Expedia signs "groundbreaking" deal with DRI

Nov 10, 2008

Expedia, Inc. has signed an agreement with vacation ownership company Diamond Resorts International (DRI), covering marketing, distribution and lead generation.

Published: 10 Nov 2008

Expedia, Inc. has signed an agreement with vacation ownership company Diamond Resorts International (DRI), covering marketing, distribution and lead generation.

The online travel company Expedia will provide global distribution for DRI resort destination offers on Expedia- and hotels.com-branded sites worldwide; generate leads and qualify travelers interested in DRI vacation ownership; and provide concierge services to guests at DRI resorts.

Expedia highlighted that the deal covers online media, marketing and advertising; distribution for DRI resort properties worldwide; in-destination concierge services and lead generation; Expedia's private label technology to power travel bookings on DRI's own websites; and corporate travel services by Egencia, an Expedia, Inc. company.

DRI will partner with Expedia Media Solutions Group in developing custom interactive media programmes throughout Expedia sites to help generate leads and qualify travelers considering vacation ownership. Several other Expedia business units are also engaged under the deal.

DRI will engage the Expedia Local Expert (ELE) team to operate concierge desks at DRI resorts, starting in Hawaii, Orlando and Las Vegas. ELE concierges will provide DRI guests with face-to-face personalised assistance in booking events, activities, tours, attractions and other services. ELE concierge staff will also help DRI qualify guests interested in learning more about the benefits of vacation ownership.

Also, the global team of hotel relationship managers within Expedia Partner Services Group will provide DRI property managers with strategic distribution and marketing expertise in reaching travellers who visit Expedia to book travel every month. Plus, DRI has selected Expedia Travel Network's World Wide Travel Exchange (WWTE) technology to power travel bookings on its own sites and Egencia to provide full-service travel management to DRI employees worldwide.