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Expedia enhances site usability with social search solution

July 23, 2008 | Online Travel

While travelers have long been able to browse Expedia.com for information on specific types of trips, such as golf or beach vacations, the new search box in the upper right-hand corner of the site enables them to enter innumerable travel-related search terms.

Expedia is using Baynote Social Search to complement the site’s existing travel booking engine. Baynote Social Search refines search results, based on what other searchers have found most useful or most interesting. Now Expedia® customers are able to use organic search terms to find travel inspiration, trip planning tools and the information they need to help them plan the perfect trip.

“Baynote’s Social Search technology is a great fit for Expedia because the collective input from our millions of monthly visitors constantly improves the relevance of the search results,” said Tom Taylor, director of strategy for Expedia.

While travelers have long been able to browse Expedia.com for information on specific types of trips, such as golf or beach vacations, the new search box in the upper right-hand corner of the site enables them to enter innumerable travel-related search terms. For example, one Expedia customer may search for something very specific, such as ‘San Diego beachfront hotels,’ while another may enter a broader query, such as ‘beach vacation.’ Though the queries are different, the customers may actually be looking for the same thing.

Added Taylor, “The Baynote solution is able to deliver the most relevant results based on what other Expedia customers have previously found most useful for similar queries.”

“Baynote’s search application supports Expedia’s efforts to continually improve their customers’ experience,” said Jack Jia, CEO for Baynote. “We are thrilled to be working with the online travel industry pioneer, and our work with Expedia represents Baynote’s focus on delivering value to the travel industry.”

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