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Travel Agents

Earthquake PR and ongoing bird flu fallout

DANWEI - Companies moved quickly to publicize their donations to the relief effort for the April 20 earthquake in Ya'an, Sichuan province. Countering the bad press it received in China recently, Apple donated 50 million yuan, but it was topped by Samsung who donated 60 million yuan. Less visible in the aftermath of this year's earthquake was the opprobrium seen in the wake of the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake, when a spurious list of the top ten "international iron roosters" accused global brands like Samsung, Nokia and Coca-Cola of donating nothing to the earthquake relief effort despite reaping in millions in profits in China. This time round, companies have been swift and public about their donations. 

25 April 2013

eLong – homing in on hotels

The decision to focus on hotel bookings may be a canny one in the long-term, but discount-led growth will make it hard for the company to stem losses in the short-term.

18 April 2013

Expedia – lagging behind the leaders in China

The US-headquartered travel company continues to harbour grand ambitions in China, but is making slow progress in gaining market share.

18 April 2013

Qunar – challenging the old order

The Baidu-invested travel search engine has shaken up China’s online travel market in recent years and expects to double revenue in FY13, but attempts to move into the online travel agency space have met with resistance.

18 April 2013

Ctrip – feeling the strain

China’s leading online travel agency has maintained market share by offering aggressive discounts in the face of stiff competition from Qunar, a policy that is eroding revenue, profits and margins.

18 April 2013

Online travel – all change

The rise of travel search engines and online marketplace sites poses major challenges for leading online travel agencies Ctrip and eLong in the battle to benefit from rising demand for travel services among Chinese consumers

18 April 2013

Ctrip – under pressure from fierce competition

Fierce competition in airline ticket and hotel booking segments is weighing on revenue growth.

11 August 2011

Qunar - web traffic to be bolstered further on Baidu investment

The travel search engine is drawing traffic from major online travel agents Elong and Ctrip.

11 August 2011
Consumer pic

Online travel - crowding in

Rapid growth in the online travel reservation business is attracting new market entrants and driving down profit margins.

11 August 2011
Consumer pic

Domestic tourism - blue sky prospects

Discretionary spenders are travelling in swelling droves, while distinct tourist behaviour shapes the contours of this highly attractive industry.

05 May 2011

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