How to Market Your Hotel for Chinese Travelers?

China is a rapidly growing market for the global tourism industry, and it’s essential to tap into this potential. With more than 200 million people going abroad, investors and hotel owners have what to scratch!

In this blog post, we will focus on Chinese tourists’ preferences and guide you on how to best promote your hotel to cater to their needs.

Chinese Typical Tourist vs Chinese Rich Tourist

Chinese typical tourists and Chinese rich tourists can be differentiated based on their travel preferences, spending habits, and overall travel experiences.

Travel Preferences

Typical tourists tend to prefer budget-friendly options and often visit popular tourist attractions such as historical sites, cultural landmarks, and natural wonders. They often participate in group tours and follow pre-planned itineraries.

On the other hand, rich Chinese tourists have the financial means to indulge in luxury travel experiences, which has contributed to the growth of the premium Chinese outbound tourism market. They may choose private tours, personalized itineraries, and exclusive accommodations. These tourists also tend to seek unique and off-the-beaten-path destinations, focusing on personalized and high-end experiences.

Spending Habits

Chinese typical tourists are budget-conscious and prefer affordable options for transportation, accommodation, and dining. They prioritize shopping for souvenirs and local products.

Chinese rich tourists have higher spending power and indulge in luxury goods, fine dining, and exclusive experiences. They also invest in high-quality accommodations and personalized services.

Travel Experiences

Chinese typical tourists often travel in large groups, follow organized itineraries, and visit popular tourist spots. They focus on taking photos and experiencing well-known attractions, with limited interaction with locals.

Chinese rich tourists, however, have more extensive travel opportunities. They can enjoy exclusive experiences like private tours, VIP access to attractions, and personalized services. They also engage in cultural activities, interact with locals, and seek immersive travel experiences.

Chinese Tourism: the Sector to Invest

Chinese people do not hesitate to pack their bags once they want to change the air and get out of the routine and stress of everyday life, and the destinations are so many and different which boosts the opportunities to seize for the investors!

There is no doubt that the tourism sector is the sector to invest in if you are passionate about China or the Chinese market.

Do not go blind! Developing a well-defined marketing strategy is essential before taking the slightest step, we have collected some tips to follow to face the diversity in terms of competitors, and generate more leads because after all… it’s your goal!

The First Step is to Translate your Website in Chinese

Having a website is essential for your maid hiring business as it represents your image to potential customers. Make sure to have original and attractive content on your website, and continuously improve it to keep up with changing customer trends and interests.

Also, consider hiring a translator to accurately translate your content. Be attentive and interactive with your customers, as they appreciate that.

The importance of customer satisfaction cannot be overstated. Ignoring customers due to lack of time is a mistake that should be avoided. Satisfied customers will spread positive word-of-mouth to eight other people, while unsatisfied customers will share their negative experiences with 24 others.

It is crucial to acknowledge this and emphasize that although there may be many hotels, yours is the best.

In a competitive market like China, diversification is key to maintaining your position. It is important to follow trends while respecting Chinese culture, as a small misstep can have costly consequences.

Your content should be clear, concise, and most importantly, original. Readers are tired of repetitive phrases and expressions; they crave something that surprises them and breaks their everyday.

Use Baidu SEO (Search Engine Optimization)

Having basic information about your business on Chinese search engines is crucial for attracting Chinese tourists. Building trust and managing your online reputation are key factors in convincing them to choose your business over competitors.

Translating a lite version of your website into Chinese demonstrates your business’s welcoming attitude towards Chinese tourists. To ensure high rankings on Baidu, the most popular search engine in China, it is important to host your website in China. Your website should include essential information, booking options, a chat box, and links/QR codes to your social media accounts.

The more information you provide, the better. Additionally, participating in travel forums will increase your visibility on Baidu, further assuring Chinese people of your company’s trustworthiness.

Mobile Marketing

You are a marketing specialist, but you are a bit clumsy when it comes to “mobile marketing”?

Mobile marketing is the current trend in the digital world, so you must have a set of sub-strategies that will allow you to integrate mobile and segment a well-defined population, don’t forget that 90% of the Chinese population uses its phone, so it will be a shortfall to not take advantage of this opportunity!

