Research points to online video as an important source of inspiration in the travel planning process, prompting 45 percent of leisure travelers and 74 percent of affluent travelers to book travel after viewing an online travel video.
CHICAGO, Jan. 7, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — Leading online travel company Orbitz Worldwide (NYSE: OWW) and Empire State Development, New York’s chief economic development agency which administers the world-famous I LOVE NEW YORK tourism program, have launched a seven-part online video series, “Orbitz Originals: New York State,” which can be viewed exclusively at Orbitz.com/NYState. The series, which is the first by Orbitz to feature a U.S. destination, kicks off by highlighting the extraordinary Catskills and Adirondacks regions as seen through the eyes of award winning travel expert Richard Bangs. It will be followed by future episodes focused on other tourism regions throughout the state.
Research points to online video as an important source of inspiration in the travel planning process, prompting 45 percent of leisure travelers and 74 percent of affluent travelers to book travel after viewing an online travel video*. PHD, the media agency for Empire State Development, recognized this potential and helped bring the partners together on the new media collaboration. “Orbitz Originals: New York State” harnesses the power of online video to stimulate audiences with stunning visuals in a compact format that offers an unprecedented level of integration between inspiration and the act of booking travel at Orbitz.com. The marketing partnership will run through January 31 alongside an Orbitz.com winter sale offering up to 30 percent off hotels across New York State.
Each episode of “Orbitz Originals: New York State” explores a specific theme in the featured destination, including 
“Adirondacks: Olympic Sized Experience,” “Catskills: Spirit of Place,” and “Microbrews & Megabites,” to name a few. Richard Bangs then takes viewers on his adventures throughout the landscape, providing a trip template that viewers can replicate themselves via travel bookings made at Orbitz.com/NYState.
“I LOVE NEW YORK is excited to work with Orbitz in providing this innovative online series that will introduce travelers to our state’s many diverse destinations,” said Harvey Cohen, chief marketing officer and senior vice president of Empire State Development. “It is one more example of our renewed effort to work with local tourism regions to highlight the diversity and beauty of our entire state.”
Beginning in the Adirondacks, Bangs journeys through a perfect mix of wilderness and civilization amid spectacular landscapes, unique culinary attractions and luxurious mountain resorts. The Adirondacks are home to Adirondack Park, the largest natural wilderness area in the Eastern United States, and Lake Placid, the only North American city to have hosted two separate Winter Olympics (1932 and 1980). In the Catskills, Bangs explores the natural beauty and celebrated hospitality that make the region one of the nation’s premiere vacation retreats. Alongside a vast array of outdoor adventures with hundreds of lakes, streams and trails, unique places to stay include mountaintop resorts, family dude ranches and charming inns where guests are surrounded by natural beauty and mountain landscapes at every turn.
“Orbitz is a leader in leveraging innovative media platforms that connect passionate travelers to beautiful destinations with a wide range of activities and attractions,” said Josh Winkler, vice president of partner marketing at Orbitz Worldwide. “Previous ‘Orbitz Originals’ installments have seen tremendous success driving travel to international locations such as Ireland and the Cayman Islands, so we’re thrilled to feature New York as the first U.S. destination in the ‘Originals’ series.”
*Source: The Traveler’s Road to Decision, Google and Ipsos MediaCT (July 2012)
About Orbitz Worldwide
Orbitz Worldwide is a leading global online travel company that uses innovative technology to enable leisure and business travelers to research, plan and book a broad range of travel products. Orbitz Worldwide owns a portfolio of consumer brands that includes Orbitz (www.orbitz.com), CheapTickets (www.cheaptickets.com), ebookers (www.ebookers.com), HotelClub (www.hotelclub.com), RatesToGo (www.ratestogo.com) and the Away Network (www.away.com). Also within the Orbitz Worldwide family, Orbitz Worldwide Distribution (corp.orbitz.com/partnerships/distribution) delivers private label travel solutions to a broad range of partners including many of the world’s largest airlines, and Orbitz for Business (www.orbitzforbusiness.com) delivers managed corporate travel solutions for corporations. For more information on partnership opportunities with Orbitz Worldwide, visit corp.orbitz.com.
Orbitz Worldwide uses its Investor Relations website to make information available to its investors and the public at investors.orbitz.com. The public can sign up to receive email alerts whenever the company posts new information to the website.
About Orbitz.com
Orbitz.com is a leading online travel company that enables travelers to search for and book an array of travel products and services, including flights, hotels, car rentals, cruises, and vacation packages. Since launching its website in June 2001, Orbitz.com has become one of the largest online travel sites in the world and has led the industry with innovations including the Orbitz Matrix Display and Orbitz Price Assurance. The Matrix Display revolutionized the way the travel industry displayed fares and makes it quick and easy for consumers to compare flights, rental cars and vacation packages. Orbitz.com also offers “Insider Steals,” a weekly, members-only flash sale that provides exclusive deals of 50% or more off of handpicked hotels in top destinations around the world as well as “Mobile Steals,” exclusive hotel deals of up to 50% off in the most popular destinations around the world, available to mobile consumers via m.orbitz.com and the full suite of Orbitz mobile apps. On Orbitz.com consumers can search a broad range of suppliers worldwide. Orbitz.com is owned by Orbitz Worldwide. Stay connected to Orbitz.com with sale alerts, exclusive promotions and engaging conversations by following Orbitz on Facebook, Twitter and the Orbitz Travel Blog.
About New York State
New York State features 11 beautiful vacation regions. New York’s attractions span from landmarks such as Niagara Falls to the wine trails of Hudson Valley and treasures like the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. Whether it’s wide-ranging outdoor activities for the whole family like ice-fishing, snowmobiling, skiing and snowboarding, culinary wonders and farm-to-table fresh foods, or the rich history and culture of one of the 13 original colonies, New York State offers big excitement and tons activities for all travelers. For more information, visit http://www.iloveny.com/winter for all of our winter activities. Media can find press releases and more at thebeat.iloveny.com.
SOURCE Orbitz Worldwide
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