The rapid growth of the Chinese tourism has stimulated competition within tourismrelated
industries, such as the hospitality industry. The purpose of this study is to examine
the Chinese consumer reaction to different promotional tools used by hotels in China and,
thus, to provide a deeper understanding for marketers of how to use sales promotion
effectively to generate appropriate consumer responses. An experimental survey was
administered yielding a total sample of 319 Chinese customers, who were probed using
different types of sales promotion tools. Data analysis indicates that bonus packs (e.g. a
3-night stay at a hotel for the price of 2) induced the highest consumer perceived value,
brand switching, and purchase acceleration intention, whereas price discounts resulted in
the highest intention to spend more. Although this study has its limitations given its
reliance on a convenience sample, it offers insightful practical implications for hotel
business owners in Asia regarding targeting the right customers with the right
promotional tools, where it is proposed that bonus packs successfully attract new Chinese
customers and price discounts support in generating more sales.