Expedia says the term "vacation packages" is not very catchy, so is using Facebook to run a competition to rename the online travel agency's product line.
Really? A competition that may come back to bite Expedia on the backside if the suggestions do not match its branding requirements and product strategy?
Perhaps not, then. But, if anything, it's an interesting idea and shows Facebook fan pages can be used for more than just peddling products and sharing pictures.
Launched this week in the US, Expedia says the phrase "may be confusing to some travelers and tamps down interest" and therefore it wants to give the "collective wisdom of the American traveler" a crack at coming up with a decent title.
Until early-February 2010, fans will be able to submit new names via the Facebook page (they have to become "fans" first, of course) and then ten entries chosen by Expedia will be put to the vote, with various prizes for those deemed the best by users.
Expedia is not expecting simplification of the name, however, allowing entrants to use up to four words.
Of course, Expedia in the US could just follow its European cousins and rename the product line to "package holidays". :)