Destinations: China, After the Olympics
by John Hawks

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In other words, get ready to field lots of requests for trips to China once the Olympics end in late August!

On the air front, a recent U.S.-China “open skies” agreement paved the way for new regulatory approvals for several American carriers to plan new routes to China. Delta Air Lines will launch Atlanta-Shanghai service in the spring of 2008, at the same time that United Airlines will begin San Francisco-Guangzhou flights. American, Continental, Northwest, and US Airways have also laid plans to introduce new flights. Air China – a new Star Alliance member – now codeshares flights with Cathay Pacific, and China Southern Airlines now offers a Web site for ticket purchases in English.

Several times each month, the “OSSN Daily” carries a news item about yet another hotel property opening in China -- many of them backed by upscale or luxury chains. While Best Western (an OSSN supplier member!) plans to offer more than four dozen locations in China by 2012, Ritz-Carlton, W Hotels, and other chains have also begun building new resorts and business hotels across the country. Marriott will boast more than 30 Chinese properties alone by 2010.

What about getting into China, and getting around once you’re there? Beijing plans one of the world’s largest new airport terminals this year before the Olympics open, and more than 500 “bullet trains” will crisscross China’s huge land mass this year. (In some cases, the new trains will cut the time for transfers between major cities by more than half.)

Stepping into the marketplace to meet the expected demand spurt this year are many dependable tourism brands such as Trafalgar (an OSSN supplier member!), which announced last month several new and expanded China itineraries – including a joint cruise-tour package in partnership with Victoria Cruises. Existing Yangtze River cruise operators will offer more departures and stretch the season this year. Agent-friendly niche experts such as China Travel Service -- another OSSN supplier member, and one of the hosts and supporters of the 2008 OSSN International Conference set to visit China March 19-28! – have begun reaching out to North America’s home-based agent community.

To learn more about what’s changing in China this year for travel after the Olympics – and, just as important, what key tourism attractions, from the Imperial Palace in Beijing to the terra-cotta warriors in Xi’an, will stay exactly the same! – visit the China National Tourist Office site. Another excellent contact for OSSN agents will be the experts at China Travel Service.

What if you have clients who’ve just decided to attend this year’s Summer Olympics in Beijing? They could have a very difficult (and expensive!) road ahead of them. Beijing expects about three million spectators during the Aug. 8-24 event, and standard prices for airline tickets, hotel stays, and other trip components could quadruple this summer. And, that’s before you get into any discussion of tickets (almost 75 percent of which have been reserved for sale only within China)! Contact China Travel Service or any reputable sports tour operator, but prepare your clients for the pricing and the potential disappointment that comes with planning an Olympics trip at the last minute.

(Credits: Stock photos)