SHANGRI-LA International Hotel Management Ltd., one of the world’s most respected hotel companies, and Ctrip.com International Ltd., have recently signed a distribution cooperation agreement. Being its first direct distribution system partner on the Chinese mainland, Shangri-La will leverage Ctrip’s hotel reservation platform to distribute hotels of its brands, namely Shangri La, Traders and Kerry throughout China.

    The reservation systems of both Shangri-La and Ctrip will establish direct connectivity. Through Ctrip’s platform, travelers can make bookings at Shangri-La’s Kerry and Traders hotels in China with the best available rate and receive confirmation for room types and rates on a real-time basis. Members of Shangri-La’s program for frequent guests, Golden Circle, who book Shangri-La’s hotels via Ctrip, will be equally entitled to receive Golden Circle rewards and benefits.

    For better communication and service to Ctrip members, Shangri-La will provide Ctrip with hotel and destination updates and promotional activities via a dedicated Shangri-La page on the Ctrip Web site that will be promoted to Ctrip members.

    Shangri-La operates 32 hotels under the brand names of Shangri La, Kerry and Traders with more than 15,000 rooms, the largest room inventory on the Chinese mainland. The group currently has over 20 new hotel projects under development in China.

    (Tang Li)