Hotwire.com Reveals Top 10 Destinations for New Year's Eve Celebrations

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Chicago has done it again. For the fourth straight year, the Windy City is the top destination to ring in the New Year, according to discount travel authority Hotwire.com(TM). Travelers are also popping champagne and singing "Auld Lang Syne" in Orlando, Atlanta, Los Angeles and San Francisco as 2007 winds down. Now in its fourth year, the Hotwire(R) Top 10 Destinations for New Year's Eve List includes newcomers San Diego, Dallas-Fort Worth, Newark and Toronto.

"Chicago continues to be the top spot to kiss the year goodbye because of its winning combination of low-priced, high-quality accommodations and its menu of exciting New Year's Eve entertainment options," said Barbara Messing, vice president and travel expert at Hotwire "Any of these top 10 destinations can offer affordable, last-minute ideas for revelers looking to squeeze in one last hurrah to a memorable 2007."

    The top 10 destinations for New Year's Eve 2007, according to hotel
bookings on Hotwire.com, include the following (2006 rankings in parentheses,
where applicable):

    1.  Chicago (1)                                 6.  San Diego
    2.  Orlando (3)                                 7.  Dallas - Fort Worth
    3.  Atlanta (2)                                 8.  Newark
    4.  Los Angeles (7)                             9.  Las Vegas (6)
    5.  San Francisco (5)                           10. Toronto

Added Messing: "When business travelers go home for the holidays, many big-city hotels attract consumers by offering four-star rooms for two-star prices. This makes New Year's Eve not only a great night to celebrate, but a more affordable time for people to get away and recharge their batteries."

Below are examples of hotel rates recently booked on Hotwire for stays during New Year's Eve weekend*:

    -- $64 / night              4-star hotel, Dallas, Galleria
    -- $83 / night              4-star hotel, Atlanta, Buckhead
    -- $85 / night              4-star hotel, Las Vegas, Downtown
    -- $92 / night              4-star hotel, Chicago, Loop
    -- $92 / night              4-star hotel, Los Angeles, Downtown
    -- $93 / night              3.5-star hotel, Orlando, Downtown
    -- $112 / night             4-star hotel, San Francisco, Union Square East

*Hotel rates shown are based on actual bookings made on Hotwire.com from December 3 - 19, 2007, for stays between December 28, 2007 - January 2, 2008. Hotel rates shown do not include applicable tax recovery charges and fees. However, total cost, including all applicable tax recovery charges and fees, is shown before bookings are made on Hotwire.com. All bookings are non-changeable and nonrefundable. Rates subject to availability. Because rates change all the time, Hotwire customers are encouraged to check rates for themselves.

About Hotwire.com

Hotwire.com(TM) is a leading discount travel site with low rates on airline tickets, hotel rooms, rental cars, cruises and vacation packages. Launched in 2000, Hotwire(R) negotiates deep discounts from its travel suppliers to help travelers book unsold airline seats, hotel rooms and rental cars. J.D. Power and Associates 2007 Independent Travel Web Site Satisfaction Study(SM) recognized Hotwire for ranking "Highest in Customer Satisfaction Among Independent Travel Web Sites, Two Years in a Row." Hotwire is an operating company of Expedia, Inc. (NASDAQ: EXPE) . CST: 2053390-40. NST: 20003-0209. For more information, visit http://www.hotwire.com/.

Hotwire, Hotwire.com and the Hotwire logo are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Hotwire, Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. Other logos or product and company names mentioned herein may be the property of their respective owners. (C) 2007 Hotwire, Inc. All rights reserved.

     Media Contact:
     Channing Barringer
     415.318.4239
     channing.barringer@fleishman.com