After having spent three years in China running an outbound travel business, I returned to London in 2005 and saw potential where others still did not. I had seen first-hand the growth of interest in travelling abroad, but at that time, the countries that Chinese citizens were allowed to visit as tourists under China’s Approved Destination Status (ADS) policy were still limited. When Britain signed the agreement that year, two years after the other EU countries, there was much talk in the UK media about the potential of Chinese tourism. But even then, very few people understood the potential of this market. Seeing the potential to help educate the inbound sector and stay involved in China tourism, I launched ChinaContact and partnered with a handful of far-sighted tour companies, attractions and tourism boards that wanted to learn more.

In 2014, we were fortunate to work with Eurostar on their first ever China social media campaign. Our concept was to target young Chinese studying and working in Europe by using user generated video content and offering exciting competition and prizes. The campaign generated over 50 million views on Sina Weibo in just 3 months and led to a 500% increase in direct bookings from China on Eurostar’s website.

last June, we exhibited at ILTM Asia in Shanghai, promoting our clients’ fashion and luxury travel services to premium travel agencies and concierge services.
In July, the Peru tourism board, PromPeru, engaged our services to organise a high-level round table discussion in Shanghai for Peru’s Minister for Tourism with senior executives from China’s aviation and travel sectors, to explore ways of promoting more Chinese travel to Peru.

As we conclude an exciting year in China outbound tourism, we note that the market is more active than ever before. Inevitably, this means a more fragmented market and perhaps some confusion as to what is the best market entry approach for your business or destination when there are so many options and channels now available.

We aim to take the time to understand your requirements and develop a bespoke solution. The first consultation is always free so let us know when you would like to chat.

I wish you, on behalf of the ChinaContact team, a very happy holiday and a wonderful New Year.

Best regards,
Roy

Shanghai Yacht Club members are Chinese businessmen and women and HNWIs, the New Year’s Eve event will also gather Chinese officials and of course media representation.

Brands will have their name mentioned in the press release, showcased at different places during the event (red carpet, main stage…) and will have their brochure or goodies placed in a bag that will be offered to every guest.

Booking deadline: Friday, December 19

Contact us at  : info@chinaedge.co.uk to order your package.

The British government agency, UK Trade and Investment (UKTI), together with the University of Sheffield launched a programme under which foreign students will be recruited to help UK companies better understand overseas markets. (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/chinese-students-to-help-uk-businesses)

The GREAT Ambassadors scheme was announced by UK Prime Minister during his visit to China in December 2013. China has been chosen as the target country for the pilot programme that will operate for the academic year of 2014-2015.

The tasks undertaken by the Chinese interns will include:

• helping companies establish online presence on Chinese e-commerce websites and social media

• liaising with Chinese distributors

• provide advice and support on Chinese business culture and etiquette

• helping companies develop a Chinese version of their brand

• support company representatives on market visits to China

• identify ways to cater for growing numbers of Chinese tourists such as menus and signage

The scheme is to be commended for making companies focus on the Chinese market and allowing Chinese students to pick up valuable work experience. At the same time, business owners should take care to understand exactly what kind of help this will bring them and what this scheme cannot do. A Chinese student, as bright and energetic as they may be, does not have the relevant level of experience to replace the need for an expert in market entry, marketing, e-commerce development or cultural gap bridging. China is a very large and complex region. The needs and preferences of Chinese in one area of China would be quite different from those of another. A single Chinese person is not representative of the entire market in the same way that a single French person will not represent all of Europe.

Chinese marketing and business development specialists and agencies that work across all of China, bring perspective, strategic overview and experience of past cases that all benefit the company. Having a Chinese speaker in the office will be immense help for many companies in Britain. But it would be dangerous to think that this alone will be enough to succeed in China. Some of the areas where real expertise is needed are:

• E-commerce is a specialist sector and the regulations around it in China are cumbersome. Companies that do not have a registered entity in China typically cannot setup a payment gateway for RMB or receive a license to sell commercially in China.
• The setup and maintenance of social media requires long-term strategy, knowledge of the Chinese social media landscape as well as thorough knowledge of the company services. As with other markets, leaving this to an intern can be risky.
• Branding and localisation are best done by experts that have a broad overview of the market. An individual Chinese student will have his or her preferences and opinions but not a strategic approach or experience of working with other brands.

Related articles :  

• Chinese students to be recruited to boost business links between China, Britain
• Overseas students to help UK businesses

• On demand Chinese (Mandarin or Cantonese) concierge and customer service operators.
• Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• Answers as your brand, solves your customers’ problems.
• Dedicated telephone line, local call rates.
• All calls recorded for quality control.
• A fraction of the cost of a full time Chinese speaking concierge.
• Supervised and guaranteed service quality.

Download here details on our packages

Contact us at info@chinacontact.co.uk to order your On-demande concierge package.

Held at the historical Shanghai Exhibition Centre, the International Luxury Travel Market (ILTM) Asia remains China’s most valuable trade show for the high-end and luxury travel market. From 1^st to 4^th June 2015, China Edge will be at this event, representing our clients to 500 travel agents, personal travel designers, OTAs and private clubs organizers from all over Asia, including Greater China.

The most professionally organised B2B event in China. ILTM allows brands the unique opportunity to penetrate this extremely insular sector, as well as to discover what they can do to improve their appeal to potential Chinese clients. The invitation only nature of the event guarantees the quality of buyers attending, and China Edge’s previous experience at this event means we know the best customers and contacts for your brand, saving you time and money.

China Edge offers two packages for this event:

Package A: China Edge will help you with event booking and management; you send your own representatives. This package includes:

• Event briefing
• A professional interpreter for the 4 days
• Qualified buyer meetings arranged by us
• Exhibitor registration formalities
• Exhibitor’s logo (max. 70cm*90cm )
• Exhibitor’s stand with mineral water and snacks

Package B: Full representation by China Edge. This package includes:

• Full 4-day representation by dedicated members of the ChinaContact team
• China Edge brochure placement
• Pre-event promotion to trade
• Detailed reports on all buyer meetings
• Press release to the trade
• One month post event assistance

Early bird deadline for both packages is 29th November and the standard deadline 31st of January 2015.

Click here for more information about our packages

For more information and detailed quotes, please contact: Manuela Barba

London: +44 2071 934 873

E-mail : info@chinaedge.co.uk

Website : www.chinaedge.co.uk

Thursday, November 13, 8:00 am: Michael will be speaking at the Four Seasons Hotel Shanghai. For more details and to register: click here
Thursday, November 13, 12:00 noon: The Global Supply Chain Council and Chain Media will host an Executive Luncheon and Author Talk with Zakkour at Azul Restaurant. For more details and to register: click here

Praise for China’s Super Consumers:

Named a “book of the month” by Amazon in September 2014
“An important guide to the biggest forces at work inside China and how China is changing the world…will improve
anyone’s ability to succeed in the world’s fastest changing economy.”
– The Atlantic

“It wasn’t just Alibaba that went public, the Chinese consumer went public, this book tells how and why.”
– The Street TV

Tompkins International
Your Supply Chain. The Right Way.
Tompkins International
Toll Free: (800) 789-1257
info@tompkinsinc.com
www.tompkinsinc.com