View source for Travelocity

{{Short description|Online travel agency}}
{{Infobox website
| name = Travelocity.com
| logo = Travelocity logo.svg
| company_type = [[Subsidiary]]
| type = [[Travel agency]]
| founded = {{Start date and age|1996|1}}
| location_city = [[Dallas]], [[Texas]]
| location_country = U.S.
| industry = [[Travel]]
| parent = [[Expedia Group]]
| website = {{URL|https://www.travelocity.com/}}
}}

'''Travelocity''' is an online [[travel agency]] owned by the American travel group [[Expedia Group]]. One of the pioneers of web-based [[disintermediation]], Travelocity was the first [[website]] that allowed consumers the ability to purchase travel tickets without the help of a person.<ref name=jones/> In addition to airfares, the site also permits consumers to book hotel rooms, rental cars, cruises and packaged vacations.<ref name=skift/>

==History==
=== Early history ===
Travelocity has origins to 1978 when [[American Airlines]] began offering travel agencies access to its electronic reservation system known as [[Sabre (computer system)|Sabre]]. In the mid-1980s, began offering it to consumers under the eAAsySabre brand name on both [[CompuServe]] and [[GEnie]].<ref>{{cite news | last=Gutis | first=Philip S. | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/12/23/style/more-trips-start-at-a-home-computer.html | title=More Trips Start at a Home Computer | work=[[The New York Times]] | date=December 23, 1989 | url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | last=Lewis | first=Peter H. | url=https://archive.nytimes.com/query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage-9E0CE2D7163EF931A25752C0A964958260.html | title=Booking With a Computer | work=[[The New York Times]] | date=January 12, 1992 | url-access=subscription}}</ref> The CEO of eAAsySabre was Kathy Misunas.<ref name=skift>{{cite web | url=https://skift.com/history-of-online-travel/ | title=The Definitive oral history of online travel | last=Schaal | first=Dennis | year=2016 | publisher=[[Skift]]}}</ref> Under the "Saabre" brand, it was a popular feature of online services such as [[Prodigy_(online_service)|Prodigy]] and [[America Online]] in the early 1990s.<ref name=saabre95>{{cite web | url=https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/library/travel/practical/pt950910.html | title=Booking a Trip On the Internet | last=Baranger | first=Walter | date=September 10, 1995 | work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref>

Travelocity was officially created in 1995 as a [[joint venture]] between Worldview Systems Corporation and [[Sabre Corporation]]. The founding team at Worldview conceived of the idea in 1994 as an extension to their online travel database offering which had been distributed through Sabre, Bloomberg, AOL and many others. The founding team at Worldview joined with distribution partner Sabre in a 50-50 JV that resulted in the development and launch of Travelocity in 1995-1996.{{cn|date=August 2025}} In 1996, Worldview's investors, [[Advance Publications]] and [[Ameritech]], sold their stake in Travelocity to [[Sabre Corporation]]. It was run by long-time Sabre [[information technology]] executive [[Terry Jones (businessman)|Terry Jones]].<ref name=jones>{{cite news | url=https://www.phocuswire.com/How-to-innovate-Lessons-learned-the-hard-way-by-Travelocity-founder-Terry-Jones | title=How to innovate: Lessons learned the hard way by Travelocity founder Terry Jones | first=Sean | last=O'Neill | work=Phocuswire | date=October 18, 2012}}</ref> 

Travelocity gained popularity after a 1999 partnership with [[AOL]].<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Online-Travel/Travelocity-AOL-expand-partnership | title=Travelocity, AOL expand partnership | first=Dennis | last=Schaal | work=Travel Weekly | date=April 10, 2006}}</ref> In 2000, Sabre negotiated a merger of Travelocity with Preview Travel.<ref name=preview>{{cite press release | url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sabres-travelocitycom-and-preview-travel-to-merge-establishing-clear-leader-in-online-travel-76417582.html | title=Sabre's Travelocity.com and Preview Travel to Merge, Establishing Clear Leader in Online Travel | publisher=[[PR Newswire]] | date=October 4, 1999}}</ref> The resulting company was listed on the [[NASDAQ stock exchange]], with Sabre owning around 70% of the company.<ref name=preview/>