Everything is done by WeChat, whatever the transaction; pay for a dish, pay for a shirt in a store. All thanks to the QR code that makes the task easier, and wish will facilitate yours if you know what mobile strategy you will use to encourage the Chinese tourist to spend his stay in your hotel!

Ctrip Tuniu, CY, LVmama, and Aoyou … Do These Names Tell You Something?

These are special mobile apps for Chinese people who want to travel. What are you waiting for?! Check into one of these famous travel agencies in China: Ctrip knowing that it holds ¼ of the market!

This is one way among others to attract tourists to spend a few nights in your hotel!

Social networks

Indeed, the Chinese population has become increasingly connected with the rise of internet access. With over 1.05 billion internet users, China has the largest online population in the world. Social networks play a crucial role in this digital landscape, and one of the most popular platforms is WeChat.

WeChat is an all-in-one mobile app that offers messaging, social media, payment services, and more.

In addition to WeChat, there are other social networks that are widely used in China. QQ, for example, is a messaging platform that has been popular for many years. It offers features similar to WeChat, such as instant messaging, voice and video calls, and online gaming.

Weibo is another prominent social network in China, often referred to as the Chinese equivalent of Twitter. It allows users to post short messages, share photos and videos, and follow celebrities and influencers. Weibo has gained immense popularity and has become a platform for news, entertainment, and social interactions.

With all these different social networks, Chinese travelers can easily connect with fellow travelers, share their experiences, and seek recommendations. These social networks provide a platform for Chinese travelers to access valuable information about destinations, accommodations, and local attractions. Social networks have revolutionized the way Chinese travelers plan share, and document their travel experiences.

Attract Chinese Tourists Through Little Red Book App

Xiaohongshu (Little Red Book) is a social media platform in China that is gaining popularity as a source of outbound travel information. Similar to Instagram, users share their photos, videos, and reviews about their trips abroad, and millions of potential travelers look to these experiences for inspiration.

The app’s diverse user base allows for effective shaping of decisions, as recommendations for hidden gem restaurants or off-the-beaten-track destinations can quickly go viral.

Hotels have the opportunity to influence Chinese tourists’ travel choices through engaging content and strategic promotions on Xiaohongshu, thanks to its unique blend of social networking and online trading features.

Douyin

Douyin, also known as TikTok in China, is all about short, attention-grabbing videos. This app has rapidly emerged as a powerful platform for businesses looking to tap into China’s massive market.

When using Douyin for marketing your hotel to Chinese tourists, focus on creating short, attention-grabbing videos that highlight the unique features and experiences your hotel offers.

Showcase amenities, local attractions, and cultural experiences that would appeal to Chinese tourists. Also, consider partnering with popular Douyin influencers who have a large following among Chinese tourists.

These influencers can create content featuring your hotel and promote it to their audience, increasing awareness and interest. Before implementing any marketing strategies, it’s crucial to understand the platform and its audience.

KOL Marketing

We say KOL for (Key Opinion Leader) they are people known in China by the content they publish, and we have an audience of their own, precisely generated by the large number of people who follow them, subscribe to their channel or still share their content with other people, making their publications more viral on the Chinese Web.

As you can see, a KOL can help you to generate even more visitors thanks to people who follow him and like his content, you just have to choose the right KOL, that is to say, the one that represents the best your company, which has the same values as yours, otherwise you will fall into the trap of opting for the best-known KOL (with a million followers), but that will not generate you any lead simply because it does not target the same population as yours, and you will therefore invest money for nothing!

Contact Us to Promote Your Hotel to Chinese Tourists!

We are a China-based marketing agency offering cost-effective solutions to foreign brands interested in tapping into the Chinese market. Our team of Chinese and foreign experts has the experience and know-how needed to succeed in this lucrative, yet complicated market.

Gentlemen Marketing Agency offers many digital marketing and e-commerce solutions, such as web design, e-commerce and social media marketing strategies, localization, market research, KOL marketing, and more.

Don’t hesitate to leave us a comment or contact us, so that we can schedule a free consultation with one of our experts, that will learn about your brand and present you the best solutions for your China market strategy.