I am often asked the question “Who can help me for a trip in China?”
Ik krijg regelmatig de vraag “Wie kan ons helpen voor een reis vanuit België naar China? Welk agentschap is aan te bevelen?”
Volgt hier een kort en persoonlijk overzicht, op basis van persoonlijke ervaringen en feedback. Het is niet noodzakelijk volledig.
Met wie naar China reist vanuit België of Nederland kijkt best uit naar een betrouwbaar reisagentschap (erkend door de ABTO) en aangesloten bij het Garantiefonds Reizen (SGR in Nederland) waardoor bij onvermogen van de Tour Operator of onderleverancier (incoming) de klant altijd zijn reis zal kunnen doorzetten.
THE CHINA GUIDE
The China Guide is a wholly foreign owned Beijing based travel agency run by American Peter Danford, a long-term friend and a fellow Rotarian. They specialize in western standard service (no mandatory shopping stops) and guides trained to a high level; the agency aims for quality at a fair price. English speaking travel agents help develop custom private tour itineraries throughout China. Peter’s team has well served several Belgian people for individual arrangements and with a personal service.
The China Guide’s web site features 360-degree virtual tours, professional photography and information to help people select the destinations for their tour. Itineraries for Beijing can be customized and quoted immediately from the web site’s database.
Tours have no hidden costs, meals include unlimited drinks and free bottled water in the vehicle. At local restaurants the guides order according to the taste of the clients.
The China Guide also specializes in organizing educational trips for overseas universities bringing students to China.
Web: http://www.TheChinaGuide.com
Email: book[at]thechinaguide.com (emails in English)
HIDDENCHINA.NET
Christoph Mueller is a Swiss friend, an avid skier and fellow Rotarian. He manages the agency in Beijing.
They organize tailor-made tours for individuals, small groups and incentives all over China under Swiss Quality criteria. The major focus is on serving any client from 3-4 star level up to VVIP.
Some of the special offerings:
– Itinerary absolutely tailored to the needs of the traveler, no matter if individual, small group with special interest or company event/incentive.
– Special interest such as: golfing, skiing, contemporary arts, history, culture, Jewish history, mountaineering / trekking, 4WD, motor biking and Chang Jiang 750 sidecars. They can also provide all necessary licenses and permits for world travelers to pass through China with their own vehicle.
– Special tours which most major companies cannot do: visit in the most important places areas which are not open to the public, world-wide recognized experts (Great Wall, architecture, journalists, medicine, the most famous contemporary Chinese artists), art galleries and much more.
Website with all details: http://www.Hiddenchina.net/
Contact: cmueller[at]hiddenchina.net
EASY TOURS
Easy Tours is een Tour Operator en dusdanig aan het Garantiefonds aangesloten en erkend door de ABTO.
Een paar referenties: Acer Latin America, Janssen Pharmaceutica, een hele reeks regionale Voka delegaties, Prova, CD&V fraktie Vlaamsparlement, VKW, Unizo, Bouwunie, Confederatie Bouw, enz.
Contact: Antoine Noens, Product Director, Easy Tours Belgium, Beijing Office
Email antoine[at]easytours.be
Antoine werkte 18 jaar voor Best Tours en ontfermde zich ook over Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, Indonesia, Senegal, Mexico, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Panama, Ecuador, Peru, Argentina en Brazil.
KUONI Destination Management (Beijing) Ltd.
Kuoni Destination Management, part of the Swiss-based Kuoni Travel Group. The office in Beijing is a wholly owned foreign enterprise with a license to operate inbound business into China. A team of 35, headed by Mrs. Veronique Ducassy (MD, French) and Mr. Kris Van Goethem (GM, Belgian), provides services and arrangements not only for leisure individual and group travelers, but also for Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Events. Clients are from all over the world, with a focus on the European markets. As the group has recently acquired the Best Tours brand from Belgium, Kuoni Destination Management is now also handling their business in China.
Website : www.kuoni-dmc.com
Email : kris.vangoethem[at]cn.kuoni.com
TUI China Travel Co. Ltd.
TUI is well known worldwide and has a large presence in China. For those who are used to their services, a good alternative. An affiliate of TUI AG, the world’s leading tourism group, TUI China was established in late 2003 as the first joint venture with foreign majority share in the Chinese tourism industry. I know the top people in Beijing and they are very professional.
website: http://tui.cn/en/
Email: private-tours[at]tui.cn
China Oriental Dream
Niet volledig duidelijk maar er zou een relatie zijn met Uniglobe – Robins Travel – Wereldwijzer.
Het Beijing kantoor is in the handen van Olivier Sieuw die ook Nederlands spreekt.
Persoonlijke mening: kan ik niet aanraden.
Notes:
Our consultancy was deeply involved in setting up one foreign travel office in Beijing and advising a major international travel agency on strategies to enter the Chinese market for inbound/outbound travel, which included linking them up with major Chinese tourist companies. (sorry, our clients’ names are kept confidential)
The above entries replace a previous posting after additions and changes. The personal observations are based on personal contacts and feedback. It is not meant to be complete.
