Priceline OpenTable Deal Signals Travel Company Push Into Restaurants

Priceline Group Inc. (NASDAQ:PCLN) will buy OpenTable Inc. (NASDAQ:OPEN) in a $2.6 billion cash deal announced Friday, giving the budget travel booking site a seat at the restaurant business table and could be the boost OpenTable needs to go worldwide. "Travelers are diners," said Priceline chief executive Darren Huston in a conference call following the announcement. "It's all the same customers. There's opportunity to cross-promote brands," he added.