Wanda, Didi team up to give hospitality chain’s guests an easier ride
Guests of Wanda Hotels & Resorts will now find it easier to use Didi Chuxing, the mobile taxihailing and car service app, especially Didi Luxe and Didi Premier services.
It is the result of cooperation between Wanda and Didi, which was announced in Beijing on Wednesday.
“User experience has long been the focus of Wanda,” said Ning Qifeng, president of Wanda Hotels & Resorts, at the launch ceremony. “We do not only aim to provide a high-quality accommodation experience but will also extend services to more parts of traveling.”
“The cooperation with Didi will offer guests a more convenient stay and traveling experience,” he said.
Wanda has opened 85 hotels and plans to launch more than 100 hotels in cities across the world.
Statistics from Didi showed that on average, Didi Luxe and Didi Premier receive more than 20,000 orders a day for trips starting from Wanda hotels.
Didi will install a car-hailing system in concierge offices at hotels owned by Wanda Hotel & Resorts and set up stations at the hotels. The offices can use the system to hail vehicles according to users’ needs.
The stations can show the travel time from the hotel to venues in real time, such as an airport, railway station, key business area and scenic spot.
Representatives said Didi Premier keeps improving service standards. Didi Luxe cars range from the Mercedes-Benz S-class to the BMW 5 Series, featuring interior design inspired by five-star hotels and first-class aircraft cabins.
Business travelers normally use different software to book rooms and cars. The partnership between Wanda and Didi allows them to hail cars via Wanda’s WeChat account. The two companies will also launch “hotel housing plus car hailing” service packages. These can be bought via Wanda’s WeChat account, its official website and online travel agency platforms.
Global hospitality group Marriott International unveiled a 39-floor building on the east bank of Shanghai’s Huangpu River on Thursday as the first JW Marriott Marquis hotel in China.
“At JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Shanghai Pudong, we are very glad to be the space where family, friends and colleagues can come together to share unique experiences and create unforgettable memories,” said Angela Pan, general manager of the hotel.
“Shanghai is quickly becoming the preferred destination for international meetings, incentives, conferences and events on the global business map, and we look forward to providing some of the best and most sophisticated facilities and services for visitors to our wonderful city,” Pan said.
Bruce Ryde, vice-president of Marriott International’s luxury brand management in the Asia Pacific region, said: “The Marquis brand basically is the landmark of JW Marriott.”
“They are characterized by the hallmark building design, large scale, and elevated facilities. Marquis means a banner at the top of a building that announces something fantastic. So it means a landmark of JW Marriott and our ambition of the Chinese market,” Ryde said, following the opening ceremony in Shanghai.
The opening ceremony was highlighted by a solo performance by world-famous pianist Lang Lang. Having played two works, Franz Liszt’s and Chopin’s the young artist noted that like great artwork, a well-curated and home-like environment inspires and nourishes the best of one’s mind and soul.
The property’s guest rooms have a sophisticated style blending modern and classic elements, featuring cream and crisp whites on marble, fabric, wood and glass. Each room is equipped with amenities catering to the needs of both business and leisure travelers.
On the dining front, the hotel is home to a host of restaurants. The Merchant Kitchen is an all-daydining outlet inspired and influenced by merchant cities across the world, including Shanghai itself.
Flint, the hotel’s upscale bar and grill, has an industrial-chic decor reinterpreting the style of mid-19th century New York. The menu features steak and lobster, with an extensive selection of wines and signature cocktails.
Le Manoir Ling marries Cantonese cuisine and French design elements, accented by Shanghai’s unique Hai Pai culture, which features opening-up, innovation, diversity and inclusiveness.
“Asia Pacific is the fastest-growing region for our luxury brands globally,” Ryde said, explaining the reasons for spotting Shanghai to locate the latest Marquis, where another two JW Marriott properties have already been in service.
“The pipeline for each one of our brands is larger in Asia Pacific than any other regions for Marriott International. China is the biggest part of the pipeline,” he said.
“Strategy-wise, we will continue to learn about Chinese consumers, whose average age is 33 years old, while the average age of luxury consumers in the United States is 58, according to external research committed by the Marriott International.”