China’s Tongcheng Travel bid to acquire ride-sharing platform Dida Chuxing for HK$1.42 billion ($181.6 million) shows how China’s online travel platforms are competing to own a greater share of the travel journey itself, rather than just sell more flights, train tickets, or hotel rooms.
Tongcheng acquired Wanda Hotel Management last April, giving it immediate access to an upscale hotel portfolio. A few months later, it bought a controlling stake in Dalian Shengya, expanding into attractions and destination experiences. Those deals strengthened the “stay” and “experience” portions of the travel journey. Dida is meant to fill the last-mile connectivity gap.
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