Microsoft Expedia.com and American Express Team Up to Promote E-Commerce American Express to Become Featured Card on Expedia.com
REDMOND, Wash., Sept. 29 / In a move intended to promote electronic commerce, Microsoft(R) Expedia(TM).com today announced an agreement that will make American Express the featured card for purchasing travel on
"We are excited about working with companies like Microsoft that provide leading-edge technology and services that make online shopping an easy and valuable experience for our mutual customers," said Marla Isackson, vice president of customer and product marketing for American Express. "Expedia has become an effective online draw for consumers, making it a beneficial partner for American Express."
Isackson explained that American Express cards provide an array of services that can benefit online shoppers, including car rental insurance, travel accident insurance, protection against accidental damage or theft for items purchased on the card, and extension of manufacturers' warranties. She added that the American Express Web site offers many valuable products and services to card holders, including the ability to pay bills and check account information online.
According to Microsoft Group Product Manager Simon Breakwell, Expedia.com visitors will be able to link directly to the card applications page on the American Express Web site. The deal is expected to increase site traffic on Expedia.com, boost card holder purchases, and increase new memberships for American Express.
"American Express provides the type of world-class service that our customers have grown to enjoy on Expedia.com ," Breakwell said. " Customers of Expedia can be even more confident in their online travel purchases because the American Express card represents a key to better travel protection, benefits and services."
The agreement also bolsters the previously announced credit card guarantee service provided by Expedia. With this service, the credit cards of users of Expedia.com are protected from liability regarding unauthorized charges – up to $50 (U.S.) – on any purchases made on or off the Internet within the subsequent 12 months after an Expedia.com purchase.
This latest collaboration continues an ongoing relationship between Expedia.com and American Express. The two companies have jointly developed the leading online reservations system for corporations, AXI Travel (American Express Interactive), which has been adopted by more than 150 Fortune 500 companies as a convenient way for employees to book trips within company policy. American Express, one of the first major travel agencies to offer its customers online travel booking, is also a member of the Expedia Associates program, incorporating links to Expedia-based booking services from American Express' consumer travel site ( ).
About American Express
American Express is a diversified worldwide travel, financial and network services company founded in 1850. It is a world leader in charge and credit cards, Travelers Cheques, travel, financial planning, business services, insurance and international banking.
About Expedia.com
Microsoft Expedia.com is the place to go on the Web to plan travel, purchase tickets, and make hotel and car reservations. Expedia.com offers in-depth destination content and travel news as well as mapping, address finding and direction services. Since its inception in October 1996, Expedia.com has become one of the Web's most successful electronic-commerce sites, with weekly travel sales exceeding $5 million. The Microsoft Expedia.com online travel planning service is part of the Microsoft Expedia family of travel and mapping products and services. These include the Microsoft Expedia Streets 98, Streets Deluxe 98 and Trip Planner 98 CD-ROMs and the Expedia Travel Network, a one-stop travel shopping mall offering vacation packages, cruises, resorts and travel merchandise from leading suppliers.
Expedia.com is built on Microsoft Travel Technologies, a platform suite comprising server, applications and content designed to create the best buying experience for travel-related services online. Microsoft Travel Technologies is created with Microsoft BackOffice family products including the Windows NT Server operating system, Internet Information Server and Microsoft SQL Server.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft MSFT is the worldwide leader in software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of products and services for business and personal use, each designed with the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take advantage of the full power of personal computing every day.
NOTE: Microsoft and Expedia are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries. Other product and company names herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.
Kim Nguyen
ShandwickPublic Relations, 425-452-5423
