SYDNEY, Australia and SHANGHAI, China, Jan. 17 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Expedia, Inc. (Nasdaq: EXPE), the world's leading online travel company, today announced a partnership with Jin Jiang International Hotel Management Company (JJIHMC), the largest hotel owner and operator in China. As part of the agreement, Jin Jiang, which owns and operates more than 250 hotels, from luxury five-star lodging to economy accommodation, will now make its entire inventory of JJIHMC hotels available to Expedia(R) customers.
The new alliance expands upon Expedia's industry-leading inventory in the rapidly growing Asia Pacific market and helps ensure customers receive the best online rates at the hotel of their choice. As the world's foremost online travel network, Expedia provides Jin Jiang with state-of-the-art technology, online travel expertise, targeted marketing opportunities and broad, global reach. The agreement comes as Jin Jiang has completed its IPO on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and plans to expand outside of China, and grow to 500 hotels and inns by 2010.
"We have set an aggressive strategy for growth in the next four years," said Michael Meade, senior vice president of sales and marketing of Jin Jiang Hotels. "Jin Jiang International Hotel Management Co., Ltd., has introduced a new online distribution strategy including the launch of the Central Reservation System (JREZ) powered by system service provider HUBS1. Expedia is a critical component of that strategy. This partnership enables us to reach a greater audience and increase our brand awareness while providing our customers with the convenience and confidence of booking with the world leader in online travel."
"We are delighted for the opportunity to provide value-added services that link both hotel suppliers like Jin Jiang International Hotel Group and distributors like Expedia together in a real-time fashion," said D. Teddy Zhang, president and CEO of HUBS1. "Through the HUBS1 platform, hotels in China can greatly benefit from Expedia's global network, and at the same time, offer a better booking experience for Expedia's customers. This partnership changes the way hotel inventory is being distributed in China."
"This new partnership with Jin Jiang typifies the kind of flexible, mutually beneficial relationships Expedia seeks to establish with its partners," said Cameron Jones, regional director of Expedia(R) Partner Services Group, Asia Pacific. "By providing Jin Jiang with tailored merchandising and added visibility through Expedia's global network, specifically in North America and Europe, Expedia gives Jin Jiang a market-leading partner to significantly increase the number of high value customers staying at their hotels."
About Expedia, Inc.
Expedia, Inc. is the world's leading online travel company, empowering business and leisure travelers with the tools and information they need to easily research, plan, book, and experience travel. Expedia, Inc. also provides wholesale travel to offline retail travel agents. Expedia, Inc.'s portfolio of brands includes: Expedia.com(R), hotels.com(R), Hotwire(R), Expedia(R) Corporate Travel, TripAdvisor(R) and Classic Vacations(R). Expedia, Inc.'s companies also operate internationally with sites in Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Australia, Japan and China, through its investment in eLong(TM). For more information, visit http://www.expediainc.com/ .
About Expedia(R) Partner Services Group
Expedia(R) Partner Services Group offers its supplier partners choice, seamless coordination and complete access to our vast traveler base. The formation of the Partner Services Group is a testament of Expedia's commitment to continually refine the way we conduct business by seeking our suppliers' input and customizing our services to meet their needs.
About Jin Jiang Hotels
Jin Jiang Hotels is the largest hotel owner and operator in China, and is ranked 22nd amongst the top 300 major hotel companies in the world and is the largest Asian-owned hotel company. Jin Jiang Hotels is division of Jin Jiang International Group, a leader in tourism industry which also includes other operating divisions such as Travel, Transport, Logistics, and other enterprises. Including properties under development, Jin Jiang owns, manages or franchises more than 250 hotels and inns, with more than 51,000 rooms in China.
About HUBS1
HUBS1, the first tailor-made web-based central reservation and distribution system for the Greater China hotel industry, provides a truly cutting-edge technology platform that enables hotels to reach domestic and international customers and future hospitality demand. HUBS1 technology consists of real time multi-language booking engine, channel management, and seamless connections to Global Distribution System (GDS), Internet Distribution System (IDS), hotel Property Management System (PMS) and international travel agents and corporate customers.
NOTE: Expedia, Expedia.com are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Expedia, Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. Classic Vacations is either a trademark or registered trademark of Classic Vacations, LLC in the U.S. and/or other countries. hotels.com is either a trademark or registered trademark of hotels.com, L.P. a subsidiary of hotels.com in the U.S. and/or other countries. Hotwire is either a trademark or registered trademark of Hotwire, Inc in the U.S. and/or other countries. TripAdvisor is either a trademark or registered trademark of TripAdvisor LLC. in the U.S. and/or other countries. Other logos or product and company names mentioned herein may be the property of their respective owners.
