Expedia Unveils Annual Insiders' Select Ranking of the World's Best Hotels

Honored hotels selected based on value, service and Expedia customer ratings

BELLEVUE, Wash., May 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Expedia(R), the world's leading online travel company, today unveiled its annual Expedia Insiders' Select(TM) list of the world's best hotels (http://www.expedia.com/insidersselect). Marking the second annual ranking, the list is comprised of the top hotels from among a selection of nearly 80,000 properties worldwide available on Expedia.

"The Expedia Insiders' Select list makes it easier for travelers to sort through thousands of hotel options to choose the best hotel for their trip," said Paul Brown, president, Expedia North America. "Expedia has captured the experiences of millions of hotel guests, and combined them with a value rating and local destination expertise to help travelers identify the best hotels in the world for the best value."

The list represents the variety of hotel types and destinations offered on Expedia. One characteristic all Insiders' Select hotels have in common is that they have been recognized by Expedia travelers for consistently delivering excellent service, a great overall experience and a notable value. The list is comprised of hotels ranging from boutique to chain properties in a variety of small, mid-sized and large destinations. The list also represents Expedia's global selection of hotel properties, from favorites in the U.S. like The Sanderling Resort & Spa on North Carolina's Outer Banks and Chateau on the Lake in Branson, Mo., to international favorites like The Ritz-Carlton, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

The Expedia Insiders' Select list was compiled using a weighted mathematical formula that includes several factors including:

  -- Expedia's collection of hundreds of thousands of Traveler

     Opinions(R) -- hotel reviews created by Expedia travelers who recently

     stayed at the property;

  -- A value rating determined by comparing hotels within the same

     star-rating and geographical region to identify hotels that deliver a

     notable value for the experience they offer; and

  -- Local expertise and insight from hundreds of Expedia employees in

     destinations throughout the world.

The full list is available at http://www.expedia.com/insiderselect. Highlights include:

  -- Number 1 overall: Sofitel Chicago Water Tower -- Chicago, Ill.

  -- Number 1 in Asia: Cerulean Tower Tokyu Hotel -- Tokyo, Japan

  -- Number 1 in Europe: The Knight Residence -- Edinburgh, Scotland

  -- Top Resort Worldwide: JW Marriott Cancun Resort & Spa -- Cancun, Mexico

"We work hard to deliver an exceptional experience to our guests during their stay, and we are thrilled to be recognized as the top rated hotel globally by Expedia and its travelers," said Patrick Filatre, general manager, Sofitel Chicago Water Tower. "We know travelers value the opinions of other travelers and this ranking allows people to choose the right hotel with even greater confidence."

About Expedia(R)

Expedia is the world's leading online travel provider, helping millions of travelers per month easily plan and book travel. Expedia (http://www.expedia.com/) aims to provide personalized service, the latest technology and the widest selection of vacation packages, flights, hotels, rental cars, cruises and in-destination activities, attractions, and services. With the Expedia(R) Best Price Guarantee, Expedia promises to offer to its customers the best rates available online for all types of travel, making it the most comprehensive customer guarantee in online travel. Expedia is an operating company of Expedia, Inc. (NASDAQ:EXPE) .

Expedia, the Airplane logo, Insiders' Select and Traveler Opinions are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Expedia, Inc. 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.

Source: Expedia, Inc.

CONTACT: Katie Deines of Expedia, Inc., +1-425-679-4317,
press@expedia.com

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