Jumeirah Group, the global luxury hospitality company, has signed a global direct connectivity partnership agreement with top Chinese travel service enterprise, Ctrip.com International as part of its expansion strategy.

As per the deal, the direct connectivity between the two will allow the Ctrip customers' reservations to be delivered automatically and within seconds to the Jumeirah hotels.

A member of Dubai Holding, Jumeirah said this is the first time it has signed an agreement of this nature with Ctrip in Shanghai.

This partnership further illustrates Jumeirah's commitment to the China market as it will allow Chinese travellers to directly book some of the world's most luxurious and innovative accommodations via Ctrip.com's platform, said a statement from Jumeirah.

As a result of this agreement, expanded visibility among Chinese travellers will result in an increase in visitors for Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts, especially those located Dubai, the Maldives and Shanghai.  

The duo said that once the direct connect technology is in place, special offers and a consumer contest will be announced to celebrate the agreement.

Jumeirah said it expects a 14 per cent growth in the number of Chinese tourists to its worldwide portfolio in 2013. "The numbers of visitors to the Jumeirah Himalayas Hotel in Shanghai, which recently celebrated its first anniversary, are expected to increase as well," it added.

"Jumeirah has confidence that the Chinese travel and tourism market will continue its rapid growth," remarked Nicholas Clayton, the COO of Jumeirah Group.

"China now ranks as the sixth most important source market for Jumeirah hotels internationally, with the most popular destinations in the Jumeirah portfolio for Chinese visitors being Dubai and the Maldives, as well the company's first hotel in mainland China Jumeirah Himalayas Hotel, Shanghai," he added.

The Group has five future hotel projects in development in China, including Jumeirah Guangzhou (opening in late 2014), Jumeirah Macau, Jumeirah Clearwater Bay Resort in Sanya, Jumeirah Hangzhou and Jumeirah Thousand Island Lake Resort, Qiandaohu.-TradeArabia News Service