USA TODAY Launches Travel Application For iPhone

October 7, 2009 12:00 PM EDT

USA TODAY AutoPilot sponsored by Hampton Hotels®

MCLEAN, Va., Oct. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- USA TODAY, the nation's top-selling newspaper and a leading choice for travelers, today announced the availability of USA TODAY AutoPilot, an iPhone Travel application on the Apple App Store.

Since launching 27 years ago, USA TODAY has become a trusted and welcome brand to travelers. The USA TODAY AutoPilot iPhone Application leverages the familiar look and feel that readers have come to trust and expect from USA TODAY providing them with the tools, utilities and features they need to successfully manage the travel experience.

USA TODAY AutoPilot is sponsored by Hampton Hotels. The hotel brand, which has been established for 25 years, identified the need to continually reach new and loyal guests by using the latest communication vehicles. Sponsoring USA TODAY's Travel application offered a natural opportunity to connect Hampton hotels, an iPhone application and USA TODAY, the nation's top-selling newspaper. The app features a variety of customized Hampton integrations including the ability to map locations and book reservations at over 1,700 Hampton properties nationwide and also receive local area restaurant and attraction information provided by Hampton Hotels.

The USA TODAY AutoPilot application offers the following features:

    --  AutoPilot -- Easily track trip and flight itineraries in a simple to
        digest format. Using the device's GPS capabilities and your schedule as
        a guide, AutoPilot offers real-time updates as your location and travel
        needs change.
    --  Flight Tracker and Delays - Keep track of your departing or arriving
        flight via flight number, airport or route.  Get up to the minute delay
        information for more that 16,000 airports, 1,400 airlines and 100,000
        daily flights.
    --  Travel Directory -- Get quick, one-click phone number or web site access
        from a comprehensive directory of travel providers, ranging from
        airlines, hotels and car rental agencies.
    --  Weather -- Get current weather conditions, up-to-the minute regional
        radar and the five day forecasts at your exact location via GPS. Review
        national weather maps including Doppler radar, temperature and
        precipitation forecasts.

    --  More -signature USA TODAY destination and travel feature content
        including Ten Great Places and expert USA TODAY blogs such as Today in
        the Sky, Hotel Check-In and more.

"USA TODAY is synonymous with travel. Travelers love us and we love being everywhere they need us with innovative new products," said Matt Jones, vice president, mobile strategy and operations, Gannett Digital. "USA TODAY AutoPilot for iPhone extends our service to travelers to a new platform, truly meeting all of their mobile travel needs."

"USA TODAY's AutoPilot sponsored by Hampton Hotels allows consumers access to the world of travel," said Judy Christa-Cathey, vice president brand marketing, Hampton Hotels. Christa-Cathey added, "Consumers will now have the opportunity to be connected directly to their Hampton Hotel of choice, making booking a room a seamless process for travelers who already know Hampton's great value and exceptional guest experience all backed by its 100% Satisfaction Guarantee."

The USA TODAY AutoPilot iPhone application was designed and developed in cooperation with Mercury Intermedia of Brentwood, Tenn. The application is available for free from Apple's App Store on iPhone and iPod touch or at www.itunes.com/appstore/. For more information, go to usatoday.com/iphone/autopilot.

USA TODAY was founded in 1982 with a mission to serve as a forum for better understanding and unity to help make the USA truly one nation. Through its flagship newspaper and popular Web site, USA TODAY engages the national conversation and connects readers online through social media applications. USA TODAY, the nation's top-selling newspaper with a total average daily circulation of more than 2.1 million, and USATODAY.com, an award-winning newspaper Web site which launched in 1995, reach a combined 5.8 million readers daily. The USA TODAY news and information brand also includes: USA TODAY Education, USA TODAY LIVE, USA TODAY Mobile and USA TODAY Sports Weekly. USA TODAY is owned by Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE: GCI).

Hampton Hotels, which includes Hampton Inn, Hampton by Hilton and Hampton Inn & Suites hotels, is a mid-priced leader in the lodging segment. Hampton is part of Hilton Worldwide Portfolio of Brands. For more information www.hampton.com/pressandmedia.

SOURCE USA TODAY

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