Alibaba’s Alitrip Shakes Up China Online Travel Game
Alibaba Group’s new Alitrip travel website in China is drawing a competitive response from Expedia, which has carved out a successful presence in Chinese online travel through its local unit, eLong. Expedia (EXPE), based in Bellevue, Wash., has long regarded Shanghai-based Ctrip.com (CTRP) as its chief rival in China. But Alibaba ‘s (BABA) Oct. 27 announcement that it’s turning Taobao Travel, part of Taobao.com, into an independent website named