Palma de Mallorca – 8 February, 2013 – Hotelbeds, the leading global accommodation wholesaler, announces that it has acquired JBS (www.jbshotels.com) a US based company dedicated to the Chinese accommodation wholesaler market.
Hotelbeds is the travel trades most successful global accommodation provider. It supplies over 50,000 hotels to travel providers such as airlines, tour operators and travel agents. Through its sister brand Destination Services it also provides tours, transfers and excursions globally. Hotelbeds already has a significant presence across the US and is building its presence across China with over 100 source markets bringing customers into both regions.
JBS was formed in 2001 by Chinese born and US residents Juliann Meng, Barbara Ansel and Sarah Gao. JBS works with Chinese-domiciled tour operators and travel agents as well as destination management companies active in incoming tourism from China to the US.
The China outbound market is growing rapidly due to growing consumer wealth plus the easing of visa regulations. The US has become an increasingly important destination for China. China currently represents about 5% of total US inbound tourist expenditure and in the next 5 years is expected to grow at rates of over 25% per year.
JBS will work closely with Hotelbeds to build on relationships with tour operators and travel distributors in China to drive more business to all destinations in the US. This will include maximizing and increasing the partnerships both companies have with hotels and destination services providers. Together the businesses will become the significant player in accommodation and destination services between China and the US.