In March 2002, Sabre reacquired all outstanding shares of the brand via a [[tender offer]].<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/03/07/business/markets-market-place-trying-acquire-all-travelocity-sabre-finds-itself-struggle.html | title=THE MARKETS: Market Place; In trying to acquire all of Travelocity, Sabre finds itself in a struggle to regain what it once had | first=Floyd | last=Norris | author-link=Floyd Norris | work=[[The New York Times]] | date=March 7, 2002 | url-access=subscription}}</ref> Jones left the company shortly afterward, in May 2002.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.cnet.com/news/more-travelocity-execs-say-bon-voyage/ | title=More Travelocity execs say bon voyage | first=Greg | last=Sandoval | work=[[CNET]] | date=May 9, 2002}}</ref> It also acquired last minute travel specialist [[Site59.com]] the same year.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB1017100538561250680 | title=Travelocity.com Agrees to Buy Rival Site59.com for $43 Million | first=KORTNEY | last=STRINGER | work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] | date=March 26, 2002 | url-access=subscription}}</ref> The CEO and founder of Site59, [[Michelle Peluso]], joined Travelocity with the acquisition as senior vice president, product strategy and distribution. Peluso became Travelocity's COO in April 2003 and was then named president and chief executive officer of Travelocity in December 2003.<ref name=skift/> Many members of Peluso's former management team at Site59 were appointed to senior management positions at Travelocity.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Online-Travel/Travelocity-restructures-with-a-global-focus | title=Travelocity restructures with a global focus | first=Dennis | last=Schaal | work=Travel Weekly | date=January 20, 2009}}</ref>

In 2004, Travelocity introduced an advertising campaign known as "[[Where Is My Gnome?]]".<ref>{{cite news | url=https://slate.com/business/2004/02/travelocity-s-spokesgnome.html | title=Gnome Is Where the Heart Is | first=Seth | last=Stevenson | work=[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]] | date=February 16, 2004}}</ref> In 2005, Travelocity acquired [[lastminute.com]] for £577 million.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/05/12/travelocity_buys_lastminute/ | title=Travelocity buys Lastminute.com for £577m | first=Tim | last=Richardson | work=[[The Register]] | date=12 May 2005}}</ref> The acquisition included allhotels.com, which was founded in 1997 by Richard Irwin, acquired by Online Travel Corporation (OTC) in 2002 for £1.4 million,<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.hospitalitynet.org/news/4013564.html | title=Online Travel Corporation (OTC) Buys All-Hotels | publisher=Hospitalitynet.org | date=24 September 2002}}</ref> and later acquired by lastminute.com in 2004.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.phocuswire.com/Travelocity-revs-up-allhotels-as-an-answer-to-Priceline-in-Europe-Asia-Latin-America | title=Travelocity revs up allhotels as an answer to Priceline in Europe, Asia, Latin America | work=Phocuswire | date=April 30, 2010}}</ref>

In January 2009, CEO [[Michelle Peluso]] announced her resignation and was replaced by Sabre executive [[Hugh Jones (professor)|Hugh Jones]].<ref>{{cite press release | url=https://www.sabre.com/insights/releases/hugh-jones-to-head-travelocity-global-as-michelle-peluso-announces-departure/ | title=Hugh Jones to Head Travelocity Global as Michelle Peluso Announces Departure | publisher=Sabre | date=January 7, 2009}}</ref> In April 2011, president and CEO Hugh Jones moved to a position at Sabre and [[Gilt Groupe]] president Carl Sparks was brought in as president and CEO of Travelocity. Sparks had been general manager of [[Hotels.com]] and was previously chief marketing officer of [[Expedia]].<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.phocuswire.com/Travelocity-replaces-CEO-with-former-Hotels-com-exec | title=Travelocity replaces CEO with former Hotels.com exec | work=Phocuswire | date=April 4, 2011}}</ref>

