Sydney, 7th May – Expedia®, the world’s leading online travel company, today unveiled its annual Expedia Insiders’ Select™ list of the world’s best hotels (www.expedia.com/insidersselect). Marking the second annual ranking, the list is comprised of the top hotels from among a selection of nearly 80,000 properties worldwide available on Expedia.

Five Australian hotels made it to this exclusive list of the world’s top hotels, with On the Beach Holiday Apartments in Trinity Beach in Tropical North Queensland named Australia’s best (72nd place overall). Three Sydney hotels (Four Seasons, Swissotel and Shangri-La) also secured positions on the list, while the Courtyard by Marriott in Surfers Paradise also rated a listing.

The Sofitel Chicago Water Tower in the United States was named the world’s best hotel.

“The Expedia Insiders’ Select list makes it easier for Australian travellers to sort through thousands of hotel options to choose the best hotel for their trip,” said Kristi Barrow, Marketing Director Australia and New Zealand. “Expedia has the captured the experiences of millions of hotel guests, and combined them with a value rating and local destination expertise to help travellers identify the best hotels in the world for the best value.”

The list represents the variety of hotel types and destinations offered on Expedia. One characteristic all Insiders’ Select hotels have in common is that they have been recognised by Expedia travellers for consistently delivering excellent service, a great overall experience and a notable value.

The list is comprised of hotels ranging from boutique to chain properties in a variety of small, mid-sized and large destinations. The list also represents Expedia’s global selection of hotel properties, from favourites in the US like The Sanderling Resort & Spa on North Carolina 's Outer Banks and Chateau on the Lake in Branson, Mo., to international favourites like The Ritz-Carlton in Dubai.

The Expedia Insiders’ Select list was compiled using a weighted mathematical formula that includes several factors including:
• Expedia’s collection of hundreds of thousands of Traveler Opinions® - hotel reviews created by Expedia travellers who recently stayed at the property;
• A value rating determined by comparing hotels within the same star-rating and geographical region to identify hotels that deliver a notable value for the experience they offer; and
• Local expertise and insight from hundreds of Expedia employees in destinations throughout the world.


Highlights include:
• Number 1 overall: Sofitel Chicago Water Tower -- Chicago, Ill.
• Number 1 in Asia: Cerulean Tower Tokyu Hotel -- Tokyo, Japan
• Number 1 in Europe: The Knight Residence -- Edinburgh, Scotland
• Top Resort Worldwide: JW Marriott Cancun Resort & Spa -- Cancun, Mexico

Ms Barrow said that all of Expedia’s Traveler Opinions® are accessible from the
Expedia.com.au site. She said this was essential, given consumers’ increased interest in traveller feedback as part of their overall research when booking their trips.

“Through Expedia’s Traveler Opinions®, Australian travellers planning their trips can
access real traveller reviews and opinions on more than 23,000 destinations and
80,000 hotels and attractions around the world,” she said.

The full list is available at www.expedia.com/insiderselect

Top Ten Hotels Worldwide:

1 Sofitel Chicago Water Tower, Chicago, USA
Designed by the French architect Jean-Paul Viguier, the Sofitel Chicago Water Tower is a 32-floor prism of glass, boasting 415 rooms, including 33 luxurious suites.
The hotel is perfectly positioned in downtown Chicago just minutes from the Magnificent Mile, Michigan Avenue, the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Art Institute, and trendy boutiques.


2 JW Marriott Cancun Resort & Spa, Cancun, Mexico
The JW Marriott Cancun Resort & Spa has 448 exquisite guest rooms which are opulently furnished with 32-inch flat-panel LCD televisions, Marriott's sumptuous Revive Bedding, and private balconies with stunning views of Cancun's white sand beaches and the turquoise waters of the Caribbean. Rated one of the top spas in Mexico, this exclusive Mayan-inspired spa features 35,000 sq. ft. of spiritual revitalization.

3 Hotel 1000, Seattle, USA
The tech savvy Hotel 1000 invites guests to relax at the trendy BOKA restaurant, enjoy the luxury of a full-service spa, and get some exercise at the virtual golf club showcasing courses from around the world. Guestrooms feature extra-soft Thai linens, 40-inch LCD TVs with surround sound, and phones with VOIP. Bathrooms have ceiling-fed pedestal tubs, walk-in showers, and Molton Brown toiletries.

