CHICAGO,
Aug. 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- One of the busiest summer
travel seasons on record will close with a flurry. And Orbitz
(
http://www.orbitz.com), with its heritage of keeping travelers "A Step
Ahead(TM)," is letting those heading out over the busy
Labor Day weekend know
where the biggest crowds will be -- at both airports and popular vacation
destinations -- with this month's Orbitz Insider Index.
Orbitz data shows that Chicago's O'Hare International will be the busiest
U.S. airport over the 2007 Labor Day weekend, taking over the top spot from
Los Angeles International Airport, which was #1 in 2006. The Orbitz Insider
Index, a leading research initiative that shows significant destination trend
information in the travel industry, also revealed that Charlotte's Douglas
International Airport made a significant leap in the rankings and will be the
No. 2 busiest airport this year, moving up 15 spots from 2006.
"Those heading to airports on a holiday weekend should always expect heavy
traffic, and it's important to know where the big crowds will be," said
Heather Leisman, senior director of merchandising for Orbitz. "As we may see
record numbers of U.S. travelers this holiday, our Insider staff picks
highlight some popular but also not-so-crowded destinations to consider."
Orbitz Insider Index -- Additional Movers and Shakers
Internationally, Heathrow Airport in London is listed as the busiest
airport and Toronto's Lester B. Pearson Airport, which held the No. 1 spot
last year, slipped three places to No. 4. Also notable, gaining a few spots
to rank as the No. 2 busiest airport, Cancun International is up from the No.
5 spot in 2006. San Juan International held the No. 3 spot for the second
consecutive year.
Based on flight bookings on Orbitz.com, this Labor Day weekend the busiest
airports are:
The Orbitz Labor Day Index
Orbitz.com Busiest Domestic & International Airports over Labor Day Weekend**
2007 2006 2007 2006
Ranking Domestic* Ranking Ranking International Ranking
Chicago O'Hare
International London Heathrow
Airport Airport London,
1 Chicago, IL 3 1 Great Britain (UK) 2
Charlotte Douglas
International Cancun International
Airport Airport Cancun,
2 Charlotte, NC 17 2 Mexico 5
Philadelphia San Juan
International International
Airport Airport San Juan,
3 Philadelphia, PA 6 3 Puerto Rico 3
Hartsfield-Jackson
Atlanta Toronto Lester B.
International Pearson International
Airport Airport
4 Atlanta, GA 14 4 Toronto, Canada 1
McCarran
International Vancouver
Airport International Airport
5 Las Vegas, NV 31 5 Vancouver, Canada 6
Paris Roissy Charles
de Gaulle
La Guardia International Airport
6 New York, NY 9 6 Paris, France 8
Denver International Rome Fiumicino
Airport Airport
7 Denver, CO 10 7 Rome, Italy 4
Los Angeles Montreal-Pierre
International Elliott Trudeau
Airport International Airport
8 Los Angeles, CA 1 8 Montreal, Canada 7
Phoenix Sky Harbor
International
Airport Frankfurt Airport
9 Phoenix, AZ 15 9 Frankfurt, Germany 12
Dallas/Fort Worth
International
Airport San Jose del Cabo
Dallas/ International Airport
10 Fort Worth, TX 12 10 San Jose Cabo, Mexico 10
**Based on air only ticket sales with an outbound departure date between
8/31/07 and 9/4/07.
2006 rankings based on booking data from 9/1/06 and 9/5/06. Based on origin
and destination ticket sales excluding connecting traffic.
Based on net bookings as of 8/13/07.
Orbitz Insider Index -- Labor Day Busiest Destinations
The Orbitz Insider Index also lists the top 10 busiest U.S. and
international destinations for travel from August 31 to September 4. Data
shows New York City will be the busiest destination on the domestic front,
while London is the most popular international destination. And for those
who want to avoid the big cities, the Orbitz Insiders are providing travelers
with off-the-beaten-path alternatives such as Destin, Fla., Breckenridge,
Colo. and Portsmouth, NH.
The Orbitz Insider Index
Top 10 Busiest U.S. and International Destinations Over Labor Day Weekend
(Aug 31st - Sep 4th)*
U.S. International
1 New York, NY 1 London, UK
2 Chicago, IL 2 San Juan, Puerto Rico
3 Los Angeles, CA 3 Toronto, Canada
4 Washington, D.C. 4 Frankfurt, Germany
5 San Francisco, CA 5 Athens, Greece
6 Boston, MA 6 Vancouver, Canada
7 Philadelphia, PA 7 Paris, France
8 Seattle, WA 8 Mexico City, Mexico
9 Denver, CO 9 Barcelona, Spain
10 Phoenix, AZ 10 Amsterdam, Netherlands
*Orbitz.com destinations based on popularity for arrival 8/31/07 to 9/4/07.
