This is the first time a luxury hotel group from the Middle East has signed an agreement of this nature with Ctrip.

This partnership further illustrates Jumeirah's commitment to the China market as it will allow Chinese travellers to directly book some of the world's most luxurious and innovative accommodations via Ctrip.com's platform. 
 
Mr. Nicholas Clayton, Chief Operating Officer of Jumeirah Group, Mr. Akram Touma, Regional Vice President and Mr. David Loiseau, Vice-President of Sales & Marketing, Asia Pacific for Jumeirah Group, as well as Mr. Fan Min, CEO, President and Co-founder of Ctrip, Ms. Sun Mao Hua, Senior Vice President of Ctrip and Mr. Xiao Liang Ding, Vice President of Ctrip, attended the signing ceremony taking place in Jumeirah Himalayas Hotel in Shanghai.

As a result of this agreement, expanded visibility among Chinese travellers will result in an increase in visitors for Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts, especially those located Dubai, the Maldives and Shanghai. 

Direct connectivity between Ctrip and Jumeirah will allow Ctrip customers' reservations to be delivered automatically and within seconds to the Jumeirah hotels. According to Jumeirah Group and Ctrip.com, once the direct connect technology is in place, special offers and a consumer contest to celebrate this agreement will be launched. Jumeirah expects a growth of 14% from the Chinese market to its worldwide portfolio in 2013 and the numbers of visitors to the Jumeirah Himalayas Hotel in Shanghai, which recently celebrated its first anniversary, are expected to increase as well. 

China now ranks as the sixth most important source market for Jumeirah hotels internationally, with the most popular destinations in the Jumeirah portfolio for Chinese visitors being Dubai and the Maldives, as well the company's first hotel in mainland China Jumeirah Himalayas Hotel, Shanghai.

The Group has five future hotel projects in development in China, including Jumeirah Guangzhou (opening in late 2014), Jumeirah Macau, Jumeirah Clearwater Bay Resort in Sanya, Jumeirah Hangzhou and Jumeirah Thousand Island Lake Resort, Qiandaohu.



Jumeirah's growing presence in China

With such a robust development pipeline and more Chinese guests choosing Jumeirah hotels in the Maldives and Dubai, the Group has been researching the market closely and was one of the first hospitality companies to make its website available in Mandarin, as well as become actively engaged in the local social media.

Early this year, Jumeirah strengthened its commitment to Greater China by appointing a seasoned Asia professional, Graham Kiy, to the position of General Manager of Jumeirah Guangzhou.  In addition, the Group expanded its sales presence in Asia by partnering with Heavens Portfolio as Sales and Marketing representative in Hong Kong and Taiwan, and appointed a Business Development Manager, Ms Selena Xu, based in Beijing.

"Jumeirah has confidence that the Chinese travel and tourism market will continue its rapid growth," said Mr. Nicholas Clayton, COO of Jumeirah Group. "I am pleased to see Jumeirah signing the direct connect with China's largest travel services enterprise, Ctrip.com. It indeed strengthens our China development and enables us to engage more closely with our Chinese high-end customers.

"Mr. Fan Min, CEO also emphasised that "This is the first time Ctrip.com is signing this kind of agreement with a global luxury hotel from the Middle East. I am confident that this will be a win-win strategy for both Jumeirah and Ctrip.com."