Shangri-La Signs Direct Distribution Agreement With Ctrip

Ctrip.com has signed a distribution co-operation agreement with Shangri-La International Hotel Management, making Ctrip the first travel agency with direct system connectivity in mainland China.

Shangri-La will leverage Ctrip's hotel reservation platform to distribute hotels of its brands — Shangri-La, Traders, and Kerry — in China. Under the terms of the agreement, the reservation systems of both Shangri-La and Ctrip will be directly connected. Through Ctrip's platform, travelers will be able to make bookings at Shangri-La, Kerry, and Traders hotels in China with Best Available Rate and receive confirmation for room types and rates on a real-time basis. Members of Shangri-La's Golden Circle frequent stayer program who book Shangri-La's hotels via Ctrip will be entitled to receive their full Golden Circle rewards and benefits.

Shangri-La will provide Ctrip with hotel/destination updates and promotional activities via a dedicated Shangri-La page on the Ctrip website that will be promoted to Ctrip members.

Commenting on the agreement Kent Zhu, the group director of sales and marketing at Shangri-La International Hotel Management, said that Shangri-La had enjoyed very pleasant co-operation in the past with Ctrip and they are very excited to extend this partnership to direct connectivity, which enables their mutual clients to enjoy a convenient and prompt hotel booking experience. He added that he hoped that partnerships of this nature would be extended globally in the near future.

James Tang, senior vice president of Ctrip, said that it was an honor to be in partnership with Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, a group well known for its world-class service and facilities, and that this co-operation would enhance the reach of Ctrip's high-end network and enrich their hotel reservation offerings. He added that more importantly, they would be able to provide their users with the convenience of booking luxury hotels in China and he looked forward to working with Shangri-La to develop their international business.

Shangri-La operates 32 hotels under the brands of Shangri-La, Kerry, and Traders with more than 15,000 rooms in mainland China. The group currently has over 20 new hotel projects in the country under development that are planned to open within the next five years.