Why focus on Chinese luxury travelers during the trip?

Because many high-value spend decisions happen on the move—at attractions, malls, hotels, and airports. Real-time, mobile-first activations can influence dining, shopping, and experience purchases while intent is highest.

Which platforms are most effective during the trip?

WeChat (including Mini Programs), Tencent Network placements, Douyin for live and short video, and payment ecosystems like Alipay and UnionPay for on-the-spot promotions and redemptions.

How does location-based advertising help?

Geo-targeted ads trigger when travelers enter airports, luxury malls, hotels, or attractions—unlocking timely offers like private tours, dining perks, and duty-free promotions at the exact point of decision.

How can brands connect in real time with travelers?

Use real-time pushes—flash sales, VIP invites, or experience upgrades—delivered through WeChat, Douyin, and payment apps. Tie these to current location, recent platform engagement, and in-market behavior.

What role do influencers play during the trip?

Live and short-form content from on-location creators can direct audiences to in-destination experiences and retail partners, driving immediate footfall and conversions.

Why coordinate campaigns across devices?

Travelers switch between mobile, OTT, and OTV. Consistent storytelling and coordinated offers across these screens keep the brand top of mind from discovery to purchase.

Home » Blog » During Trip: Converting High-Spending Travelers in the Moment

Luxury in motion

The real power of Chinese luxury travelers isn’t in their suitcases — it’s in their smartphones. While they wander through museums, swipe at duty-free counters, or relax at hot springs, they’re making spending decisions in real time. And those decisions are shaped by the platforms, payment apps, and social feeds they carry with them.

Behavioral insights: the experience stage

By the time they’ve boarded the flight, nearly half of their budget is already committed to flights and hotels. But the rest? That’s up for grabs. Around 30% is allocated to luxury shopping, 13% to dining, and another 12% to sightseeing and experiences.

This is the moment when:

A push notification can tip them into a private dining experience.
A banner ad can redirect them from browsing to buying.
A short Douyin video can convince them to extend their stay or book a last-minute side trip.

Impulse isn’t chaos here. It’s opportunity.

Key platforms in the during-trip stage

WeChat Paid Ads:

The closed ecosystem of WeChat becomes even more powerful mid-journey. Mini-programs let travelers browse duty-free stores, unlock location-based coupons, and make instant bookings.

Tencent Network Ads:

With WeChat Moments and QQ, banner ads and sponsored posts, slip into the feed just as travelers share their own experiences.

Alipay & UnionPay:

Payment-linked promotions trigger on the spot. Travelers scanning QR codes in luxury malls or hotels see tailored offers, rewards, and co-branded perks.

Douyin:

Live travel content dominates. In 2024, hotel and travel livestream GMV surged to RMB 90 billion (USD 12.4B). Travelers aren’t just consuming this content – they’re acting on it, from booking experiences to purchasing products mid-stream.

Advanced targeting tactics

Location-based advertising

Reach travelers the moment they arrive at airports, luxury malls, or tourist attractions. A discount on premium luggage? Show it at the departure lounge. A private tour? Serve it outside the museum gates.

Custom audience retargeting

Link pre-trip engagement to mid-trip activations. If they saved a Xiaohongshu itinerary featuring luxury spas, target them with in-trip spa packages nearby.

Real-time content pushes

Flash sales, VIP event invites, or private tastings delivered at the right moment. The immediacy of travel means timing beats frequency.

Cross-device orchestration

Luxury travelers switch constantly between mobile, OTT, and OTV. Brands that tell a consistent story across screens stay top of mind.

Practical brand plays

Duty-free collaborations:

A perfume brand teams up with a duty-free retailer to run exclusive WeChat mini-program offers redeemable within 48 hours.

Influencer “live from location” campaigns:

Influencers broadcasting live from hotspots, from a café in Jeju to a luxury resort in Macau, directing audiences straight to in-destination brand experiences.

Payment app activations:

Alipay or UnionPay campaigns rewarding instant purchases with tiered perks, turning transactions into experiences.

Be part of the trip story

In our Pre Trip blog, we showed how luxury decisions are shaped before departure. But during the journey, the rules shift – attention is fragmented, decisions are spontaneous, and spending power is mobile.

If you want to be more than a destination on a map, you need to be part of the journey itself. At Digital Crew, we help brands connect with Chinese luxury travelers while they’re on the move – through real-time campaigns, the right platforms, and precise in-market targeting.

📩 Ready to make your brand part of their journey? Let’s build your during-trip strategy together.