Orbitz Announces McD's

Its travel manager is not providing comments and skeptics think there is more to the story, but McDonald's Corp. said its decision to choose Orbitz For Business as its new travel management company, starting this month, is about "substantial savings, user-friendliness and quality customer service."

"This type of relationship is achieved after a great deal of due diligence on the part of our travel service, which had researched a variety of online providers," said a McDonald's spokesperson after Orbitz last month announced a multi-year contract with the $15 billion fast food giant. "McDonald's USA employees will be directed to use Orbitz.

"Mandating has never been our approach here," the spokesperson continued. "Almost everybody wants to do what's best for the company. We are also shareholders." She acknowledged, however, that employees can pursue such alternative options as directly booking Southwest Airlines, which is not in Orbitz.

McDonald's had been using a Carlson Wagonlit Travel onsite and no online self-booking tool. According to CWT, "McDonald's has been a valuable partner of Carlson Wagonlit Travel in corporate travel management for the past five years. Although we are obviously disappointed in their decision, we wish McDonald's well and will continue to watch their progress as they fully embark upon this alternative business model."

Orbitz said McDonald's had run a nine-month pilot test of Orbitz For Business before signing the contract. Orbitz in late October said the transition was to start "immediately," but Carlson still was operating for McDonald's as of late last week.

OFB will run a two-tier service configuration for McDonald's, with some dedicated and some pooled agents. Although McDonald's will retain its Corporate Travel Department designation, an Orbitz spokesperson said, "Currently, OFB books only though its own ARC number." She added that no OFB clients have requested that an onsite office be part of the configuration.