Baidu Launches Travel Channel

Baidu (Nasdaq:BIDU) has launched a travel channel at lvyou.baidu.com, reports shudoo.com. The channel offers travel news, recommendations for destinations and travel agencies, scenic photos, a related search function and other content, said the report.

Baidu's recently released open search platform is one part of its larger "Aladdin" plan, and more services will be released in the future, reports qq.com quoting Baidu's public relations department. The platform is currently in beta version at open.baidu.com and alading.baidu.com. Baidu CEO Robin Li has described Aladdin as an enhanced search platform that will grab data from currently inaccessible "deep web" sites.

Travelzen's 'Truly Hassle-free' Web Service Transforms China's Travel Industry

Travelzen today announced the launch of a 'Truly Hassle-free' Travelzen.com website that will set new benchmarks in business and leisure travel in China. Guaranteeing both prices and availability, the new site will also eliminate the annoying last-minute increases in quoted prices that have long handicapped the development of China's online travel industry.

The impressive result of 2 years' intensive R&D, the new website will see Travelzen become the first travel provider in China to offer a genuinely world-class end-to-end online travel experience. Leveraging its 'Truly Hassle-free' transaction model, Travelzen.com will free travelers from the outmoded 'find online, pay offline' model still widely used by many Chinese travel agents. With its state-of-the-art technologies and strong global links, the new site represents the dawn of an exciting new era for airline passengers and hotel guests.

Until now, those purchasing flights or hotel rooms in China could never be 100% sure the prices they saw online were actually available because of shortcomings in existing technologies and business models. In guaranteeing both prices and availability, Travelzen.com means travelers will no longer have to suffer these annoying discrepancies.

Shanghai World Expo tickets sale starts in HK

Tickets for World Exposition 2010 Shanghai China started to be sold on Thursday in Hong Kong.

The Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination, the Hong Kong government and the China Travel Service (Hong Kong) Ltd., which is the sole official agent for ticket distribution in Hong Kong, jointly organized a sales launching ceremony on Thursday.

The Shanghai World Expo offers nine different types of tickets under two broad categories including individuals and groups.

Tickets on sale in Hong Kong range from 107 HK dollars (about 13.8 US dollars) to 1063 HK dollars (about 137.3 US dollars). Group tickets were on sale begin on Thursday, while individuals can place their order from July 1.

Egencia hopes to spur online growth in China

The opening of a Shanghai office by Egencia follows a trend of international expansion among US–based Internet travel management providers.

But what is unusual about Egencia’s move is its entrance into a market with such a low adoption rate for corporate travel management technology.

Chinese companies still have a strong preference for paper-based travel management, according to a recent PhoCusWright report, “Corporate Travel management and Travel Practices in China,” which cites the limited use of IT systems management as the top current corporate travel trend in China. More than three in four companies interviewed for the study still use paper forms and a manual process for travel expense reporting.