China’s Ctrip Makes Strategic Investments in 3 U.S. Tour Operators
Photo Credit: Los Angeles-based Tours for Fun, a Chinese-focused online travel agency and operator, is one of three U.S.-based tour operators that Ctrip has invested in. Tours for Fun / Tours for Fun
Skift Take
With these investments in North America and elsewhere, Ctrip is creating a new online travel agency model. It's one that goes beyond merely booking trips but guaranteeing service levels once travelers arrive abroad.
In a bid to increase its presence in the U.S. and to improve destination services for Chinese outbound travelers, Chinese online travel agency Ctrip has made what it describes as "strategic investments" in, and formed a "marriage" with, three U.S.-based tour operators.
The tour operators are Universal Vision, a New York-based bus tour operator and travel agency; Ctour, a Los Angeles-based wholesaler and China group-tour operator, and Tours for Fun, a Los Angeles-headquartered online travel agency focused on overseas destination travel.
The idea behind the investments and partnerships, forming the Quartet, as Ctrip calls it, is to share resources, provide quality control and a hig
