Orbitz

Orbitz is an online travel agency (OTA) that functions as a travel fare aggregator and metasearch engine. The company was established by a consortium of major airlines, including United, Delta, Continental, Northwest, and American, to create a dedicated portal for airfare that could compete with the market dominance of other travel agencies. It officially launched in June 2001. Jeffrey G. Katz served as the founding Chairman and CEO, bringing extensive experience from his time at American Airlines, Sabre, and as CEO of Swissair. His co-founder was Alex Zoghlin, who served as the first Chief Technology Officer.

The company's history involves several ownership changes. It went public with an IPO in December 2003, raising $317 million. In September 2004, Cendant Corporation acquired Orbitz for $1.25 billion. Subsequently, in 2006, The Blackstone Group acquired Cendant's travel distribution business, Travelport, which included Orbitz. The most significant transition occurred in February 2015 when Expedia Group announced its acquisition of Orbitz for approximately $1.6 billion, a deal that was finalized in September 2015. Since then, Orbitz has operated as a key brand within the extensive Expedia Group portfolio, which includes other major names like Travelocity, Hotels.com, and Vrbo.

Orbitz's business model centers on earning commissions as a reseller for travel products. It facilitates bookings for flights, hotels, car rentals, cruises, and vacation packages, serving a broad consumer base, primarily in North America. Revenue is generated from commissions on these bookings, with hotel reservations typically yielding higher margins than airfare. The platform also generates income from reselling private label airfares and offering travel suppliers access to its customer base. A notable service is 'Orbitz for Business', which provides corporate travel management solutions to companies, ranging from startups to Fortune 100 firms. A key feature of the consumer platform is the Orbitz Rewards program, where customers earn 'Orbucks' on bookings, which can then be redeemed for discounts on hotels.

Keywords: online travel agency, flight booking, hotel reservations, car rentals, vacation packages, corporate travel, loyalty program, travel metasearch, fare aggregator, Expedia Group