Louvre Hotels Group, The 1st French Hotel Group To Accept Card Payments From 1.3 Billion Chinese

While the Chinese clientele represents a huge growth driver for the French hotel industry, Louvre Hotels Group, which belongs to the Chinese group Jin Jiang, announces an unprecedented partnership with UnionPay.

The hotel group has become the first operator in its sector to tap into a market of several billion cardholders.

Although Chinese tourists represent a growing market and demonstrate particular loyalty to France as a destination, the hotel industry has not always adapted its conditions to provide optimal service.

For example, the Chinese could not, up until now, pay for their stay with a UnionPay bank card in France. UnionPay is a network of Chinese bank cards, with 5.4 billion cards issued in 40 countries and regions.

“Chinese tourists love France, they love Paris, and remain especially loyal in today’s particular context which has impacted our attractiveness.

The least we can do is to provide real hospitality, not just lip service, and thank them by making their client experience easier. Today, they have to carry large amounts of cash, with all the incurrent risks.

Thanks to this partnership agreement with the UnionPay network, we will continue to grow by always serving their legitimate wants and needs”
Pierre-Frédéric Roulot, CEO of Louvre Hotels Group.

As of today, 23 hotels in the Ile-de-France region propose this payment solution. The terms of this agreement will apply to all subsidiaries in France by the end of 2017, followed by our franchised and managed hotels, in order to support tourists wherever their travels take them in France.

According to UnionPay, Chinese tourists charge an average of 5,400 euros on their card during a stay in France making it the 7th country worldwide–ahead of the United States and Singapore–and the number one European country, where Chinese tourists spend the most with a bank card.