Tencent-backed Zanadu.cn, China’s premium lifestyle travel platform becomes the first to launch a virtual relaity travel app.
The app provides an experiential view of the world’s most amazing travel destinations letting afluent Chinese travellers a unique way to enhance their booking experience.
Zanadu recently raised more than CNY80 million (USD12.5 million+) in its A+ financing round led by TencentHoldings Limited, is well poised as an up-and-coming leader in travel technology and China’s growing luxury travel market.
“The luxury travel industry in China is experiencing a major growth spurt. The affluent Chinese traveller is always looking for new outlets to explore a chosen destination before making a financial commitment. Zanadu saw this demand as the perfect opportunity to create a virtual reality bridge between travellers and luxe destinations, through a unique experiential journey,” said Creative Director & CMO of Zanadu, Dirk Eschenbacher.”With VR becoming an increasingly hot topic, this move helps to push forward the Chinese VR Market, where currently only very limited VR content is available. This will help us to become the number 1 VR travel content producer and distributer in the Chinese market and also on a global level.”
First VR travel film, Zanadu studio, and several content allinaces as a provider
The company’s initial foray into the travel virtual reality field includes a new app which features China’s first virtual reality (VR) travel film ”The Dream”, taking viewers onto a cinematic and immersive travel experience.
The video is the first of many with 30-40 slated for release on the Zanadu platform and on 3rd party platforms like Samsung’s MILK and Oculus and Youtube 360 in 2016 alone.
Zanadu’s initial 360 degree Virtual Reality Travel Journey, The Dream, was shot in Thailand in October 2015 and can be viewed online along with an exclusive behind-the-scenes video.
In conjunction with the App launch, Zanadu also launched Zanadu Studio, a content production studio specializing in high-quality experiential and travel themed content, both in 2D and VR. Zanadu has also formed a strategic content partnership with Tencent Video to feature its travel VR content on Tencent’s VR app.
Both the major VR headset manufacturers and major video websites are moving towards launching VR platforms as the technology continues to gain popularity. However, quality content itself is in short supply and will be in much demand as more consumers adapt to VR. Live event broadcast and travel content offer a good user-case for the immersive medium and Zanadu plans to work with all major platforms to provide best-in-class travel VR content.
Travel content and products mixed in the same platform
Zanadu is not only known for its selection of travel products, but also for high-end content with several impressive collaborations with top brands and celebrities. Notable projects include a very successful WeChat channel, and a short film with Cui Jian, the famed Chinese artist often cited as “the Father of Chinese Rock” in partnership with Maserati, a series of films with Mini Cooper, a travel-themed music video with Hong Kong actress and singer-songwriter Karen Mok and a personal travel journey with top fashion photographer Chen Man. By pioneering innovative travel content with Virtual Reality, Zanadu is aiming to bring experiential journeys even closer to the Chinese traveller.
Zanadu’s initial 360 degree virtual reality travel journey, The Dream, was shot in Thailand in October 2015 and can be viewed online along with an exclusive behind-the-scenes video.
Zanadu believes that “experiences and stories” are the building-blocks of life and carefully curate some of the world’s best destinations and journeys where amazing experiences and stories are guaranteed to happen. Products such as boutique and design hotels, private villas, bespoke itineraries and luxury cruises cater to Chinese travellers who increasingly value experiences more than material possessions.
Image over the headline.- Tencent-Backed Zanadu Expands Popular Lifestyle Travel Platform with launch of VR Content App . (PRNewsFoto/Zanadu)
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