WebBeds, the world’s second largest business-to-business (B2B) accommodation provider, has announced the signing of two landmark partnership agreements that are expected to significantly boost the fast-growing halal travel and Umrah pilgrimage sector in China.

UmrahHolidays International (UHI) is a recent addition to the WebBeds global family, providing B2B solutions to travel agencies worldwide, including hotels, visas, meet and greet services, transfers and sightseeing in Saudi Arabia. With its expert local knowledge, user-friendly technology and commitment to customer satisfaction, the company is uniquely positioned to handle all Umrah bookings, including individuals and groups.

Leveraging this expertise, UHI has now secured partnerships with two key Chinese travel companies, Haoqiao, one of the largest wholesale players in China with an extensive nationwide network of more than 17,000 retail travel agents, and Mafengwo, a highly influential online travel agency (OTA) which has been nicknamed the ‘TripAdvisor of China’, with over 130 million registered users who generate three terabytes of data daily.

“China is a hugely exciting market for UHI, WebBeds.”

Under the new partnerships, Haoqiao will become the official retail distributor of UHI in China, while Mafengwo will be the company’s exclusive OTA partner. Together, this combination of widespread online and retail distribution will enable UHI to extend its reach across China, where international tourism is becoming increasingly popular among the country’s estimated 20 million Muslims.

“China is a hugely exciting market for UHI, WebBeds, and the global halal travel sector. By forming partnerships with two of the country’s leading online and retail travel companies, UHI can now cater to customers in every corner of China, however, they choose to book. We look forward to enabling thousands of Muslims in China to make their important Umrah pilgrimage,” Daryl Lee, CEO, Asia Pacific, WebBeds said.