On May 21, during the 2026 TravelDaily Digital Intelligence Conference · Beijing, a panel discussion titled "Winning Inbound Travelers in Northern China: Practical Strategies" drew strong interest.
Moderated by Echo Zeng, Content Planning Director at TravelDaily, the session brought together Yongxin Qi, General Manager of Beijing Hotel Nuojin, Junjie Dou, Co-founder of Jingqi, and Yong Song, Deputy General Manager of Stey-Wangfujing Hotel Beijing, for an in-depth discussion on key topics including visitor demographics, product adaptation, service enhancement, cross-industry partnerships, and multilingual guest services.
The panel explored practical approaches to converting inbound travel demand and offered actionable insights for hotels in northern China looking to tap into the growing inbound tourism market.
Junjie Dou noted that, according to travel agency data, Beijing welcomed more than 5 million inbound visitors last year. Of these, only 15% to 16% joined tour groups, while over 80% traveled independently, fundamentally reshaping the service models of hotels and tourism providers.
Yong Song pointed out that the personalized needs of inbound travelers are far greater than many industry players assume. Most visitors conduct extensive research before arriving and are already familiar with major attractions, dining options, and transportation routes. As a result, they often seek recommendations for lesser-known local experiences and authentic neighborhood spots.
This raises the bar for hotel front-desk teams, who increasingly need basic foreign-language skills, a genuine service mindset, and strong knowledge of local resources. In many cases, personalized recommendations from hotel staff are viewed as more trustworthy than information found online.
Yongxin Qi emphasized that high-end travelers choose hotels for more than just accommodation. They are also attracted by a property's unique history, cultural character, and sense of place.
At the same time, international guests tend to spend across multiple hotel outlets, including afternoon tea, dining, and beverages, generating meaningful incremental revenue beyond room bookings and helping boost overall hotel performance.
