Choice Hotels partners with China's largest OTA, expanding reach in Asia-Pacific market

Choice Hotels Asia-Pac, one of New Zealand’s largest hotel franchise groups, announced today a new global agreement with China’s biggest online travel agency, Ctrip.

The new initiative highlights Choice Hotels’ focus to provide a quality experience to all travellers, including the ever-increasing Chinese inbound market.

China is New Zealand’s second largest tourism market, as Chinese visitor arrivals account for 16 per cent of the country’s holidaymakers. With these new arrival numbers up 77,600 from September 2015 to September 2016[i], Choice Hotels is ensuring its properties are capitalising on this opportunity.

Choice Hotels Asia-Pac CEO, Trent Fraser, said he was excited about what this new global partnership will mean for the company.

“China is, and will continue to be, a major market for inbound tourism in New Zealand and this new initiative shows we are dedicated to servicing Chinese tourists,” Mr Fraser said.

“Our global partnership with Ctrip opens the door for Choice Hotels to reach into the growing Chinese tourism market not only here in the Asia-Pacific, but on an international level.”

[i] Statistics New Zealand, 2016 (http://www.stats.govt.nz/browse_for_stats/population/Migration/IntTravelAndMigration_HOTPSep16/Commentary.aspx)