotels, together with detailed photographs showing their facilities.
“By combining the quality of Cahners’ advertising sales force and its expansive database of hotel-related information with Microsoft’s industry-leading travel technology, we will be able to provide the best
selection and most in-depth information about hotels on the Internet,” said Microsoft Travel Group product manager Simon Breakwell. “Working together, we will be able to create a great shopping environment for consumers looking for a place to stay, and a great marketing environment for hotels hoping to reach those consumers.”
Cahners is the publisher of Hotel and Travel Index, Official Hotel Guide and Official Meeting Facilities Guide and describes itself as “the travel industry’s leading content provider.” It publishes 128 business magazines and provides 18 business communities with online services.
Microsoft Expedia.com is a major travel destination on the Internet, where users can plan their trips, purchase tickets, and make hotel and car reservations. Its weekly travel sales exceed $5 million, making it one of the most successful e-commerce sites on the World Wide Web.
