Expedia History


In the year 1996, Microsoft launched an online travel booking site, called Expedia, which brought about a radical change in booking travel reservations. After three years, the online travel agency was released by Microsoft due to the fact that maintaining travel deals was not one of Microsoft's specialties. Other brand in the current day Expedia, Inc. portfolio has independently deepened their roots and began their respective courses of improvement.

It was during the onset of the new millennium that Expedia began its expansion to become and remain to be the world's leading online travel agency. In the year 2001, the company took possession of a number of other travel companies and expanded its scope of travel. The subsequent year, the IAC (InterActiveCorp) secured Expedia and ever since, has assisted it to grow as a travel company under it's' surveillance. During their time with IAC, Expedia has gained a valuable relationship with the parent company's travel partners. And in a good time of three years, IAC formally released its travel businesses under the name Expedia, Inc., which has become a parent company to a global portfolio of leading consumer brands.

Employing a mixture of 8,000 full-time and part-time employees across an international network of brands, Expedia also has an inclusion of 1,920 employees from eLong, Inc., which is their Chinese associate. In huge quantities, the responsibilities of these people all range from quality control and customer service, to securing the best selection of travel deals anywhere in the world. As a matter of fact, Expedia has deployed a number of their employees to the company's hotel and travel partners across the globe to ensure that the information they get is confirmed first hand and that the company's valued relationships with their associate dealers is maintained and strengthened.

The company website offers a variety of the best travel options and provides online coupons that give consumers the ability to get discounts on these deals. Whenever a customer applies for deals using an Expedia coupon, they can get a purchase fee discount that ranges from 20%, up to 50% off. Expedia's website also has a Last Minute Deals web page wherein travel deals that have almost reached their expiration date will be put up on sale with a 30% discount. Such deals are very suitable for individuals with a flexible schedule and those who are on a budget.

In addition, a page dedicated to help in the process of research, planning and booking travel deals is made available for consumers to use. For example, those interested in getting into a flight can read airline seat reviews about those that are available in that particular flight and pick one that would best suit them. The option to add activities in a booked trip is also available for customers that do not have an idea on what they could expect from their destination.

Coupons for Expedia are not easy to find though. Some customers have claimed to have bought these coupons from a different website. Find Savings, which is an online bargain-hunting website, gathers deals from products such as jewelry, electronics, food and drink, pets, office supplies, automotive, apparel, computer hardware and a host of other goods and services. The bottom point for this is that browsing search engines and websites connected with Expedia can be helpful in searching for discount coupons.

Source: http://ezinearticles.com

Dr Oetker History

Dr. Oetker is a family owned food business that has been creating high quality foods since 1891 and is regarded as one of the leading companies in the German food industry and across the world.Now with its 4th generation of family ownership and based in Bielefeld in Northern Germany ,Dr. Oetker manufactures and distributes a diverse range of food stuffs to over 40 countries around the world.

The Dr. Oetker business was named after Dr. August Oetker. Originally a pharmacist Dr. August Oetker created Germany's first baking powder, known as Backin.This was seen as a true innovation for those who loved to bake because it delivered true convenience and guaranteed perfect results every time.

In 1899 the Dr. Oetker name was trade-marked leading to the creation of the Dr. Oetker brand.Built upon a reputation of innovators and high quality during the first part of the 20th Century the Dr. Oetker baking range was expanded both inside and outside of Germany leading to the opening in 1908 of an office in Baden near Vienna in Austria.

In 1918, Dr. August Oetker, the founder passed away leading to the succession of his son-in-law Dr. Richard Kaselowsky.Dr. Kaselowsky further expanded the business internationally establishing subsidiaries in France, Poland, Belgium, Denmark and Italy during 1920-1930.

The period of most rapid international expansion and diversification out of core baking products was initiated by the next generation of owner.Rudolf-August Oetker, grandson of the founder took over management of the company in 1944 and further expanded the business.More subsidiaries were established in Europe and overseas and new food areas were grown into built upon Dr. Oetker's reputation for quality and innovation.In 1970 the first frozen pizza was launched in Germany, in 1978 Crème Fraiche was launched.

From 1991, new organisations and subsidiaries were formed in Eastern Europe, including Poland, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Hungary.In 2002, Dr. Oetker formed a subsidiary in the United Kingdom and in 2004 entered into the Republic of Ireland.

By the time Rudolf-August Oetker had passed over the running to the latest andcurrent head of the business Dr. August Oetker,his son and great grand-son of the original Dr. August Oetker , Dr. Oetker the business was operating in many food groups across frozen, chilled and dry grocery sectors. Recent acquisitions include the purchase of the Onken brand in 2004, the Unilever frozen pizza and snacks business across Europe and in 2006 the Supercook cake decorating business. In 2007 and 2008 Dr. Oetker opended offices in China, India, Argentinia and the USA.

Today the Dr. Oetker brand can be seen internationally within baking powders, baking mixes, dessert mixes, cereals, conserves, frozen pizza, frozen pizza snacks, yogurts and chilled desserts and in some countries with national specialities such as savoury snacks and teas.

Source: http://www.oetker.co.za/Company_History.asp