Last update: 27 April 2011
FCCC Members’ Portraits
See here part of the FCCC Newsletter. Gilbert is one of the “18 Flemish companies”.
FCCC Newsletter No 202, 13 December 2010
The Flanders-China Chamber of Commerce (FCCC) and VOKA Antwerp Chamber of Commerce organized a conference on “Doing business with China” on December 2, 2010 at the VOKA Antwerp Chamber of Commerce. On this occasion, two publications were launched:
– A practical guide on doing business with China
– FCCC Members’ Portraits in China
In the book “FCCC Members’ Portraits in China”, the Chamber presents the activities of 18 Flemish companies which have already made it in China. The book contains valuable information on how they tackled the highly competitive and difficult Chinese market. The man or woman on the ground in China also reveals tips and tricks about doing business in China, based on his or her experience in China. The managers who pulled of the success story of their companies in China also list their favorite book about China, there favorite restaurant in China and their favorite place in China, presenting the reader a lot of tips on books, restaurants and places.
Managers of member companies of the Flanders-China Chamber of Commerce based in China are doing an excellent job. Unfortunately, not much of their achievements filters through in the mainstream press. Some are responsible for the business of tens of wholly-owned companies and joint ventures. Others founded their own consultancy and have barely a few employees. Some have been in China for more than 20 years, have married Chinese women and have made the Middle Kingdom there second home. Others have done stints of three or four years in the country, coming from another assignment abroad and moving on to the next stage in their expatriate career. Diverse as those managers are, do they have anything in common? The interviews show that they are all very dedicated and hard working. They make it a point of honor to listen to their Chinese colleagues and employees. They don’t come to China with a fixed and arrogant attitude. On the contrary, they are flexible and quickly adapt to the Chinese business world. That is one of the main reasons why they are successful. Read the book and find out the details. As many of the managers in this book explain, doing business in China is not that different from doing business elsewhere. To be successful and make a profit you have to do your homework. “FCCC Members’ Portraits in China” shows how they did it.
The price of the China Guide is €50, including a complementary copy of FCCC Members’ Portraits. FCCC members can also receive a free copy of FCCC Members’ Portraits separately. The guide to doing business in China and the FCCC Members’ Portraits can be ordered via www.flanders-china.be.
High Level Economic and Trade Dialogue
This week Europe and China are discussing trade and related issues in Beijing.
On Monday 20 December I joined a working lunch with European Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht. I was one of the four European Chamber delegates, along with European Chamber President de Boisséson, to convey concerns of the business community.
In the evening a reception was held in the Regent Hotel where more representatives of the Chamber expressed their views.
See here some pictures of the reception, with De Gucht, de Boisséson, Paul Ranjard, Olli Rehn (Commissioner of Economic and Monetary Affairs) and others addressing the Commissioner and the audience.
(OK, my camera was far from great in the very dark room… could use a more professional one!)
The contacts between the European Commission, European Delegation in Beijing and the Chamber demonstrate the smooth cooperation between all. Brussels is listening to the concerns of European business in China.
Meeting tennis ace Justine Henin in Beijing
The Belgian former world No 1, who returned to professional tennis in January after a 19-month layoff from the sport, visited Beijing this month.
Henin set up her branch at the Potter’s Wheel International Tennis Center in February, shortly after Zheng Jie and Li Na created history for China by reaching the semifinals of the Australian Open.
The branch in Beijing is the third academy she has opened, after the first in Belgium (2007) and a second in the United States (2008).
Read the full story: http://www.belgiumunlimitedchina.org/?p=1059
Thanks to Renaissance Beijing Capital Hotel (thank you Hans! great buffet!) we had the honor to meet the star on 14 December. Justine was really patient with the many demands for pictures and autographs. Thanks to Gérard who helped me to overcome my hesitation, I met Justine who signed for me the article I had cut out of China Daily 11 December, see the scan. Christine helped her daughter, a big fan of Justine, to get her notebook signed.
China Daily interviewed our star at the occasion, read here the full story:
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/sports/2010-12/17/content_11716278.htm
Beijing celebrates my 30 years in the city
As reported, 9 December marked my frightening long stay here in Beijing.
To make me feel better, the Beijing Foreign Affairs Office organized a superb Ice Show “”Aurora Fairyland” in the Center Island Theatre of Longtan Park. Several other foreign Experts, some being my friends, were present. I was asked to meet the great acrobats for a group picture. I was also interviewed by some TV station (no idea who they were, as usual).
Afterwards I went straight to one of my discreet karaoke bars where I was entertained by … euh, well, lovely Chinese girls who fully supported my poor singing by pouring copious amounts of Bourbon into my glass. Some close European friends were there too to show their sympathy. For obvious reasons, no pictures are here provided.
After returning home rather early (2am) I had a stiff Pure Malt with Sun to close the special day.
So, as a result I am a bit fuzzy about the above details. But that was the idea actually.