Thursday, April 11, 2024
InterContinental Hotels Group ( IHG) has forged a strategic alliance with China UnionPay to introduce a cutting-edge digital solution for travelers in Greater China. Under this collaboration, holders of both domestic and internationally-issued UnionPay credit cards can now seamlessly conduct pre-authorizations for online reservations via IHG’s direct platforms, including the IHG APP and WeChat mini-program, without the need for their physical cards. This groundbreaking initiative positions IHG as the pioneer among international hotel groups in Greater China to officially adopt UnionPay pre-authorization for online bookings, marking a significant milestone for the hospitality industry. This advancement significantly enhances the convenience of travelers’ hotel booking experiences while injecting greater dynamism into the strategic digitalization framework, thereby reinforcing the brand’s value proposition. Presently, this feature has been implemented in 12 hotels.
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.”
Harnessing Local Foundations for Smart Tourism: Streamlining Digital Payments
Digital technology has revolutionized travel, offering diverse and convenient options from online booking to immersive hotel experiences. IHG Greater China leads the charge by introducing UnionPay domestic credit card pre-authorization for direct online booking at 12 hotels across top-tier cities and popular tourist hubs like Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Chengdu, Zhuhai, and Sanya. This collaboration with UnionPay propels smart tourism development in these destinations, unlocking growth potential in the hotel market.
Travellers benefit from a swift and convenient booking process, boosting payment efficiency while aiding properties. Leveraging UnionPay’s extensive user base ensures a steady flow of customers, opening doors for increased revenue opportunities for hotels. Especially in bustling spots like Sanya, where competition is fierce year-round, the endorsement of UnionPay pre-authorized bookings without card presence distinguishes hotels in a crowded market. IHG remains committed to partnering closely with UnionPay to expand this feature across its Greater China hotels.
Promoting Inbound Tourism with Global Vision: Simplifying Booking Processes
With China’s visa-free program expanding, inbound tourism has soared, underscoring the importance of enhancing the hotel booking experience for international visitors. IHG collaborates with China UnionPay to streamline the acceptance of international UnionPay cards for online bookings at its hotels, enhancing payment experiences for guests. This initiative positions IHG’s iconic Greater China hotels on the international tourism stage, offering unforgettable experiences to guests worldwide.
Monday, April 29, 2024
Monday, April 29, 2024
