IHG Hotel and China UnionPay Forge New Era of Digital Payments in Hotel Industry

Friday, April 12, 2024

IHG Hotels & Resorts has forged a strategic alliance with China UnionPay to enhance digital convenience for travelers in Greater China. Through this collaboration, holders of both domestic and internationally issued UnionPay credit cards can now complete pre-authorizations without physically presenting their cards for online reservations via IHG’s direct channels, including the IHG APP and WeChat mini-program. This initiative makes IHG the first international hotel group in Greater China to officially adopt UnionPay pre-authorization without card presence for online bookings, a significant milestone in the hotel industry. This advancement greatly enhances the convenience of travelers’ hotel booking experiences and adds dynamism to the strategic digitalization efforts by reinforcing the brand’s value system. Presently, 12 hotels have implemented this feature.

Victor Gao, Vice President, China Digital & Global Innovation, IHG Greater China, said, “Driven by the constant pursuit of innovation, IHG continues to advance the development of digital applications and market-leading business engines. Through technological empowerment, we aim to provide guests with more convenient booking experiences while offering our partners efficient and intelligent operational and marketing solutions. This collaboration with UnionPay is based on our respective industry-leading practices, as we have pioneered an online payment solution tailored to hotel bookings. Together, we are actively driving productivity and providing enhanced quality-of-life measures through digital means.”

Hu Haozhong, Executive Vice President, China UnionPay, said, “This solution from China UnionPay and IHG caters to both local consumers’ behaviours and online booking preferences for foreign visitors to China. The streamlined payment process and tailored payment methods bridge transaction discrepancies between domestic and international use cases. This collaboration supports hotels to efficiently manage convenient payment services for foreign visitors, setting the benchmark for payment solutions in the hotel industry. Moving forward, we will continue collaborating to enhance customer engagement, leveraging resources from commercial banks, hotel loyalty programs, and consumption vouchers from the government to promote popular and enjoyable high-quality services and activities.”

Enhancing Smart Tourism with Seamless Digital Payments

Digital technology has revolutionized travel, from online booking to immersive hotel experiences, offering diversity and convenience. IHG Greater China is leading the way by introducing UnionPay domestic credit card pre-authorization for direct online booking at 12 hotels in key cities and tourist hotspots like Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Chengdu, Zhuhai, and Sanya. This collaboration with UnionPay drives smart tourism in these areas, unlocking growth potential in the hotel market.

This partnership offers travelers a convenient and swift booking process, improving payment efficiency and benefiting properties. By tapping into UnionPay’s extensive user base, hotels gain access to a stable customer source, leading to greater revenue opportunities. Especially in high-demand destinations like Sanya, the ability to accept UnionPay pre-authorized bookings without card presence will help hotels stand out in a competitive market. IHG will continue working closely with UnionPay to expand this feature across its Greater China hotels.

Promoting Inbound Tourism with Enhanced Booking Measures

China’s visa-free program has expanded significantly, boosting inbound tourism. To further enhance the hotel booking experience for inbound tourists, IHG has partnered with China UnionPay to facilitate the acceptance of international UnionPay cards for online bookings at its hotels. This move ensures a more convenient and efficient payment experience for guests, positioning IHG’s iconic hotels in Greater China on the global tourism map and offering unforgettable experiences for guests worldwide.

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