MasterCard launches Flavors of Shanghai Promotion

MasterCard has launched a “Flavors of Shanghai” campaign which will take place throughout the 2010 Shanghai World Expo.

MasterCard has teamed up with Apple Apps and Android Market to add a touch of taste to the “Flavors of Shanghai” campaign. Touted as an international city and the gateway to China, Shanghai’s rich culture is dished up with a wide array of global cuisine at the “Flavors of Shanghai” expo. The expo campaign also features an innovative digital platform that serves visitors a trove of experiences with a mere click on their mobile phones.

The digital guide features: a handy list of dining deals in seven categories – All-time favorite restaurants; Chinese fusion cuisine; Chinese snacks; Private cuisine; Restaurants with performance; Local homemade cuisine; Bars, coffee and dessert house – and a suite of exclusive offers for MasterCard cardholders; a priceless guide to the Expo; and an ATM locator – all in a single app.

In the latest MasterCard survey on travelers’ preferences and habits during the Shanghai Expo, an overwhelming 80% of travelers are looking forward to the food in Shanghai, and 74% of travelers regard food as one of the reasons to visit Shanghai.

 The survey also revealed that World Expo 2010 (49%), Shanghai Museum (46%), and Nanjing Road Shopping Belt (45%) are the most popular destinations with the respondents.

The survey also showed that 41% of travelers are concerned with inadequate information about Shanghai and a significant percentage of respondents from the US (37%), Hong Kong (37%) and Taiwan (35%) expect to use their mobile phones to obtain travel information. MasterCard's digital platform provides the exact tool for travelers in Shanghai.

The survey interviewed over 1,000 travelers who have been to Shanghai or intend to visit Shanghai from the US, Japan, Korea, Hong Kong and Taiwan in May 2010. Nearly half of the travelers (44%) will use credit card as their payment tool. Over 50% of travelers think language is the biggest issue, which is especially high for travelers from non Chinese-speaking countries including the US (81%), Japan (75%) and Korea (79%).

“As the world converges in Shanghai for the first-ever World Expo held in a developing country from 1 May onwards, MasterCard’s “Flavors of Shanghai” aims to inspire visitors to look for authentic Chinese experiences,” Ling Hai, executive vice president and general manager, Greater China, MasterCard Worldwide said, “MasterCard would like to thank our valued merchants who have supported us in this campaign. Merchants will also benefit as “Flavors of Shanghai” will turn patrons to not only seek out Shanghai’s flavors but articulate them, thereby creating word-of-mouth that money can’t buy.” 

Cardholders simply need to search the Apple iTunes Store or Android Market for “Flavors of Shanghai 2010” to download to their phones, or visit the MasterCard website.

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