Skift Tech Forum: Shiji Helps Hotels Crack China Market With À La Carte Approach

Shiji is a little more than 20 years old. It began in China as a network solutions provider. Now the tech company has dozens of subsidiaries, including 20 foreign subsidiaries. For example, Shiji provides an array of operational software and services to more than 47,000 hotels outside of China. The company's growth sped up last year after a $486 million investment from e-commerce powerhouse Alibaba Group. In the past year Shiji acquired or took majority control of several companies, including StayNTouch, a hotel tech services provider, Concept Software Systems, a retail tech provider for golf, spa, and other activities, and IcePortal, an imagery management service for hotels. Many Western brands use Shiji to help sell their inventory in the China market. Last year, the company overhauled its portal and rebranded it as Shiji Distribution Systems. Earlier this year Wyndham successfully launched its international properties on China's largest online travel agency, Ctrip, by leveraging the portal. Skift asked Kevin King, chief operating officer, about how Shiji stands out in Western markets, his advice to hoteliers, and how his company helps hotel companies distribute rooms in China. The interview follows below and has been edited for brevity. It's a prelude to his appearance June 27 at the Skift Tech Forum in San Francisco.

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