5 New Travel Startups From China That Challenge the Status Quo
Skift Take
Chinese travel startups are innovating, not cloning, these days. For instance, Zanadu is using virtual reality to sell luxury travel in real world shops, Baoku is bringing integrated workflows to corporate travel planners, and Aipinji is applying an Uber-like user interface to an old-school wholesaler model.
Ctrip’s acquisition of Skyscanner in late 2016 highlighted again the torrid pace of growth in online travel in China, despite some economic hiccups in the local economy. The move came after last summer's decision by Ctrip to buy a “significant minority stake” in Qunar only a few months after they formed a partnership that gave them combined control of about 80 percent of China’s online hotel and airplane ticket sales.
Also in October, Tujia acquired the home-sharing businesses of Ctrip and Qunar and thus shored up its position as a tough competitor to Airbnb, HomeAway, and Booking.com.
All they hype around big name deals sometimes obscures the activity around smaller online travel players in China that have recently gotten funding and that are deserving of attention due to savvy business plans.
Here's a look at a handful of Chinese online travel companies worth your attention.
Zanadu is an online travel agency that emphasizes luxury travel. This year it received undisclosed investment from Prometheus Capi
