Articles tagged “qunar”

Qunar is the fastest growing online travel company by far among the Big Three in China, although it is less than half the size of industry leader Ctrip. Can Qunar keep it up? Ctrip is feeling the pressure and is having to dial back on profits to ensure it will stay on top.

It's all about the numbers and execution so we'll be able to view Qunar's quarterly reports over the next few years to see if CEO Chenchao “CC” Zhuang can make good on his boast that the company will out-execute Ctrip, Alibaba and everyone else. Let's see if all the confidence adds up.

With Alibaba's IPO and all the resources it has and the shifting alliances in the China online travel market, the punches and counter-punches among competitors such as Ctrip and Qunar are taking place in the very early rounds.

Qunar CEO Chenchao "CC" Zhuang isn't like some travel bosses who claim their companies can differentiate themselves based on the experiences they provide. Zhuang wants to compete on comprehensiveness and price, and he claims Qunar's platform is driving such efficiencies that he can win on price and by showing loyalty to consumers' wallets.

Qunar is executing on its mission and is notching remarkable gains in mobile and total revenue. Profits are not on the agenda, and that's OK. At least right now.

Profitability isn't a concern right now as Expedia's eLong invests in expanding its hotel business, and it is in the game for the long haul.

Qunar is already partnered up with the Google of China, Baidu, and will differentiate itself from Expedia's eLong and the Priceline-Ctrip partnership by eschewing investment from a foreign online travel agency -- for now, at least.

Expedia doesn't comment on rumors and speculation unless it is convenient or necessary to do so. It has done so regarding eLong sales rumors because Expedia has a long-term commitment to grow eLong in the highly competitive and strategic Chinese market.

Qunar is a technology company with a big vision and an enormous opportunity as the Chinese traveler busts out into the world. He won't say it outright, but it's clear that CEO CC Zhuang likes where he sits, and wouldn't want to stop the momentum with the complications that a merger with Ctrip would bring.

Malaysia Airlines reportedly has taken some unspecified steps to enhance security onboard its flights. This likely won't do much to change Qunar's stance in the short term until the cause of MH370's disappearance has been detailed.