:Expedia

{{About|the Expedia.com travel website and mobile app|the parent company|Expedia Group}}

{{Infobox website

| name = Expedia Inc.

| logo = Expedia Logo 2023.svg

| logo_size = 225px

| logocaption =

| url = {{URL|https://www.expedia.com|expedia.com}}

| commercial = Yes

| company_type = Subsidiary

| type = {{hlist|Travel agency|Metasearch engine}}

| registration = Yes

| owner = Expedia Group

| launch_date = {{Start date and age|1996|10|22}}

| current_status = Active

}}

Expedia Inc. is an online travel agency owned by Expedia Group, based in Seattle.{{cite news|url=https://www.king5.com/article/tech/expedia-begins-move-from-bellevue-to-seattle/281-93c52582-a4a5-403a-9a4f-d6b94a7d4434|title=Look inside the new Expedia HQ in Seattle and company's commuting policy|work=KING-TV|date=October 8, 2019}} The website and mobile app can be used to book airline tickets, hotel reservations, car rentals, cruise ships, and vacation packages. Expedia.com was launched on October 22, 1996 by Microsoft.{{Cite web |url=https://news.microsoft.com/1996/10/22/microsoft-expedia-travel-services-debuts-on-the-web/ |title=Microsoft Expedia Travel Services Debuts on the Web | work=Microsoft | date=October 22, 1996 }}

History

Sponsorships

Starting the 2018-21 cycle, Expedia Group became the first-ever global sponsor of the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Super Cup as Expedia extended to another season until 2024, but downgraded to the regional basis which it focuses to the U.S. market only starting in 2022–23 season as Hotels.com ended the sponsorship after 2021-22 season.{{cite press release|url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/026c-12f737c361b6-cf2ebeefd9b4-1000--expedia-group-extends-uefa-champions-league-partnership/|title=Expedia Group extends UEFA Champions League partnership|date=10 August 2021|access-date=10 August 2021|publisher=UEFA|location=Nyon}}

Starting the pandemic-hit 2020-21 season, Expedia struck the deal with the 2020 English champions, Liverpool F.C. as a global sponsor of the website in 3 seasons until 2023.

In July 2021, Expedia became Wrexham A.F.C.'s shirt back sponsor.{{Cite web |date=July 14, 2021 |title=COMMERCIAL {{!}} WREXHAM AFC EMBARKS ON A JOURNEY WITH EXPEDIA |url=https://www.wrexhamafc.co.uk/news/2021/july/commercial--wrexham-afc-embarks-on-a-journey-with-expedia/ |access-date=January 25, 2024 |website=www.wrexhamafc.co.uk |language=en-gb}}

Criticism and legal issues

=Delays in refunds of flights cancelled due to COVID-19=

In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, customers complained regarding the process to get refunds for cancelled flights. Customers complained of excessively long call times and being unable to get through to a representative.{{Cite news | url=https://www.wftv.com/news/action9/consumers-grow-frustrated-with-expedia-over-covid-19-refunds/LRJUN2R3EFGFPDUVAPF3XTNBLU/ | title=Consumers grow frustrated with Expedia over COVID-19 refunds | first=Todd | last=Ulrich | work=WFTV | date=February 5, 2021}} This led to many lawsuits.{{cite news | url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/news/2020/09/09/expedia-sued-refusing-refunds-pandemic/5763768002/ |title=Traveler sues Expedia for refusing refunds on canceled flights during COVID-19 pandemic |work=USA Today | date=September 9, 2020}}{{cite news |url=https://www.courthousenews.com/hotels-accuse-expedia-orbitz-of-brazen-deceit/ | title=Hotels Accuse Expedia, Orbitz of Brazen Deceit | work=Courthouse News Service | first=MATTHEW | last=RENDA | date=August 19, 2016}}

=False advertising and trademark violation=

In August 2016, Buckeye Tree Lodge and Sequoia Village Inn, LLC filed a class-action lawsuit in California accusing the company and its partners of violating trademark rights of numerous independent hotel and motel establishments by running advertising implying that consumers could book reservations for those hotels on Expedia even though Expedia had no relationship with those hotels, in violation of the Lanham Act, and also falsely noting that hotels with which the company had no relationship were "sold out".{{cite web |url=https://dockets.justia.com/docket/california/candce/3:2016cv04721/302190 |title=Buckeye Tree Lodge and Sequoia Village Inn, LLC v. Expedia, Inc. et al |work=Justia |date=August 17, 2016}} In April 2021, the lawsuit was settled and the company promised not to engage in false advertising.{{cite news |url=https://www.courthousenews.com/expedia-settles-false-advertising-class-action-with-hotels/ |title=Expedia Settles False Advertising Class Action With Hotels | first=NICHOLAS | last=IOVINO | work=Courthouse News Service | date=April 9, 2021}}