Millennium Hotels and Resorts (MHR) has entered into a distribution deal with Ctrip to promote its properties to the Chinese Online Travel Agencies’ (OTAs) customer base of 300 million. With this collaboration, MHR’s properties will be certified as “Chinese Friendly Hotels”.

Ctrip.com International 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. According to Ctrip’s 2018 Travel Report, its customers’ top destinations are England, France, Germany, Thailand, Japan, Hong Kong, South Korea, Indonesia and the US, all of which are home to hotels owned or operated by MHR and its associates.

MHR and Ctrip will also work towards customer initiatives such as launching a flagship store on Ctrip’s digital platforms, joint marketing campaigns, as well as knowledge sharing and cross exposure programmes.

Mr Nayan Peshkar, MHR’s Senior Vice President for Digital, Distribution & Revenue Strategy, said the Ctrip partnership will enable the hotel group to raise its profile in the large and 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. With hotels located in some of the world’s most attractive destinations, we look forward to welcoming more of Ctrip’s customers in the coming year.”

Mr David Zhou, Chief Business Officer for the Accommodation Business Unit of Ctrip, said, “We are so grateful to be enhancing our relationship with MHR. 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.”