In December 2012, Travelocity sold Zuji to Webjet for $25 million.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.phocuswire.com/Travelocity-sells-Asia-Pacific-agency-Zuji-to-Webjet-for-25-million | title=Travelocity sells Asia-Pacific agency Zuji to Webjet for $25 million | first=Kevin | last=May | work=Phocuswire | date=December 12, 2012}}</ref> In June 2013, Travelocity Business, a corporate travel agency, was sold to [[Atlanta, Georgia]]-based [[BCD Travel]].<ref>{{cite press release | url=https://www.bcdtravel.com/bcd-travel-acquires-travelocity-business-from-travelocity/ | title=BCD Travel acquires Travelocity Business from Travelocity | publisher=[[BCD Travel]] | date=June 18, 2013}}</ref> In August 2013, Expedia Inc. announced an agreement with Travelocity to power its United States and Canadian websites.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/news/2013/08/23/travelocity-and-expedia-virtually-merge/2691869/ | title=Expedia to provide key services for rival Travelocity | first=Charisse | last=Jones | work=[[USA Today]] | date=23 August 2013}}</ref> In November 2013, Travelocity shut down its IgoUgo website.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.phocuswire.com/RIP-IgoUgo-the-review-site-Travelocity-wanted-to-compete-with-TripAdvisor | title=RIP IgoUgo - the review site Travelocity wanted to compete with TripAdvisor | work=Phocuswire | date=November 19, 2013}}</ref>

In May 2014, CEO Carl Sparks stepped down as CEO of Travelocity.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/blog/2014/05/has-ceo-carl-sparks-ended-his-trip-withtravelocity.html | title=Has CEO Carl Sparks ended his trip with Travelocity? | work=[[American City Business Journals]] | date= May 8, 2014}}</ref> After the departure of Sparks, Roshan Mendis, President of Travelocity was named to manage operations of Travelocity's operations in the Americas, while Matthew Crummack, CEO of [[lastminute.com]] was named to manage operations in Europe. In December 2014, Travelocity sold [[lastminute.com]] to Swiss-based Bravofly Rumbo for £76 million.<ref>{{cite news | title=Lastminute.com sold to Swiss travel firm in £76m deal | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-30506227 | work=[[BBC News]] | date=16 December 2014}}</ref>

=== 2015 to present; Ownership by Expedia ===

In January 2015, Sabre sold Travelocity to [[Expedia, Inc.]] for $280 million.<ref>{{cite news | last=Dastin | first=Jeffrey | url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-expedia-m-a-idUSKBN0KW2DB20150123 | title=Expedia Inc acquires Travelocity in $280 million deal | work=[[Reuters]] | date=January 23, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://dealbook.nytimes.com/2015/01/23/expedia-buys-travelocity-for-280-million-in-cash/ | title=Expedia Buys Travelocity for $280 Million in Cash | first=Michael J. | last=De La Merced | work=[[The New York Times]] | date=23 January 2015 | url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/amitchowdhry/2015/01/25/expedia-has-acquired-travelocity-for-280-million-in-cash/ | title=Expedia Has Acquired Travelocity For $280 Million In Cash | first=Amit | last=Chowdhry | work=[[Forbes]] | date=25 January 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-expedia-travelocity-20150123-story.html | title=Expedia buys rival Travelocity for $280 million | first=Javier | last=Panzar | work=[[Los Angeles Times]] | date=23 January 2015 | url-access=subscription}}</ref> The same year, it hired Assembly in New York to handle US media. Until then, media had been handled by Publics Groupe's Zenith Media.<ref>{{cite news | last=Gianatasio | first=David | title=Travelocity Hires a New Media Agency to Crack the Code Around Millennials | url=https://www.adweek.com/brand-marketing/travelocity-hires-new-media-agency-crack-code-around-millennials-167887/ | work=[[AdWeek]] | date=November 2, 2015}}</ref> It also relaunched its Travel for Good program that offers a $5,000 grant for a selected volunteer to participate in volunteer travel programs with various nonprofit organizations, including [[Habitat for Humanity]], [[Globe Aware]], and the [[American Hiking Society]].<ref>{{cite press release | url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/travelocity-relaunches-travel-for-good-grant-program-for-voluntourist-hopefuls-300145803.html | title=Travelocity Relaunches Travel for Good Grant Program for "Voluntourist" Hopefuls | publisher=[[PR Newswire]] | date=September 21, 2015}}</ref>

