The Top 15 Most-Searched Luxury Hotels by Chinese Travelers

Digital Luxury Group, the first international company to create luxury industry market intelligence and use this strategic viewpoint to develop unique digital marketing and strategies for luxury brands, in a first-time partnership with Luxury Concierge China, a travel service and consultancy based in Shanghai and Luxury Society, the world’s largest community of luxury executives, unveil for the first time a ranking of the top 15 most-searched for luxury hotels by Chinese travelers.

Top 15 Most-Searched Luxury Hotel Brands by Chinese Travelers (January - March 2012)

1 Sheraton    喜来登酒店
2 Hilton    希尔顿酒店
3 Shangri-La 香格里拉酒店
4 Intercontinental     洲际酒店
5 Westin    威斯汀酒店
6 Four Seasons    四季酒店
7 The Peninsula    半岛酒店
8 Kempinski     凯宾斯基酒店
9 Nikko      日航酒店
10 Ritz Carlton    丽思卡尔顿酒店
11 Hyatt Regency     凯悦酒店
12 Banyan Tree     悦榕庄
13 Le Meridien     艾美酒店
14 Renaissance     万丽酒店
15 Sofitel     索菲特酒店

© Digital Luxury Group

This report is part of the World Luxury Index™, an international ranking and analysis of the most searched-for brands within the luxury industry. Covering over 400 brands within six key segments (fashion, beauty, jewelry, cars, watches, and hospitality) in ten key luxury markets, the World Luxury Index provides insights on the unbiased search inputs coming from global luxury consumers in the world’s top search engines (Google, Bing, Baidu, Yandex). The result is a one-of-a-kind benchmark of the luxury brands capturing the attention of luxury-minded consumers around the world.

DLG research analysts, with the support of the Luxury Concierge China and Luxury Society teams, uncovered a number of interesting findings:

1. Fast growing market and no clear leader yet defined
The combination of a rising disposable income and the gradual abolition of travel restrictions are giving Chinese travelers more power and leading to a fast growing travel market. In the hotel space there are no clear leaders defined as of yet and there is still room for new players to make an impact with both domestic and international Chinese travelers.

2. American hotel brands doing well
Of the top 15 hotel brands in China, six (close to half) are companies which originate in the US. The Sheraton, Hilton, and Westin brands have strong presences in China and are in the top five most often searched.

3. Sheraton tops Chinese travelers’ interest for luxury hotels
As the saying goes, “the early bird catches the worm” and in this case it is true. Sheraton was the first western hotel brand to begin operations in China in 1985 and today it is the most searched for hotel, capturing 13.58% of total luxury hotel searches.

4. Chongqing and Tianjin are often searched domestic locations
After the nation’s biggest economic hubs, Shanghai and Beijing, cities Chongqing and Tianjin are most searched. These locales act as primary gateways to western and northern China, respectively. Sanya, Dameisha, and Dalian are popular for their favorable weather, nature, and cuisine.

5. Hong Kong, Bali, and Singapore top the most searched international locations
The proximity to Hong Kong, little to no language barriers and regular and direct flights make Hong Kong and Singapore a regular stop for both business travelers and shoppers alike. Bali beckons as a prime vacation destination.

6. Banyan Tree and Shangri-La capture the most spa-related searches
Vacation travelers looking for a respite may search online for conveniently located spas and resorts. Capturing more than 40% of searches for spas is Banyan Tree. The spa / resort has four hotels in Mainland China and is expected to open 13 more.

A free version of the report is available for download at: http://www.digital-luxury.com/chinahotels. More detailed data and analysis on a particular brand or topic is available upon request.

About Digital Luxury Group
With offices in New York, Geneva, and Shanghai, Digital Luxury Group (DLG) is the first international company dedicated exclusively to luxury industry market intelligence as well as the design and implementation of digital communication strategies for the luxury brands. For more information: http://www.digital-luxury.com

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