SHANGHAI, China, May 20, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Meliá Hotels International, the leading Spanish hotel group, today announces to deepen the strategic partnership with Ctrip and to launch a flagship store on the leading online travel agency’s Chinese website and mobile app.
Bernardo Cabot, the Regional Vice President of Meliá Hotels International in Asia Pacific, said, “We are honoured to maintain our partnership with Ctrip, the market leader in China. To collaborate with top local companies is one of the key pillars of our growth strategy. This new agreement with Ctrip marks yet another milestone for Meliá and further consolidates our partnership. Together with Ctrip’s support and the group’s Chinese-friendly program ‘Pengyou by Meilá’, we aim to constantly enhance our guest experience from the booking process to our hospitality service for Chinese travelers.”
China is one of the most important foreign markets for Meliá Hotels International. With the expertise in the “bleisure” (business and leisure) segment, collaborating with leading local companies with over 10 years of development in the region, the company currently has four hotels operating in China, including Shanghai, Xi’an, Zhengzhou and Jinan with an additional five properties in the pipeline under three of its most prestigious brands: Gran Meliá Hotels & Resorts, Meliá Hotels & Resorts and INNSiDE by Meliá.
Ctrip dominates the online travel market in China and its partnership with Meliá Hotels International dates back to 2016. The latest collaboration indicates the Meliá flagship store on Ctrip’s website and mobile app will enable 300 million plus Ctrip users to gain access to exclusive membership offers and benefits from nearly 400 hotels managed by the hotel group across the globe. Meanwhile, Ctrip users could score stay points along with additional benefits from MeliáRewards, the hotel group’s loyalty program. In addition to such benefits, Meliá Hotel International will also offer flight and hotel packages for Ctrip users. Furthermore, in the near future, the two companies will also launch a membership tier-matching program, where all tiers of Ctrip members could join MeliáRewards through the Meliá Flagship store, and be corresponding tiers of MeliáRewards.
In recognition of the importance of delivering a one-stop shopping experience for Chinese travelers from both companies, the Meliá flagship store on Ctrip platform will further elevate the hotel group’s presence in China by offering additional products and services. This collaboration leverages Meliá Hotel International to more opportunities and exposure in the China market while being featured on the Ctrip platform.
David Zhou, the Chief Business Officer of Ctrip Accommodation Business said, “We are excited to jointly establish the exclusive flagship store of Meliá Hotels International on our Ctrip platform. Such agreement will ensure that Ctrip will continue to drive better customer experience and enhance value to all of our partners.”
With strong support from Ctrip and other key local partners, Meliá Hotels International is confident that this will further bolster the group’s presence both inside and outside of China, creating more values and opportunities for both partners.
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About Meliá Hotels International
Founded in 1956 in Palma de Mallorca (Spain), Meliá Hotels International is one of the largest hotel companies worldwide, as well as the absolute leader within the Spanish market, with more than 380 hotels (current portfolio and pipeline) throughout more than 40 countries and four continents, operated under the brands: Gran Meliá Hotels & Resorts, Paradisus by Meliá, ME by Meliá, Meliá Hotels & Resorts, INNSiDE by Meliá, Sol by Meliá and TRYP by Wyndham. The strategic focus on international growth has allowed Meliá Hotels International to be the first Spanish hotel company with presence in key markets such as China, the Arabian Gulf or the US, as well as maintaining its leadership in traditional markets such as Europe, Latin America or the Caribbean. Its high degree of globalisation, a diversified business model, the consistent growth plan supported by strategic alliances with major investors and its commitment to responsible tourism are the major strengths of Meliá Hotels International, being the Spanish Hotel leader in Corporate Reputation (Merco Ranking) and one of the most attractive to work worldwide. Meliá Hotels International is included in the IBEX 35 Spanish stock market index. Follow Meliá Hotels International on Weibo @MeliaHotelslnt , WeChat official account @MeliaHotelslnt, Twitter @MeliaHotelsInt, Facebook meliahotelsinternational and official website www.melia.com.
About Ctrip.com International, Ltd.
Ctrip.com International, Ltd. is a leading provider of online travel and related services, including accommodation reservation, transportation ticketing, package tour and in-destination services, corporate travel management, and other travel related services. It enables business and leisure travellers to make informed and cost-effective bookings by aggregating comprehensive travel related information and offering its services through an advanced transaction and service platform consisting of its mobile apps, Internet websites and centralized, toll-free, 24-hour customer service center. The family of travel brands mainly includes: Ctrip, the largest online travel agency in terms of gross merchandise value and the best-known travel brand in China; Qunar, a leading online travel agency in China; Trip.com, an online travel agency for global consumers; and Skyscanner, a leading global travel search site. Since its inception in 1999, Ctrip Group has experienced substantial growth and become one of the largest travel service providers in the world.