Hotwire Reveals Hotel Rate Report for December 2009

Hotwire.com®, a leading discount travel site, today announced the results of the December 2009 Hotwire® Hotel Rate Report. This monthly report features the top 10 cities in North America where hotel rates have dropped the most. When combined with Hotwire's already discounted prices, the Hotel Rate Report helps guide customers to the destinations that will maximize their travel dollars. For the third month in a row, Houston tops the list with a year-over-year price drop of 19 percent. As in previous months, this is largely being driven by the high 2008 hotel rates in Houston due to displacements caused by Hurricane Ike.

Orlando and San Francisco both made their way back onto the list after being absent for a few months with percent rate drops of 14 percent and 12 percent, respectively. Along with Miami/Ft. Lauderdale (15 percent) and San Diego (13 percent), these cities offer bargain prices and mild climates for those needing an escape from the cold winter weather.

As predicted in last month's Hotel Rate Report, more midsize cities continue to make appearances in the top 10 as many waited until early 2009 to drop their rates in reaction to the down economy. Austin continues to hold a place in the top 10 at number nine with a 12 percent drop, while newcomer Columbus, OH entered the list at the number four spot with a 14 percent drop.

Hotwire is able to find great deals, especially in these cities where prices are unseasonably low, because it works with hotels, airlines and car rental companies to fill unsold inventory. This means that customers will find deals that they won't see anywhere else.

"Some year-over-year discounts have eased up this month as we now enter the time when hotels had already begun discounting heavily in 2008," said Clem Bason, President of the Hotwire Group. "Despite some stabilization of these already low rates, some hotels are still lowering rates and will continue to offer some amazing discounts on Hotwire into the New Year."

For more information about the Hotwire Hotel Rate Report, visit:

About the Hotwire Hotel Rate Report | The Hotwire Hotel Rate Report will run results during the first week of each month. Results are calculated by looking at Hotwire stay dates for select regions in the current month, and comparing prices in the current month against Hotwire prices in the same month in the prior year. Prices are compared within the same star rating categories for consistency, and the percent change in price for each region is generated as an overall average of the changes in those categories. The prices in the chart above are examples for a particular star rating category within that market, and actual prices may be higher or lower than the example that is provided.

About Hotwire | Hotwire.com is a leading discount travel site with low rates on airline tickets, hotel rooms, rental cars, cruises and vacation packages. Launched in 2000, Hotwire negotiates deep discounts from its travel suppliers to help travelers book unsold airline seats, hotel rooms and rental cars. J.D. Power and Associates 2008 Independent Travel Web Site Satisfaction Study(SM) recognized Hotwire for ranking "Highest in Customer Satisfaction Among Independent Travel Web Sites, Three Years in a Row." Hotwire is an operating company of Expedia, Inc. CST: 2053390-40. NST: 20003-0209. For more information, visit .

Hotwire, Hotwire.com and the Hotwire logo are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Hotwire, 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. © 2009 Hotwire, Inc. All rights reserved. CST# 2053390-40.

Chris Fucanan
Atomic PR for Hotwire.com
+1-415-439-4219
Hotwire.com