Name that company

Incorporated in 1998, I went public in 1999 and reached a market value above $8 billion. Today my value is south of $1 billion, but my sales and earnings are growing. I offer airline ticketing services, hotel reservations (with more than 10,000 worldwide hotels participating), car rentals, vacation packages and even mortgages. I also invite customers to name their own price. In my ads, my spokesmen boldly go where no other spokesmen have gone before. I operate Travelweb.com, Lowestfare.com, Rentalcars.com and Breezenet.com. Who am I?

(Last week’s answer: Hilton Hotels)

Rubbing shoulders

Back in the late ’60s, I was a masseur at the Diplomat Hotel in Hollywood, Fla. I took tips of all kinds, so when urged to buy shares of a company specializing in infrared thermal systems, I did. The firm offered temperature-based pregnancy indicators that could be mounted on bras. I thought, “This could be another Polaroid or maybe even Winnebago.” As the years went by, the value of the stock sank. I now do more research into what to buy, but I never forget my first blunder. Why are you laughing? — Steve Hulbert, Bar Harbor, Maine

The Fool Responds: As you now know, Polaroid ultimately filed for bankruptcy protection a few years ago. Stock tips are dangerous. If you’re considering investing based on one, do a lot of research first, making sure that the company has existing products or services instead of just promises.