HBX Group and Trip.com Group Upgrade Partnership Around China Inbound and Fintech

A long-standing wholesale-to-OTA relationship is being formalised around two themes: inbound demand to China and payments.

On 22 October 2026, HBX Group and Trip.com Group announced a strategic partnership upgrade following a meeting of senior leadership teams in Shanghai. They will collaborate on China inbound travel and fintech.

Context

China's National Immigration Administration reports foreign inbound trips reached 22.91 million in the first half of 2026, up 20.4% year on year.

Scope

• China inbound: combining Trip.com Group's local market expertise with HBX Group's network of travel partners in more than 170 countries, to make it easier for international travellers to discover and plan trips to China.
• Fintech: exploring virtual card solutions to simplify transactions for travel businesses.
• Broader cooperation will be explored over time.

David Amsellem, Chief Distribution Officer at HBX Group, said Trip.com Group "has been a valued partner to HBX Group for many years" and that the companies are opening China to more travellers and exploring new areas such as payments. Monica Xiao, CEO of Accommodation and Vice President of Trip.com Group, said the aim is to make it easier for international travellers to discover China.

HBX Group owns Hotelbeds, Bedsonline+, The Luxurist, Roiback Civitfun and PerfectStay; Trip.com Group comprises Trip.com, Ctrip, Skyscanner and Qunar.