Ctrip.com International has signed an agreement with upscale global hoteliers Millennium Hotels & Resorts to develop a global distribution strategy.

The strategy will work to promote Millennium Hotels’ properties to Ctrip’s 300 million strong customer base.

The agreement was announced by David Zhou, chief business officer for the accommodation business unit of Ctrip, and Nayan Peshkar, Millennium Hotels & Resorts senior vice president for digital, distribution and revenue strategy.

It marks the start of an alliance enabling Ctrip to offer Millennium Hotels & Resorts portfolio of hotels in the USA, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Australasia to its China based business and leisure travel clients.

Through the aegis of a strategic collaboration agreement, Millennium Hotels & Resorts will partner with Ctrip’s membership program, which will certify its properties as Chinese friendly hotels and enable them to benefit from Ctrip’s influential ranking system.

Millennium Hotels & Resorts and Ctrip will also work towards customer initiatives such as the launching of a flagship store on Ctrip’s digital platforms, joint marketing campaigns as well as knowledge sharing and cross exposure programmes for team members.

Peshkar said: “We are delighted to be joining forces with Ctrip and thus raising the profile of our hotel offering in the large and fast-growing China travel market.

“Asia is our second biggest region of operations, so we already have a deep and embedded experience of what it takes to meet the high demands of business and leisure travellers from China.

“With hotels located in some of the world’s most attractive destinations, we look forward to welcoming more of Ctrip’s customers in the coming year.”

Ctrip is the number one platform for Chinese nationals travelling overseas.

About one in four Chinese citizens use Ctrip to book and search for outbound flight tickets, making it the world’s largest outbound travel platform.

Millennium Hotels & Resorts company, Millennium & Copthorne Hotels, was listed on the London Stock Exchange in 1996.

At the end of 2018, it operated or branded a portfolio of 139 properties with over 40,000 rooms.

Its respected brands are present in 28 nations around the world, including China where it owns and operates the Grand Millennium Hotel Beijing, as well as operating properties in Hong Kong, Xiamen and other major Chinese destinations.

Zhou of Ctrip said: “We are so grateful to be enhancing our relationship with Millennium Hotels & Resorts.

“Chinese outbound tourists reached nearly 150 million in 2018, and the growth for this year remains strong.

“By signing this China–focused distribution agreement with MHR, we are continuing to offer 300 million members the best hotel experience worldwide whilst enhancing Millennium Hotels & Resorts’ presence and boosting new business opportunities for them in the China market.”