Alibaba launches new online travel service

Beijing, China -- Alibaba Group is rebranding its Taobao Travel online travel business as an independent business and brand named “Alitrip.” Alitrip will be another marketplace platform under Alibaba Group with a new independent web domain, www.alitrip.com.



Alitrip currently has more than 10,000 merchants on its platform providing airplane tickets, vacation packages, hotel booking services, visa application services and tour guide services. Going forward, Alitrip will focus on four strategic areas, among which mobile and service offerings are its top priorities.



The Alitrip mobile app will combine service functionalities including cancellation of previous bookings, booking taxis, and setting up flight seat preferences. In addition, Alitrip will continually develop product and service innovations such as pre-ordering and reserving travel products using interest-generating money market products and checking into hotels without using credit cards for payment guarantee.



In order to provide customers with security and convenience, Alitrip will offer no-questions-asked refunds to consumers for tickets or hotel reservations within one hour. Alitrip will also operate a $16 million consumer protection fund through which refunds can be allocated back to its customers right away.



Alitrip will be an integral part of Alibaba Group’s ecosystem, offering a wide range of vacation travel products and services from leading travel service providers.