Expedia

This article is about the Expedia.com travel website and mobile app. For the parent company, see Expedia Group.

Expedia Inc. is an online travel agency owned by Expedia Group, based in Seattle.^[1] The website and mobile app can be used to book airline tickets, hotel reservations, car rentals, cruise ships, and vacation packages. Expedia.com was launched on October 22, 1996 by Microsoft.^[2]

Expedia Inc.

Type of business	Subsidiary
Type of site	Travel agency Metasearch engine
Available in	English
Owner	Expedia Group
URL	expedia.com
Commercial	Yes
Registration	Yes
Launched	October 22, 1996; 28 years ago (1996-10-22)
Current status	Active

History

Main article: Expedia Group § History

Sponsorships

Starting the 2018-21 cycle, Expedia Group became the first-ever global sponsor of the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Super Cup as Expedia extended to another season until 2024, but downgraded to the regional basis which it focuses to the U.S. market only starting in 2022–23 season as Hotels.com ended the sponsorship after 2021-22 season.^[3]

Starting the pandemic-hit 2020-21 season, Expedia struck the deal with the 2020 English champions, Liverpool F.C. as a global sponsor of the website in 3 seasons until 2023.

In July 2021, Expedia became Wrexham A.F.C.'s shirt back sponsor.^[4]

Criticism and legal issues

Delays in refunds of flights cancelled due to COVID-19

In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, customers complained regarding the process to get refunds for cancelled flights. Customers complained of excessively long call times and being unable to get through to a representative.^[5] This led to many lawsuits.^[6][7]

False advertising and trademark violation

In August 2016, Buckeye Tree Lodge and Sequoia Village Inn, LLC filed a class-action lawsuit in California accusing the company and its partners of violating trademark rights of numerous independent hotel and motel establishments by running advertising implying that consumers could book reservations for those hotels on Expedia even though Expedia had no relationship with those hotels, in violation of the Lanham Act, and also falsely noting that hotels with which the company had no relationship were "sold out".^[8] In April 2021, the lawsuit was settled and the company promised not to engage in false advertising.^[9]

See also

• Holiday cottage
• Vacation rental

References

1. "Look inside the new Expedia HQ in Seattle and company's commuting policy". KING-TV. October 8, 2019.
2. "Microsoft Expedia Travel Services Debuts on the Web". Microsoft. October 22, 1996.
3. "Expedia Group extends UEFA Champions League partnership" (Press release). Nyon: UEFA. 10 August 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
4. "COMMERCIAL | WREXHAM AFC EMBARKS ON A JOURNEY WITH EXPEDIA". www.wrexhamafc.co.uk. July 14, 2021. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
5. Ulrich, Todd (February 5, 2021). "Consumers grow frustrated with Expedia over COVID-19 refunds". WFTV.
6. "Traveler sues Expedia for refusing refunds on canceled flights during COVID-19 pandemic". USA Today. September 9, 2020.
7. RENDA, MATTHEW (August 19, 2016). "Hotels Accuse Expedia, Orbitz of Brazen Deceit". Courthouse News Service.
8. "Buckeye Tree Lodge and Sequoia Village Inn, LLC v. Expedia, Inc. et al". Justia. August 17, 2016.
9. IOVINO, NICHOLAS (April 9, 2021). "Expedia Settles False Advertising Class Action With Hotels". Courthouse News Service.

Further reading

• Alexander, Todd (2012). Everyday Internet at Any Age. Hachette UK. Chapter 8. ISBN 978-0-7336-2971-6. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
• Barr, Alistair (January 21, 2014). "Expedia hit by big drop in Google search traffic". USA Today. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
• Tims, Anna (March 29, 2014). "Expedia needs to speed up £2,500 refund for flights". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 14 May 2014.

External links

• Official website