CHICAGO, Aug. 12, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As more consumers turn to smartphones as their primary computing device and grow comfortable with making more considered and complex purchases on small screens, Orbitz.com announced that it is the first online travel company to sell vacation packages in a mobile app – continuing its history of innovation and leadership in mobile development.
The award-winning Orbitz.com mobile app, named one of the most loved consumer travel apps by Applause, now allows consumers to easily search and book tens of thousands of flight plus hotel vacation package combinations in just a few taps. The app suggests flight and hotel packages with the best value, allowing consumers to easily select and book a vacation in just two minutes. Need a larger room, or to fly at a different time? No problem. Travelers can easily customize their package, changing hotel, room type and flight according to their preference. And before they book, the app will show consumers how much they will save by booking the hotel and flight together.
Vacation packages are available on the Orbitz Android app and will be available on the Orbitz iOS app later in the month. Download the free Orbitz app now.
“The focus across the travel industry has been on last-minute hotel bookings in mobile apps, but at Orbitz, we are beginning to see an expansion of how consumers are using their mobile devices,” said Chris Brown, chief product officer of Orbitz.com. “The launch of vacation packages in our app is so timely because consumers are no longer only using mobile devices for searching or making last-minute plans but are increasingly booking bigger trips requiring more advanced planning. Over the past year, Orbitz has seen a 100 percent increase in vacation package bookings on a smartphone through our mobile web site. On average, customers are spending nearly $1,700 on those packages and purchasing them almost two months in advance. We’re thrilled to now offer an app-based experience that makes booking a flight plus hotel vacation package easy and lightning fast.”
Book a vacation package now to save
Vacation packages are the number one most requested feature by Orbitz app users and deliver the greatest value to consumers looking to save on travel. Travelers can save up to $6751 when booking a package on Orbitz.com, and this year, Orbitz.com customers realized over $20 million2 in package savings.
To save consumers even more, the Orbitz Mobile Steals program has been expanded beyond just hotels and car rentals to include vacation packages. When travelers book a vacation package on the Orbitz mobile app, they can save up to 50 percent off thousands of vacation packages worldwide. To find these exclusive mobile-only deals, look for the "Hotel Deal" icon when doing a vacation package search in the Orbitz app.
Through September 21, Orbitz Rewards members can also earn double Orbucks (2 percent) on flight plus hotel vacation packages when booking via the Orbitz mobile app. The award-winning Orbitz Rewards program has reached over 4 million members, who can earn up to 5 percent on travel (10 percent when using the Orbitz Rewards Visa Card). Join now to not only earn Orbucks but to also get member benefits such as complimentary TSA PreCheck.
Sample Mobile Steals for vacation packages:3
Chicago to Cancun: Fly from Chicago to Cancun and stay four-nights at the 4-star Paradisus Cancun Resort & Spa - All-Inclusive
Travel dates: September 22 – 26
Vacation package price with Mobile Steal: $989 per person
Amount saved by booking a package: $729
Orbucks earned: $19.78
Los Angeles to Maui: Fly from Los Angeles to Maui and stay four-nights at the 4-star Aston Mahana at Kaanapali
Travel dates: November 10 – 14
Vacation package price with Mobile Steal: $1,113 per person
Amount saved by booking a package: $419
Orbucks earned: $22.26
Search for more great deals on vacation packages by downloading the Orbitz.com mobile app now.
Vacation packages are also available on the CheapTickets.com mobile app for Android and will be on the iOS app later in the month. CheapTickets.com is a brand of Orbitz Worldwide.
1Savings based on Flight + Hotel vacation package bookings of five or more nights with individual calculable components on www.orbitz.com from January 1, 2014 through June 30, 2014, as compared to price of the same components booked separately. Savings will vary based on origin/destination, length of trip, stay dates, and selected travel supplier(s). Savings not available on all packages.
2Package savings calculated based Orbitz.com customers’ package savings from Jan. 1 – July 9, 2015.
3Sample rates shown were accurate and available on Orbitz.com’s mobile website on 8-11-15 and may not represent current prices. Vacation package prices shown are for one adult, based on double-occupancy, include applicable taxes and fees, and will vary by selected day of departure, departure city, length of stay, hotel selected, hotel room category, and availability.
About Orbitz.com
Orbitz.com is a travel website that enables consumers to search for and book a broad range of hotels, flights, rentals, cruises, vacation packages and destination activities. Since launching in June 2001, Orbitz.com has become one of the world's largest online travel sites. Orbitz.com now offers the groundbreaking Orbitz Rewards loyalty program—the only program where customers can earn rewards immediately on flights, hotels and packages, and redeem instantly on tens of thousands of hotels worldwide. Use the Orbitz Rewards Visa® Card to earn even more rewards. Orbitz.com is the #1 way to book travel on mobile devices, be it using our apps (get them at orbitz.com/mobile) or our smartphone-optimized website (m.orbitz.com), both of which are tailored for smartphones and tablets. The Orbitz app won the 2014 Appy Award for best travel app. Follow Orbitz on Facebook, Twitter and through the Orbitz Travel Blog. Orbitz.com is operated by Orbitz Worldwide (NYSE:OWW).
About Orbitz Worldwide
Orbitz Worldwide (NYSE:OWW) is a global online travel company using technology to transform the way consumers around the world plan and purchase travel. Orbitz Worldwide operates the consumer travel planning sites Orbitz (orbitz.com), ebookers (ebookers.com), HotelClub (hotelclub.com) and CheapTickets (cheaptickets.com). Also within the Orbitz Worldwide family, Orbitz Partner Network (orbitzpartnernetwork.com) delivers private label travel technology solutions to a broad range of partners including some of the world's largest airlines, bank loyalty programs and travel agencies, and Orbitz for Business (orbitzforbusiness.com) delivers managed travel solutions for companies of all sizes. Orbitz Worldwide makes investor relations information available at investors.orbitz.com.