Can Hotels can collaborate with Chinese tour operators?

Do you think my Hotel can collaborate with Chinese tour operators in 2024?

Expert tips : Alright, let’s get brutally honest about why most hotels are failing to collaborate with Chinese tour operators. This isn’t a walk in the park—you don’t just show up and expect Chinese operators to roll out the red carpet for you. Here’s the reality check: most hotels simply aren’t China-ready.

1. No Reputation in the Chinese Market
   – If Chinese operators haven’t heard of you, why would they risk their reputation on an unknown? Building trust in China is everything. They’re not going to put their clients in a place they don’t know and can’t vouch for. No presence, no credibility—that’s your starting point.

1. No Chinese Marketing Materials
   – Most hotels don’t even have a basic Chinese-language brochure. Are you kidding me? You expect a tour operator to take you seriously when you don’t even have the basics? Your property could be the Taj Mahal, but without a Chinese brochure or flyer, it’s invisible to the audience that matters.
2. No WeChat Communication
   – News flash: WeChat isn’t optional. Chinese tour operators live on WeChat. It’s where they chat, share, and seal deals. If you’re still hanging out on email, you’re out of the loop. Get on WeChat, set up an official account, and make it as easy as possible for operators to communicate with you. Otherwise, they’ll just move on to someone who is available.
3. No Mandarin Speaker on Your Team
   – Think about this: you’re asking a tour operator to send guests halfway around the world to stay with you, but if something goes wrong, there’s not a single person who speaks Mandarin? That’s a dealbreaker. You need at least one Mandarin speaker who can handle issues on the spot. It’s not just good service; it’s respect.
4. No Website in Chinese
   – If a Chinese tour operator wants to check you out and your website is only in English, that’s a problem. They need to show clients who may not speak English what your hotel’s all about. If you’re not putting in the work to make a simple Chinese website, you’re not showing commitment to the market. Period.
5. No Happy Chinese Customers or Testimonials
   – Here’s the thing—Chinese operators want to know that other Chinese travelers have stayed with you and loved it. It’s called social proof, and it’s HUGE in China. They want to see reviews, testimonials, and photos from guests who speak their language. Without that, you’re just another faceless hotel.
6. No Chinese-Speaking Staff for On-Site Support
   – Picture this: a busload of Chinese tourists arrives, and there’s no one at the front desk who can communicate with them in Mandarin. That’s not just a bad experience; it’s a nightmare waiting to happen. Tour operators don’t want to deal with frustrated clients—they want smooth, seamless experiences, and that requires Chinese-speaking staff who can make their guests feel welcome and understood.

Bottom Line

If you’re serious about collaborating with Chinese tour operators, you’ve got to build trust from the ground up. Start by making real investments: hire Mandarin-speaking staff, create Chinese marketing materials, get on WeChat, and build a presence. And remember, it’s not just about translating words; it’s about showing respect for the culture. The operators who are worth working with have standards, and if you’re not ready to meet those standards, they’ll move on without a second thought.

So, stop looking for shortcuts and start putting in the work. Make yourself valuable, make yourself visible, and earn the right to be their go-to partner. This market is huge, but only if you’re ready to go all in.

Feel free to contact us if you want to talk

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