CHICAGO, June 26, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Orbitz.com team believes the journey really begins when all of its employees and customers are treated equally. In anticipation of the Supreme Court’s decision on marriage equality, the company today announced that it launched “SNAP for Equality” – a photo and video contest that celebrates the global progress of LGBT rights. Through August 31, consumers that tweet a photo or video demonstrating a celebration of equality, using the hashtag #OrbitzEqualityContest, will have a chance to win a first class trip to a marriage equality destination around the world.  

For each photo or video posted on Twitter during the contest period, Orbitz will make a donation to the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) and The Trevor Project, two organizations that continue the fight for full equality and the advancement of LGBT rights.1

“At Orbitz we’ve been advocates of equality and inclusion since our founding in 2001. As a signatory to the amicus brief calling on the Supreme Court to find gay marriage bans unconstitutional, I’m hopeful that the Supreme Court will make the right decision,” said Barney Harford, CEO of Orbitz Worldwide. “Whatever the Supreme Court’s decision however, we will continue to fight for full equality for everyone.”

Here’s how “SNAP for Equality” works:2

  • Follow @Orbitz on Twitter.
  • Take a “SNAP for Equality.” Both photos and videos of 15 seconds or less are welcome. Photos and videos should demonstrate a celebration of equality. See examples.
  • Tweet your “SNAP for Equality” using the hashtag #OrbitzEqualityContest. Tag a friend and if your photo or video wins, you will get a bonus first class flight in the U.S.


Photos and videos will be judged by an expert panel based on creativity (30%), fit to contest theme (30%), virality (30%) and quality (10%). The best photo and video submission stands to win:

  • Video Grand Prize:  Winner’s choice. A trip for two that includes business class roundtrip tickets to anywhere in Europe with marriage equality plus a three-night hotel stay. Or, a trip for four that includes first class roundtrip tickets to anywhere in the U.S. with marriage equality plus a three-night hotel stay.
  • Photo Grand Prize: A trip for two that includes first class roundtrip tickets to anywhere in the U.S. with marriage equality plus a three-night hotel stay.


For complete Official Rules or more details about the promotion, visit www.orbitz.com/equality.

Orbitz.com’s LGBT History
Orbitz Worldwide employs almost 1500 employees, including more than 800 at its Chicago corporate headquarters. Orbitz was the first online travel company to launch a microsite dedicated to gay and lesbian travel in 2002. The core values of tolerance, non-discrimination and equality are an integral part of Orbitz employment practices and marketing efforts. These core values have earned the company a perfect Corporate Equality Index score for eight consecutive years, HRC's Corporate Equality Award and two GLAAD Awards for LGBT-inclusive advertising. Visit www.orbitz.com/equality to see why Orbitz is one of the top travel sites for LGBT travelers and to take a look at Orbitz.com’s LGBT highlights.

Terms & Conditions:
1$.10 per qualifying tweet (must follow @orbitz and use the hashtag #OrbitzEqualityContest) to both the Human Rights Campaign and The Trevor Project. Limit one donation per person. Donation may be in the form of cash and/or flight barter.
2Entries will be judged on creativity, virality, quality and fit to contest theme. Photos and videos must be original and may not have been previously published or submitted in any other contest. The contest is open only to legal residents of the 50 U.S. states that are 18 years and older. No purchase necessary to enter or win. For complete rules and eligibility details, visit www.orbitz.com/equality.

About Orbitz.com
Orbitz.com is a travel website that enables consumers to search for and book a broad range of hotels, flights, car rentals,cruises, vacation packages and destination activities. Since launching in June 2001, Orbitz.com has become one of the world's largest online travel sites. Orbitz.com now offers the groundbreaking Orbitz Rewards loyalty program—the only program where customers can earn rewards immediately on flights, hotels and packages, and redeem instantly on tens of thousands of hotels worldwide. Use the Orbitz Rewards Visa® Card to earn even more rewards. Orbitz.com is the #1 way to book travel on mobile devices, be it using our apps (get them at orbitz.com/mobile) or our smartphone-optimized website (m.orbitz.com), both of which are tailored for smartphones and tablets. The Orbitz app won the 2014 Appy Award for best travel app. Follow Orbitz on Facebook, Twitter and through the Orbitz Travel Blog. Orbitz.com is operated by Orbitz Worldwide (NYSE:OWW).

About Orbitz Worldwide
Orbitz Worldwide (NYSE:OWW) is a global online travel company using technology to transform the way consumers around the world plan and purchase travel. Orbitz Worldwide operates the consumer travel planning sites Orbitz (orbitz.com), ebookers (ebookers.com), HotelClub (hotelclub.com) and CheapTickets (cheaptickets.com). Also within the Orbitz Worldwide family, Orbitz Partner Network (orbitzpartnernetwork.com) delivers private label travel technology solutions to a broad range of partners including some of the world's largest airlines, bank loyalty programs and travel agencies, and Orbitz for Business (orbitzforbusiness.com) delivers managed travel solutions for companies of all sizes. Orbitz Worldwide makes investor relations information available at investors.orbitz.com.

Media Contact:
Marita Hudson Thomas
+1-312-260-8304
marita.thomas@orbitz.com