Orbitz Invites Travelers to Hit on 21!

Orbitz Invites Travelers to Hit on 21!

Orbitz Insiders Profile Favorite Film Cities to Bring Travelers Closer to the Silver Screen; Celebrates release of Columbia Pictures' '21' with 21 Trips to Las Vegas in 21 Days Sweepstakes

CHICAGO, March 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- In anticipation of the release of Columbia Pictures' high stakes action adventure 21, in theaters nationwide on March 28, 2008, Orbitz, Columbia Pictures and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) are joining forces to promote the movie. As part of Orbitz promotional activities, Orbitz is sponsoring the "21 Trips in 21 Days Sweepstakes." Orbitz will award one trip per day for 21 days to participating consumers (see details below).

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Travelers and movie buffs looking for a taste of Hollywood without the Hollywood "scene" have long ventured to memorable destinations that have earned their distinction by serving as the setting for a hit movie production. In this month's Orbitz Insider Index (http://www.orbitz.com/), the Insiders look beyond New York City and Los Angeles to find some of the top film-friendly cities in the U.S., where travelers can visit the sites of some unforgettable blockbuster films as part of their vacation.

"Big cities are often popular backdrops for movies, and some, like Washington, D.C. and San Francisco, are among those that can provide a Hollywood element to any vacation," said Tom Russell, group vice president of brand marketing, Orbitz Worldwide. "To visit roadways, attractions and other landmarks you may have seen numerous times in a favorite film is a great experience for travelers who love movies."

As culture-rich cities like Boston and Chicago have been the settings for some memorable movies like Good Will Hunting, The Departed, The Untouchables and many others, cities like Las Vegas and Austin are also climbing the ranks.

Orbitz's Favorite Film Cities

To help travelers plan a getaway to some of America's top movie locales, the Orbitz Insiders are highlighting some of the best places to relive your favorite films.

The Orbitz Insider Index
Film City Destination Picks

Las Vegas, NV
Boston, MA
Chicago, IL
Austin, TX
San Francisco, CA
Washington, DC

Las Vegas, NV

The exciting display of money, casinos, and mega-hotels that signify Las Vegas and "The Strip" make it the perfect setting for movies, ranging from classics such as Elvis: That's the Way it Is and Diamonds are Forever to Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery and the Ocean's series of movies (Ocean's Eleven, Ocean's Twelve and Ocean's Thirteen). Las Vegas was also the backdrop for films such as Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Casino, and Leaving Las Vegas, where landmark hotels such as the Mirage and the Bellagio are featured prominently. In addition to their "role" in Ocean's Eleven, the famed "Fountains of Bellagio" made their way into a number of other productions. The upcoming release of 21 is set on the blackjack tables and other locales in and around Las Vegas casinos.

Boston, MA

Boston's charm, history and personality have long made it a popular spot for movie producers. The numerous colleges and universities in Boston have provided a collegial backdrop for movies such as Good Will Hunting. Visitors to Boston can ride the same Red Line train that carried Matt Damon in Good Will Hunting and Martin Sheen in The Departed, and disembark at Park Street Station to visit the State House and its golden dome shown in The Departed as well as Amistad. No trip to Boston is complete without a visit to historic Fenway Park, which played a leading role in the movie, Fever Pitch. What's more, as 21 is inspired by a team of M.I.T. students that took the casinos for millions, the film isn't just showcasing the best of everything Vegas has to offer, but highlights the city they call The Hub of the Universe as well.

Chicago, IL

The picturesque Chicago skyline and infectious excitement of Wrigley Field were immortalized in eighties classics like Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Risky Business, Sixteen Candles and The Breakfast Club. Not since Ferris Bueller's Day Off has a movie shown as expansive a view of Chicago, which notably inspired a tour that begins in the suburb of Glenview and stops at the Sears Tower, the Chicago Art Institute, the Board of Trade and Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs. The classic Al Capone movie, The Untouchables, features an epic scene at Union Station, while the elevated train system known as "the EL" provided the backdrop for films including While You Were Sleeping, The Fugitive and others. The Windy City has continued to set the stage for more recent movies such as The Break-up in 2006. Batman Begins was also filmed in Chicago with a chase scene shot along Lower Wacker Drive, and the upcoming Batman sequel, The Dark Knight, again turns Chicago into the foreboding and fictional Gotham City.

Austin, TX

With its combination of downtown nightlife and natural scenery, Austin, TX is becoming a hotbed for Hollywood talent. In addition, as home to renowned film and music festival South by Southwest (SXSW), the city attracts international crowds each spring when it showcases some of the greatest new films from around the world. Aside from SXSW, local director Robert Rodriguez filmed Sin City inside his Austin studio, and Austin hotspots are depicted in a variety of popular movies, including a cult favorite, Dazed and Confused. The politically charged Courage Under Fire includes shots from Austin's state capitol building, while another popular filming locale, the University of Texas, has been home to several films, including The Life of David Gale, Road Trip and Once Upon a Time in Mexico. Waggener Hall on the UT campus, Metro Espresso Bar, and Cain and Abels have also been prominently featured on the big screen.

