Hong Kong - Hong Kong-based China Travel International (CTI) has gone into partnership with New York-based SYNERGI to operate CTI Sunshine Business Travel Management Company in China.

SYNERGI originally entered the Chinese market last year through a partnership with Sunshine Travel, which was bought by CTI, an arm of China Travel Services, in 2002.

CTI's executive managing director, Ms Guo Yi-mei, said other travel management companies such as American Express and Carlson Wagonlit Travel had also entered China to provide professional services, “but our company is locally born. We have our global partner SYNERGI to work with, so we’ve got the best of local contacts and international skills and experience�.

CTI has already bought travel agencies in Beijing, Chengdu, Xinjiang and Shanghai and is negotiating to buy companies in Xian and Qingdao.