December

17

Meet the do-it-yourself Chinese traveler

by silvia.spessato

categories China Market Inbound trends

tags hospitality 

According to data released by the UN World Tourism Organization, Chinese travelers are currently the world’s biggest spenders on outbound tourism and a new generation of Chinese visitor has been born. Skift, the travel website, recently published an article titled “The Rise of the Chinese Independent Traveler” that states “young members of China’s middle class are dramatically changing the travel industry,” showing a preference for independent and self-planned journeys instead of organized group tours. JThe result of this new trend is that a growing number of young people aged 25 to 41, equally divided between males and females, consult a vast number of travel websites before booking accommodations and other travel services such as transportation, thus avoiding the traditional travel agency. Digital Innovation Asia (DIA), a platform in Asia travel and tourism created to promote innovations in technology – digital, social media and mobile – drew up an alliance with Pacific Asia Travel Association to help tourism companies in building relationships with the new Chinese traveler using social media. According to Jens Throenhart, DIA’s founder, this new generation not only uses social media to plan a trip, but is also passionate about sharing their experiences online afterwards. WeChat and Sina Weibo are the most popular channels, followed by Facebook, in spite of the ban. The Second Annual Chinese International Travel Monitor sponsored by Hotels.com states a survey of hoteliers shows that 70% of Chinese hotel guests are traveling independently, and not as part of a group. Since this new phenomenon of independent travelers has been confirmed by an increasing number of researchers, hotels should begin building their reputation as a “Chinese Friendly” hospitality lodge. This can be done not only by creating the usual partnerships with Chinese tour companies, but also by spreading out their presence on different digital tourism platforms.

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Commented by Bill Frankish, 29.08.2017

We at the Candlewood Suites Calgary Airport North, closely located to the Calgary airport YYC, have been certified by the China Tourism Academy as having reached the JADE STANDARD of "Welcome Chinese" Certification. As such we greet each guest with a special Welcome envelope with Chinese information on our extended stay hotel. Guests receive slippers, tea, and have access to kettles and rice cookers at no charge. Some items are available in our little convenience store called The Cupboard, and there is a Chinese Super Market about 2 kilometers away which has a full selection of food items, commonly found in China, including live fish. Also at the same shopping area, an authentic Chinese Restaurant called The T. Pot , China Bistro From our location we have easy access to main highways to take you to Banff National Park, or the Royal Tyrrell Museum, an excellent Dinosaur museum. Candlewood Suites is an excellent location with cooking facilities which provides a great home base as you travel to various attractions in the area.