San Francisco, CA

From the inception of film to present day big-screen productions, San Francisco has long been a magnet for producers seeking a dramatic movie location or a hilly car chase scene. San Francisco was the setting for the first "talking picture," the Jazz Singer, in 1927. More recently, films shot in San Francisco include Basic Instinct, Dirty Harry, The Joy Luck Club and The Rock, which extensively features Alcatraz Island. Fans of the Hitchcock thriller Vertigo can visit the exact spot where Kim Novak jumped into the water and was saved by Jimmy Stewart. A recent film shot largely in San Francisco is The Pursuit of Happyness, starring Will Smith, which includes scenes from Candlestick Park and the Glen Park subway station.

Washington, DC

Home to historic monuments and government buildings, our nation's capital is a natural fit for films and is the setting of an impressive array of movies including The American President, In the Line of Fire and The Exorcist. While the White House and national monuments are crucial backdrops for many political movies, films such as The Exorcist delve deeper into the city, showing locations such as Georgetown University, the Holy Trinity Church and the Tombs, a popular bar and eatery. In the Line of Fire includes memorable chase scenes across roof tops and through the streets of the District, and also shows Andrews Air Force Base, the reflecting pool and Old Ebbitt Grill, a famous oyster bar near the White House.

"21 Trips in 21 Days" Promotion

Orbitz is partnering with Columbia Pictures and the LVCVA to promote the release of the new movie 21 with 21 Trips in 21 Days.

Columbia Pictures' action/adventure 21 is inspired by the true story of the very brightest young minds in the country -- and how they took Vegas for millions.

Ben Campbell (Jim Sturgess) is a shy, brilliant M.I.T. student who -- needing to pay school tuition -- finds the answers in the cards. He is recruited to join a group of the school's most gifted students that heads to Vegas every weekend armed with fake identities and the know-how to turn the odds at blackjack in their favor. With unorthodox math professor and stats genius Micky Rosa (Kevin Spacey) leading the way, they've cracked the code. By counting cards and employing an intricate system of signals, the team can beat the casinos big time. Seduced by the money, the Vegas lifestyle, and by his smart and sexy teammate, Jill Taylor (Kate Bosworth), Ben begins to push the limits. Though counting cards isn't illegal, the stakes are high, and the challenge becomes not only keeping the numbers straight, but staying one step ahead of the casinos' menacing enforcer: Cole Williams (Laurence Fishburne). The film is directed by Robert Luketic. The screenplay is by Peter Steinfeld and Allan Loeb, based on the book Bringing Down the House by Ben Mezrich. The producers are Dana Brunetti, Kevin Spacey, and Michael De Luca.

Orbitz will award 21 trips to Las Vegas in 21 days as part of the promotion. Prize packages include: First-class airfare to Las Vegas, two nights accommodations in a suite, show tickets, limo from airport, VIP nightclub passes and a $100 shopping gift certificate from Fashion Show Mall. To participate, go to Orbitz.com/21-movie.

The "21 Trips in 21 Days" promotion launches March 17, 2008 and ends April 7, 2008.

About Orbitz:

Orbitz (http://www.orbitz.com/) is a leading online travel company that enables travelers to search for and purchase a broad array of travel products, including airline tickets, hotel rooms, rental cars, cruises and vacation packages. Since launching its website http://www.orbitz.com/ to the general public in June 2001, Orbitz has become one of the largest online travel sites in the world based on gross travel bookings. On Orbitz, consumers can search more than 80,000 suppliers worldwide including airlines, hotels and car rental companies. Orbitz is a brand that is owned and operated by Orbitz Worldwide (NYSE:OWW).

About Orbitz Worldwide:

Orbitz Worldwide (NYSE:OWW) is a leading global online travel company that uses innovative technology to enable leisure and business travelers to research, plan and book a broad range of travel products. Orbitz Worldwide owns and operates a portfolio of consumer brands that includes Orbitz (http://www.orbitz.com/), CheapTickets (http://www.cheaptickets.com/), ebookers (http://www.ebookers.com/), HotelClub (http://www.hotelclub.com/), RatesToGo (http://www.ratestogo.com/) and the Away Network (http://www.away.com/) and corporate travel brand Orbitz for Business (http://www.orbitzforbusiness.com/). For more information, visit the Orbitz Worldwide Investor Relations website at http://www.orbitz-ir.com/.

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Source: Orbitz

CONTACT: Jim Cohn of Orbitz, +1-312-260-8413, jim.cohn@orbitz.com; or
Kevin Gray of Brodeur, +1-617-587-2851, kgray@brodeur.com, for Orbitz

Web site:

http://www.orbitz.com/

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