US Internet giant Expedia reported a $20.1 million profit in the third quarter, compared with a $4.8 million loss in the same period last year.
The improvement was mainly due to revenue from non-US businesses and merchant hotel sales, both of which tripled.
Meanwhile, Expedia plans to strike deals to enter the Asia-Pacific region early next year. Instead of using its own branded Web sites, the company plans to operate on a private-label basis. It will be a booking engine or inventory provider, depending on its partnerships.
Hong Kong, Australia, Singapore and Japan have all been targeted. Expedia has also said it plans to unveil a corporate product before the end of the year.
