China opens up again as state-owned TravelSky inks hotel distribution deal with Abacus

Further evidence that the Chinese government-backed TravelSky is looking outward for partners with news that it has signed a hotel distribution deal with Abacus.

The agreement sees the state-owned GDS share its accommodation content through distribution networks belonging to Abacus, the Singapore-based GDS which has 20,000 agents connected to its system across Asia-Pacific.

Hotel content on Abacus will be made available to TravelSky-connected agents in China, accounting for more than 100,000 hotel properties.

Around 30,000 hotels will flow back from the TravelSky systems for Abacus agents to search and book.

Beijing-based TravelSky controls airline distribution of state-owned airlines in China and processes more than 200 million passengers annually.

It is not the first time TravelSky has reached out to distribution providers outside of the country, with Travelport signing a similar deal in March this year.

Travel agents in China gained access to around 250,000 hotels via Travelport and, in return, Galileo, Worldspan and Apollo-connected agents are able to secure hotel content from TravelSky via the Rooms and More booking engine.

Abacus, of course, is a joint venture with Sabre, with the US-based GDS having a 35% stake in the company.

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