During the National Day holiday on Oct 1-7, hotels across Shanghai welcomed not only domestic travelers but also focused on attracting more international guests.

Nikita, general manager of Blossom House – part of the well-known H World Group – observed an uptick in international tourists along Renmin Road near the hotel and expressed optimism about the new business opportunities this could bring.

Overall, Shanghai is positioning itself as a key entry point for inbound tourism in China. This year, the city has already recorded over 2.25 million international arrivals, with Pudong International Airport leading the nation in inbound traffic.

To capture this growing market, local hotels are stepping up their services to meet the expectations of international travelers, many of whom favor well-established international hotel chains.

Blossom House, for one, has introduced a range of initiatives to improve the experience of international guests. These include offering more English-language materials both online and in the hotel, hiring multilingual staff and creating specially tailored experiences like bilingual guided city tours. So far, these efforts have received positive feedback from visitors.

Increased visibility is also seen as being crucial. To that end, the hotel has teamed up with leading Chinese online travel agency Ctrip, which has seen nearly a 200 percent jump in overseas bookings this year.

Through this partnership, hotels can offer custom packages based on traveler preferences and take part in promotional campaigns.

Other local establishments are making similar adjustments. Teng Wenxian, who runs several guesthouses near Shanghai Disneyland, has extended booking windows and improved staff training to better cater to international visitors. As a result, around 20 percent of his weekly guests now come from abroad.

With the competition heating up, hotels are also introducing new strategies – such as offering long-term stays and accepting foreign currencies – to broaden their appeal.

Partnerships with Ctrip are proving to be mutually beneficial, helping to strengthen Shanghai's position as a top destination for international tourists.