Related Party Transactions

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Related Party Transactions [Abstract]

Related Party Transactions

19.    Related Party Transactions

Transactions with Entities Related to Owners

Blackstone is the ultimate controlling shareholder in the Company. Blackstone has ownership interests in a broad range of companies and has affiliations with other companies. The Company has entered into commercial transactions on an arms-length basis in the ordinary course of our business with these companies, including the sale and purchase of goods and services. For example, in 2012, the Company recorded revenue of approximately $23 million and $9 million in connection with GDS booking fees received from Hilton Hotels Corporation and Wyndham Hotel Group, respectively, Blackstone portfolio companies. Other than as described herein, none of these transactions or arrangements is of great enough value to be considered material.

During 2012 and 2011, the Company paid approximately $2 million and $8 million, respectively, to an affiliate of Blackstone for advisory and consulting services incurred in relation to refinancing transactions.

During 2010, the Company loaned approximately $9 million to its ultimate parent. The loan note accrued interest at 9.5% per annum. The principal, together with interest, was fully repaid in 2010.

In December 2007, the Company received a notice from Blackstone and TCV electing to receive, in lieu of annual monitoring fee payments, a lump sum advisory fee in consideration of the termination of the appointment of Blackstone and TCV to render services pursuant to the Transaction and Monitoring Fee Agreement as of the date of such notice. The Company recorded this fee as an expense in the Company’s consolidated statement of operations in 2007.

On May 8, 2008, the Company entered into a new Transaction and Monitoring Fee Agreement with an affiliate of Blackstone and an affiliate of TCV, pursuant to which Blackstone and TCV render monitoring, advisory and consulting services to the Company. In 2010, 2011 and 2012, the Company made payments of approximately $7 million, $5 million and $5 million, respectively, under the new Transaction and Monitoring Fee Agreement. Pursuant to the terms of the new agreement, the payments made in 2010 and 2011 were credited against the advisory fee previously accrued in 2007. Future payments for monitoring, advisory and consulting services under this agreement will also be credited against this accrued advisory fee. The payment made in 2009 was a 2008 expense and was recorded within selling, general and administrative expenses in the Company’s consolidated statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2008, pursuant to the terms of the new agreement. As of December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012, the outstanding advisory fee payable was $42 million, $37 million and $32 million, respectively.

Transactions with Orbitz Worldwide

During the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, the Company had transactions and balances with Orbitz Worldwide. These are presented in Note 5.