CHICAGO, Jan. 15, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Leading online travel company Orbitz Worldwide (NYSE:OWW) today welcomed the Department of the Treasury's amendments to the Cuban Assets Control Regulations, which will facilitate travel to Cuba for authorized purposes and enable travel service providers to sell authorized travel without the need for specific licenses from the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).
"We commend these new regulations for allowing increased travel to Cuba and for enabling American companies to realize the economic, social and cultural benefits that will result from such policy changes," said Barney Harford, CEO of Orbitz Worldwide. "Orbitz is already working with its supplier partners to see how we can market travel services to authorized travelers as quickly as possible."
Orbitz launched an online petition in 2009 urging the Obama administration to liberalize travel access to Cuba. The "Open Cuba" petition quickly generated more than 100,000 signatures and, in a related Huffington Post piece that same year, Harford said, "The interaction between people from countries with differing perspectives can be a powerful force for positive change and understanding."
About Orbitz Worldwide
Orbitz Worldwide (NYSE:OWW) is a leading global online travel company using technology to transform the way consumers around the world plan and purchase travel. Orbitz Worldwide operates the consumer travel planning sites Orbitz (orbitz.com), ebookers (ebookers.com), HotelClub (hotelclub.com) and CheapTickets (cheaptickets.com). Also within the Orbitz Worldwide family, Orbitz Partner Network (orbitzpartnernetwork.com) delivers private label travel technology solutions to a broad range of partners including some of the world`s largest airlines, bank loyalty programs and travel agencies, and Orbitz for Business (orbitzforbusiness.com) delivers managed travel solutions for companies of all sizes. Orbitz Worldwide makes investor relations information available at investors.orbitz.com.