European hotel delegation tours China as group travel rises

BEIJING - 20 leading hoteliers from nine destinations visit Beijing and Shanghai next week (24-28 February 2014) to showcase their properties to some of China’s biggest and most important travel agencies.

Organised by Kuoni Group Travel Experts, the world’s leading group travel provider, the trip will help them understand more about Chinese travellers and how to better meet their needs when visiting Europe on group tours. Hoteliers from Austria, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Switzerland will join Marco Russi, Kuoni Group Travel Expert’s Vice President for Hotel Sourcing and Reservations on the trip.

Says Marco: “As the leading group travel provider in China, we work with major tour operators and travel agents to bring tens of thousands of Chinese visitors to Europe every year. Many of them are experiencing a long haul destination for the first time and it is vital that hotels make them feel welcome.”

During their trip, the hoteliers will meet with Kuoni Group Travel Experts who have developed close relationships with the travel trade in Beijing and Shanghai. One-to-one appointments in both Beijing and Shanghai will help them showcase their properties to China’s key travel agents. Other meetings will provide insights into the influence visas have on the success of a trip, into standards of quality and the service expected by Chinese citizens when abroad, as well as the size and value of the group travel market.

Last year, Kuoni Group Travel Experts enjoyed a double digit increase in the number of room nights booked by Chinese travellers on group tours. Their most popular destinations were France, Italy, Switzerland, Norway and Germany.

Although the Summer Olympics in 2012 dampened demand for group travel to the UK, the country has quickly recovered its popularity as a destination. Room nights booked with Kuoni Group Travel Experts by group travellers from China more than doubled in 2013. Room nights booked in Norway also nearly doubled last year as Scandinavian destinations all saw a significant increase.

Group travel is often the first choice for large numbers of newer travellers who want to explore longer haul destinations. It gives them the reassurance and security of native language tour guides, pre-planned meals and accommodation in hotels that are best able to meet their needs, alongside itineraries that ensure they enjoy the attractions and experiences they want.

Kuoni Group Travel Experts gives businesses selling group tours access to a wide range of accommodation, services and experiences around the world. Whether customising a trip for ten or more family members or planning a city break for dozens of people, Kuoni Group Travel Experts makes it easy to put together the best programme possible, at the best price possible. As more and more Chinese want to explore destinations beyond Asia, they rely on our expertise to make their trips memorable.

Sourced: TravelDailyNews