4 Royal Palms Resort and Spa, Phoenix, USA
Privacy remains the ultimate luxury at Royal Palms Resort and Spa. Enchanting stone walkways curve throughout the property, inviting guests to indulge in a leisurely stroll amongst the fragrant citrus groves and exotic foliage. Each room has an old world charm, many appointed with a breathtaking collection of European antiques, tiles and artifacts. Set in the Valley of the Sun, the resort is located in the beautiful Phoenix-Scottsdale resort community, with the majestic Camelback Mountain providing a striking visual backdrop.

5 Vino Bello Resort, Northern California, USA
Vino Bello Resort offers spacious condo style suites richly decorated in a contemporary Tuscan décor. The resort is surrounded by picturesque vineyards in the heart of the wine country. In room spa treatments as well as wine tasting experiences are available at this exquisite destination.


6 Cerulean Tower Tokyu Hotel, Tokyo, Japan
The Cerulean Tower displays the tranquil ambience of Japan. Incredible views and refined service allow guests to relax in complete luxury. All 414 guest rooms offer breathtaking views and are located from the 19th-37th floors. Rooms provide comfort with modern plush interiors and many even have panoramic views from the bathroom.


7 The Regent Palms, Turks and Caicos Islands
The Regent Palms is a 72-suite resort situated on world-famous Grace Bay Beach in The Turks and Caicos Islands. Just steps from powder fine sands and azure waters, guests enjoy The Regent Palms' elegantly appointed luxury rooms with a choice of one, two or three bedroom suites. World-class amenities include a 25,000 square foot spa and two signature restaurants.


8 Argosy Casino Hotel and Spa, Kansas City, USA
The Argosy Casino Hotel blends the pure excitement of a hot Las Vegas night with the cool enchantment of the Mediterranean into one amazing experience. Under a domed stain-glass ceiling, amid hand-made Moroccan tile, intricate in-laid terrazzo floors and artist-rendered finishes, this hotel will bring to life a Mediterranean village with charming streetscapes and the warmth of old-world architecture.

9 The Sanderling Resort and Spa, North Carolina, USA
The Sanderling Resort & Spa on North Carolina 's Outer Banks touches the shores of the majestic Atlantic Ocean. Its unique natural environment and secluded ocean beaches offer guests an exclusive setting in which to relax and unwind.

10 The Knight Residence, Edinburgh, Scotland
When enjoying a visit to a vibrant city like Edinburgh, The Knight Residence offers a place to stay where you can feel at home. The beds have been handmade to the hotel specifications providing guests with the soundest of sleeps, and the sofas are large and inviting - ideal to sink into after a hectic day at work or play. Situated in the heart of Scotland's bustling capital city The Knight Residence is within walking distance to the cities main attractions.




Notes to Editors

About the Expedia Insiders’ Select list (Methodology):

Expedia’s Insiders’ Select list is an authoritative list of the world’s best hotels, drawing on Expedia’s collection of hundreds of thousands of Traveler Opinions, combined with a value rating and the local market expertise of more than 400 Expedia employees in local markets worldwide. The Insiders’ Select represents only a small percentage - about one percent - of all hotels offered on Expedia.com. In order to be eligible for inclusion in the Insiders’ Select list, hotels must have a minimum number of Traveler Opinions posted on Expedia.com, and a minimum average Traveler Opinions score of 4.0.


About Expedia.com.au
Expedia, Inc. (NASDAQ: EXPE), the world's leading online travel company, operates Expedia.com.au (http://www.expedia.com.au) in Australia and also has localised versions for travellers in the US, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Austria, Ireland, Belgium, New Zealand, Japan, India and China, through its investment in eLong™. Expedia.com.au helps Australians plan and book their travel by providing a wide selection of holiday packages, flights, hotels, hire cars and attractions to suit their travel needs. Expedia.com.au licenses technology from Arnold Travel Technology (ARNOLD) to support stand-alone domestic flight bookings.