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As China’s longest holiday season approaches, DidaTravel is helping global hoteliers prepare for October’s Golden Week, offering strategies to attract Chinese travelers.
As we approach China’s longest holiday season, DidaTravel, the nation’s leading outbound wholesaler of accommodation and flights, is assisting hotelier partners worldwide by highlighting the Golden Week festival in October.
This year, the national holiday calendar is different from last year’s combined Mid-Autumn Festival and Golden Week. Instead, the Mid-Autumn Festival runs from Sunday, September 15th, to Tuesday, September 17th, resulting in a short holiday period ideal for domestic family visits.
Golden Week, however, will take place from October 1st to October 7th, 2024. This seven-day holiday is one of the busiest travel periods in China, with millions of people taking advantage of the break to go on vacation and embark on long-haul trips.
Chinese travelers typically book hotels and flights within a week for domestic travel and 2-4 weeks in advance for international trips. To attract Chinese travelers during Golden Week, hoteliers in the Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Western regions need to start preparing now.
This year, China’s outbound travel has rebounded, driven by favorable visa policies, increased airline capacity, and a growing interest in diverse global destinations. As demand for international travel rises, DidaTravel recommends Western hoteliers take the following steps to cater to Chinese travelers during Golden Week:
Showcase Room Photos: Use high-quality images to attract potential guests.
Detailed Room Descriptions: Clearly state room sizes in square meters.
Room Amenities: Ensure each room has a kettle and tea, and prominently display this information on the website.
Payment Methods: Accept Chinese payment options such as WeChat Pay and Alipay.
Social Media Presence: Open WeChat and other relevant social media accounts for customer service.
Visa Services: Offer visa arrangements for Chinese travelers where available.
B2B Retail Sales: Focus on B2B retail sales, not just B2C channels.
Last-Minute Bookings: Be prepared for last-minute bookings, as Chinese travelers often make spontaneous travel decisions.
Targeting Young Travelers: Market to younger travelers, as China has a higher percentage of wealthy Millennials and Gen Z compared to Europe and the Americas.
By following these steps, hoteliers can effectively attract and accommodate Chinese travelers during one of the busiest travel periods of the year.
“Many non-Chinese hoteliers are completely unaware of the Golden Week period – they have just heard of Chinese New Year it seems – but this is a significant travel period which Chinese people use to travel abroad and as such these hoteliers could be missing out,” said Nicky Ussamarn, DidaTravel’s Chief Commercial Officer “Understanding what Chinese travellers want is crucial for Western hoteliers to tailor offerings and experiences that match these changing preferences. Our insights and recommendations are designed to help hoteliers align their services with the specific needs and expectations of Chinese tourists, ensuring a more enjoyable and satisfactory experience for this fast growing market segment.
“Simply having a Chinese language website or even employees on your property is just not enough. We want to remind hoteliers looking to attract Chinese travellers for the Golden Week festival period that there is still time to adapt – even if this is the first they hear of the festival – as travellers plan their long-haul trips only two to four weeks in advance!”
The post Global Hoteliers Gear Up For Major Chinese Outbound Travel Period In October’s Golden Week With DidaTravel’s Expert Tips appeared first on Travel And Tour World.