Priceline opens three new centres

Priceline is to expand its European operation and open offices in the Irish, Austrian and Italian capitals. The programme will bring the total number of European offices for the US-based company to eleven and comes just four months after Stef Norden was promoted to president and chief executive for the continent. The addition of Dublin,…

Priceline is to expand its European operation and open offices in the Irish, Austrian and Italian capitals.


The programme will bring the total number of European offices for the US-based company to eleven and comes just four months after Stef Norden was promoted to president and chief executive for the continent.


The addition of Dublin, Vienna and Rome also ends a busy period for the company after Priceline snapped up the UK-based Active Hotels in 2004.


Active Hotels boss Andy Phillipps was installed as head of the new, enlarged European Priceline, with Norden managing director.


Phillipps stepped down in November but remains on the board of the European operation as a director.


Norden said: “As one of the largest and fastest-growing providers of hotel reservations in Europe, Priceline Europe has become a key distribution partner for over 20,000 hotels.


“Through our two brands Active Hotels and Bookings, we have developed strategic partnerships with both independent properties and hotel chains based on our localised offering and personalised account management.


“Our new offices in Italy, Austria and Ireland will help us to continue to grow our presence in these countries and become even closer to our clients.”


The eight existing offices include London, Cambridge, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin and Paris.