Based on air ticket sales as of 7/31/07.
Orbitz Staff Insider Picks
From the east coast to the west coast and everywhere in between, the
Orbitz Insider staff has profiled some long weekend destinations to enjoy over
the Labor Day weekend. These locations include:
Destin, Florida
Located along the northwest panhandle of Florida, Destin is known for its
spectacular "Emerald Coast" beaches. With sugar white sand and crystal clear
water, the beaches are perfect for swimming, sunbathing and snorkeling.
Travelers looking to have some fun on the water should experience Destin's
outstanding fishing. Known as the "World's Luckiest Fishing Village" because
of its proximity to deep water which attracts plenty of fish, Destin's fishing
expeditions will allow even first time anglers great opportunities to hook a
big one. For great shopping in Destin during the Labor Day weekend, be sure
to check out the Labor Day "Sale-abration" at The Market Shops. During this
sale from September 1st through the 3rd, travelers have the opportunity to
save up to 75 percent on many items.
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
With its warm summer climate, the Myrtle Beach area is a sun-drenched
haven for beach-goers, offering endless hours of sunbathing, surfing, boating
and other fun activities. One of America's top spots for golf, Myrtle Beach
boasts over 100 championship golf courses, offering enthusiasts and novices
alike the chance to hit the links in style. After a long day of golfing in
the sun, travelers can linger over a good meal at one of Myrtle Beach's 1,700
restaurants which offer an impressive array of delicious cuisine, plus some of
the country's best seafood.
Eureka Springs, Arkansas
A 19th century Victorian village nestled in the Ozark Mountains of
northwest Arkansas, Eureka Springs is known for its pristine views, quaint bed
and breakfasts and its proud artisan community. Heading there this Labor Day
weekend, travelers will discover historic hotels, award-winning restaurants
and eclectic boutiques. While in town, visitors should take in The Great
Passion Play, a religious drama featuring a cast of 250 local residents as
well as the Sunday Market, which showcases booths full of arts, crafts and
jewelry.
Portsmouth, New Hampshire
All visitors to this beautiful city by the ocean can enjoy the last rays
of summer warmth at Water Country, New England's largest water park. If the
family is interested in learning about history, they should take part in the
Portsmouth Harbor Walking Tour and also visit the historic Strawbery Banke
Museum to hear about how the first settlers to the area lived. Those wishing
to relax over their Labor Day weekend can take a seat along the wondrous
Portsmouth Harbor or enjoy the fresh sea air by sailing on one of many
Portsmouth Harbor Cruises.
Santa Barbara, California
Santa Barbara is one of California's gems and a great holiday weekend
destination. Upon arriving in Santa Barbara, travelers should visit the Santa
Barbara Botanic Gardens and explore exotic and enchanting flora. Also popular
is The Old Mission, the tenth of 21 Franciscan missions in California, which
offers incomparable beauty and historic charm. History buffs will also
appreciate a tour of El Presidio de Santa Barbara, a historic Spanish military
fortress. Active travelers visiting this destination will appreciate hikes in
Los Padres National Forest, known for its fantastic views, and beach lovers
should try Leadbetter Beach, which is well suited for a whole day of fun in
the sun. To satisfy the foodie in your group and get a taste of the Pacific,
visitors should head to Stearn's Wharf, which is known for its unbelievable
seafood restaurants.
Breckenridge, Colorado
This Labor Day weekend, travelers will enjoy an escape to the classic
beauty of Breckenridge -- a splendid Victorian town in the Colorado Rockies.
On September 1st, families will revel in the annual rubber duck races. This
event features more than 10,000 little yellow rubber ducks floating down the
clear waters of the Blue River. For visitors looking for a challenging
endeavor during their Breckenridge trip, on September 2nd, they can take part
in the Breckenridge Mountain Crest Marathon where participants have the option
of running five, 13 or 25.2 miles through breath-taking scenery. For even
more outdoor adventure, Breckenridge is known for outstanding mountain biking.
There are miles and miles of mountain biking trails for visitors of all
abilities, and even mountain biking clinics for individuals seeking tips.
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).
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