Guangzhou, China-based Plateno Group has launched PAI Hotels to expand in Europe by offering European hoteliers the opportunity to join through a rebranding process.
PAI Hotels is touting multiple benefits to its brand, including:
- Cheaper conversion rates compared to industry standards
- Attracting more travelers with modern, highly functional rooms and amenities;
- Better occupancy and ROI due to exposure to a large network of travel agents and tour operators;
- Higher attractiveness to Chinese tourists;
- Loyalty membership program with over 80 million members;
- Access to modern technology and distribution platforms that increase brand awareness and lowers distribution costs.
PAI Hotels is the second Plateno brand brought to Europe, after 7 Days Premium, which recently announced new hotels in Germany (Berlin, Munich, Leipzig) and Venice, Italy. 7 Days Premiums are already operating in Linz and Salzburg, Austria.
“Most of the hotel brands have certain strict requirements regarding room size, location, hotel size and amenities that make it difficult for owners of existing hotels to join,” said Roland Paar, RVP Plateno Europe. “As nearly 60% of European hotels are still independent, PAI is the perfect, easy to join solution, offering, on top of all the benefits of a big brand, an opening to the Chinese market.”
Paar said since it’s launch in China in May 2015, there were already more than 120 hotels open and 200 deals signed. “Now it’s time for international expansion towards new markets, where Chinese outbound travel plays significant role, and Europe is definitely one of them,” he added.
Hoteliers who do not wish to rebrand as PAI, but are still interested in growing their presence on the Chinese market, can choose Plateno Connect, the Plateno’s signature package of services that gives visibility and promotion on the world’s biggest outbound travel market.
The Plateno Group has more than 3,700 hotels in 300 destinations across Asia Pacific, and 80 million loyalty members. Plateno added that 75% of its customers book directly from an in-house CRS.
On September 18, 2015, Plateno Group, through a strategic investment with Jin Jiang International, created a global hotel group that now ranks among the biggest in the world.