Expedia to spin off TripAdvisor

The world's largest online travel company, Expedia, has unveiled plans to spin off its TripAdvisor brand.

Expedia said it hoped to split into two public companies – Expedia and TripAdvisor – by the third quarter of 2011. In addition to its flagship site, TripAdvisor will include 18 popular brands, such as Booking Buddy, while Expedia, which was set up by Microsoft in 1996 before being spun off itself, will continue to hold brands such as Expedia.com and Hotels.com.

TripAdvisor allows travellers to post reviews and attracts more than 40 million visitors a month across 29 countries. It was set up in 2000 before becoming part of Expedia in 2005.

Expedia, which trades on the New York Stock Exchange, employs 8,900 staff worldwide.