Orbitz tries to shore up Florida hotels with beach guarantee

If you're staying away from Florida this summer because you're concerned that its beaches may be sullied by oil from the massive Deepwater Horizon spill in the Gulf of Mexico, Orbitz hopes you'll reconsider.

Orbitz, one of the web's top online travel sites, hopes to lure travelers back to the Sunshine State by guaranteeing that it will refund a customer's hotel costs if a government agency closes a beach -- or declares it dangerous -- within 20 miles of the property.

"We want to create a peace of mind that they don't have to give up their summer vacation," said Jeanenne Tornatore, a company spokeswoman. "If it does become the case that oil does come ashore in their affected area, they won't have to worry about being out hundreds of dollars."