China’s Trip.com taps into Chope’s network of SEA restaurants

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China-headquartered Trip.com Group has partnered with Singapore-based dining platform Chope, enabling Southeast Asia-bound travelers to make reservations in over 3,000 restaurants across Singapore, Bangkok, Phuket, Jakarta, and Bali.

Travelers can book restaurant reservations in these areas via Trip.com as well as the Ctrip app.

The partnership caters to tech-savvy travelers who demand “an easier way to discover new cultures and culinary experiences,” said Vincent He, general manager of Chope Shanghai, in a statement.

Founded in 2011, Chope links F&B brands to online booking channels. The company said it has facilitated dining experiences for 110 million users to date.

Last December, the firm laid off 65 employees due to “fast-changing economic conditions.”

In 2017, Ctrip acquired Trip.com, which started out as a travel recommendation service in 2010. The former then rebranded and changed its name to Trip.com Group to emphasize its focus on global markets.

Besides Trip.com and Ctrip, the group also houses flight search engine SkyScanner and online travel agency Qunar.

According to a Bloomberg report, the number of Chinese tourists visiting Southeast Asia has been lower than expected. In May, Chinese tourist arrivals across five Southeast Asian countries were all less than half pre-pandemic levels.

See also: Mapping SEA’s foodtech players: Startups seize opportunities beyond food delivery