In February 2016, Travelocity launched its Wander Wisely advertising campaign featuring the Roaming Gnome and "The Customer 1st Guarantee". The tagline was also changed from "Go and Smell the Roses" to "Wander Wisely".<ref>{{cite press release | url=https://www.prweb.com/releases/travelocity_launches_new_advertising_campaign_wander_wisely_/prweb13234594.htm | title=Travelocity Launches New Advertising Campaign: "Wander Wisely" | publisher=PRWeb | date=February 26, 2016}}</ref> It has also been a longstanding sponsor of the American reality show ''[[The Amazing Race (American TV series)|The Amazing Race]]'', sponsoring the series from the first season until season 34, when they were replaced by parent company Expedia.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.clickz.com/the-dangers-of-amazing-media-sponsorships/56135/|title=The Dangers of Amazing Media Sponsorships|work=ClickZ|last=Wegert|first=Tessa|date=November 13, 2008|access-date=December 16, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/2022/11/amazing-race-34-episode-8-la-ville-rose-recap/|title=In another old-school Amazing Race episode, struggles to navigate permeate|work=Reality Blurred|last=Dehnart|first=Andy|date=November 9, 2022|access-date=December 9, 2023}}</ref>

==Controversies==
===Drop pricing; exclusion of surcharges===
In July 2012, the [[United States Department of Transportation]] (DOT) fined Travelocity $180,000 after discovering that Travelocity's "flexible dates tool" did not always include [[fuel surcharge]]s that were part of many international airfares, in violation of DOT rules requiring all carrier-imposed surcharges and fees to be included in every advertised fare. In addition, the DOT found that the customer was informed only on the final page before purchasing the ticket that some itineraries required a paper ticket with a minimum additional delivery fee of $29.95.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://thehill.com/policy/transportation/240777-travelocity-fined-for-violating-dot-airfare-advertising-rules | title=Travelocity fined for violating DOT airfare advertising rules | first=KEITH | last=LAING | work=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]] | date=July 27, 2012}}</ref>

===Cancellation of trips booked with promo code===
In August 2012, Travelocity offered a $200 coupon code to attendees at the [[National Federation of the Blind]] annual conference in Dallas. After the NFB posted the code on [[Twitter]] without mentioning the attendee restriction, Travelocity re-tweeted it without noticing the error but deleted the tweet a day later. After some travel blogs and message boards re-posted the code, many ineligible travelers used the code.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/bs-tr-travelocity-nfb-20120809-story.html | title=Travelocity NFB dispute | first=Michelle | last=Deal-Zimmerman | work=[[The Baltimore Sun]] | date=August 10, 2012 | url-access=subscription}}</ref> Travelocity responded by cancelling all trips of people that used the code who were not on the list of attendees at the NFB annual conference. This resulted in a barrage of complaints from customers.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2012/08/10/good-deed-gone-viral-creates-web-headache-for-travelocity | title=Good Deed Gone Viral Creates Web Headache for Travelocity | first=Danielle | last=Kurtzleben | work=[[U.S. News & World Report]] | date=August 10, 2012}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{official website|www.travelocity.com}}
*{{official website|http://www.travelocity.ca/|name=Canadian website}}{{flag|CAN}} [http://www.travelocity.ca/?&langid=3084 (French)]

{{Travel ticket search engines}}
{{Webby Awards|cat=Travel|year=1997|type=Nominee|cat2=Travel|year2=1998|type2=Nominee|cat3=Commerce|year3=2001|type3=winner}}
{{Expedia, Inc.}}

[[Category:Expedia Group]]
[[Category:American travel websites]]
[[Category:American companies established in 1996]]
[[Category:Hospitality companies established in 1996]]
[[Category:Internet properties established in 1996]]
[[Category:2015 mergers and acquisitions]]
[[Category:Travel ticket search engines]]
[[Category:Online travel agencies]]
[[Category:Companies based in Dallas]]