Ctrip signs China-focused distribution agreement with Millennium Hotels and Resorts

Ctrip.com International (Ctrip), one of China’s largest integrated travel services companies, has signed an agreement with Millennium Hotels and Resorts (MHR) to develop a global distribution strategy promoting MHR properties to Ctrip’s 300-million strong customer base. The agreement was announced jointly at ITB Berlin by David Zhou, Chief Business Officer—Accommodation Business Unit, Ctrip and Nayan Peshkar, Senior Vice President – Digital, Distribution & Revenue Strategy, MHR. It marks the start of an alliance enabling Ctrip to offer MHR’s iconic portfolio of hotels in the USA, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Australia to its China-based business and leisure travel clients.
Zhou said, “Chinese outbound tourists reached nearly 150 million in 2018, and the growth for this year remains strong. By signing this China–focused distribution agreement with MHR, we are continuing to offer 300 million members the best hotel experience worldwide whilst enhancing MHR’s presence and boosting new business opportunities for them in the China market.”
Through the aegis of a strategic collaboration agreement, MHR will partner with Ctrip’s membership programme, which will certify its properties as ‘Chinese-Friendly Hotels’ and enable them to benefit from Ctrip’s influential ranking system. MHR and Ctrip will also work towards customer initiatives such as the launching of a flagship store on Ctrip’s digital platforms, joint marketing campaigns as well as knowledge sharing and cross exposure programmes for team members.
Ctrip is the number one platform for Chinese nationals travelling overseas. About one in four Chinese citizens use Ctrip to book and search for outbound flight tickets, making it the world’s largest outbound travel platform.
Peshkar said, “We are delighted to be raising the profile of our hotel offering in the fast-growing China travel market. Asia is our second biggest region of operations, so we already have a deep and embedded experience of what it takes to meet the high demands of business and leisure travellers from China.”