Online Video Series Now Available on New Orbitz Travel Guides App on Amazon Fire TV & Fire TV Stick

CHICAGO, June 29, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Chicago-based online travel company Orbitz Worldwide (NYSE:OWW) has partnered with its home state Illinois Office of Tourism to launch "Orbitz Originals: Illinois," a seven-part online video series hosted by award-winning travel expert Richard Bangs. The series is available for viewing on the all-new Orbitz Travel Guides app on Amazon Fire TV & Fire TV Stick as well as Orbitz.com/Illinois. Supported by hotel discounts of up to 20 percent and substantial flight and hotel package savings, this thirteenth installment of the "Orbitz Originals" series once again uses the power of online video to inspire travelers and increase bookings to one of the premier states of America's heartland.

Research continues to point to the importance of destination video content in consumers' purchasing behavior. YouTube has seen views of travel content spike by 118 percent year-over-year, according to a recent study and whitepaper released by Google. 1 The study also found that two out of three U.S. consumers watch online travel videos when they're thinking about taking a trip, and that "searches on YouTube generally occur earlier in the travel-planning process...a strong video strategy can help brands reach, inspire and engage today's digitally savvy traveler in more ways than ever before."

"Orbitz Originals: Illinois," give viewers an intimate and in-depth account of the range of travel experiences that can only be found in Illinois. Destinations featured include Alton, Chicago, Galena, Lake County, Southern Illinois wine country, and Starved Rock State Park/Utica area.

Some select highlights from the seven-part series:

  • Orbitz Originals: Illinois - Chicago may be its crown jewel, but there's plenty to do and see across the Prairie State. Orbitz and Richard Bangs show you the best of Illinois, where you can sample local wineries, hunt for ghosts and ride some roaring roller coasters. Along the way, you'll also enjoy stunning natural features, family-friendly small towns and some of Chicago's greatest cultural wonders.
  • Thrill-seekers and families welcome - No matter how high your threshold for fun, Gurnee may blow you away. Get your adrenaline pumping as Bangs visits the many rides and roller coasters at Six Flags and the sprawling waterpark at KeyLime Cove Resort.
  • Get back to nature at Starved Rock - Stray from the beaten track-and onto picturesque dirt trails-as Bangs explores the natural wonders of Starved Rock. He uncovers some of the best spots to disconnect from the daily grind, where you can enjoy canyons, waterfalls and forest trails as bald eagles soar overhead.
  • Things that go bump in the night - Face your fears as Bangs experiences a brush with the paranormal at Mineral Springs Hotel. It's the most haunted place in Alton, a Southern Illinois town with a spine-chilling reputation.

"What makes Illinois so unique is the different types of experiences you can have here, from the world-class cultural mecca of Chicago to the tranquil beauty of Shawnee National Forest," said Cory Jobe, Illinois state travel director. "Who better than Richard Bangs to take a close look at what makes Illinois so great, and discover the one-of-a-kind experiences that should put Illinois at the top of anyone's must-visit list."

To date, "Orbitz Originals" videos highlighting Cancun, the Cayman Islands, Qatar Airways, Vermont, Western Ireland, New York, Northern Ireland, Bradenton, Florida, Puerto Rico, Jackson Hole, and Bermuda and Australia's Northern Territory have been viewed over 3.25 million times by travelers seeking inspiration for future trips. Bookings to those destinations have experienced double-digit growth over the life of each campaign. All editions of Orbitz Originals can be found on the Orbitz YouTube channel. Plus, owners of the Amazon Fire TV or Fire TV Stick can now access these videos by downloading the Orbitz Travel Guides app for Fire TV.

"As a company founded and headquartered in Illinois, Orbitz is proud to partner with the Office of Tourism on this fantastic video series that really showcases this great state," said Josh Winkler, Orbitz Worldwide vice president of partner marketing. "We have found that using video as inspiration is a critical step in the travel planning process, and that along with Richard Bangs' unique perspective and expert recommendations, travelers will see Illinois as the premier destination it is and come check out all that it has to offer."

1Travel Content Takes Off on YouTube, Google and Ipsos MediaCT (August 2014)

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 contacts:
Orbitz WorldwideTrevor Kight
+1 312-260-8198
trevor.kight@orbitz.com
Orbitz Worldwide Inc.
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