Ion Orchard and China UnionPay extend partnership deal

The deal will enable ION Orchard tenants to provide access the over 2.7 billion UnionPay cardmembers worldwide.

ION Orchard, Singapore’s iconic retail destination on Orchard Road, and China UnionPay, the fastest growing international bankcard association in the region, today announced an agreement to deepen strategic ties and break new ground in Singapore. 

The collaboration will benefit both cardmembers and merchants, offering 4 million monthly visitors to the mall an additional cashless payment platform, while ION Orchard tenants will be able to offer an additional payment platform to reach out to the over 2.7 billion UnionPay cardmembers worldwide. The alliance will provide cardmembers a portfolio of usage incentives, seasonal marketing programs and merchant offers to enhance their shopping experience at ION Orchard. 

In addition to broad cardmember benefits, the agreement also encompasses the opening of the first ever China UnionPay Lounge at ION Orchard. A benefit extended exclusively to UnionPay Platinum Cardmembers, the lounge will offer refreshments, internet access, a rest area, dedicated information counter and other tourist services. 

“China UnionPay sees a lot of common values and tremendous growth potential in this partnership,” says Yang Wenhui, Chief Representative, South East Asia, China UnionPay. “ION Orchard is the perfect embodiment of modernity and luxury, which many modern Asians aspire toward. China UnionPay sees this as an opportunity to deepen its presence in Singapore through this special mall partnership tie-up.” 

“The agreement with China UnionPay has given us a strategic foothold with one of the fastest growing visitor segments in Singapore. Through the exclusive benefits on offer to cardmembers, UnionPay Platinum Cardmembers will have even more incentive to make ION Orchard their preferred shopping destination. We are also proud to be the first location in the South East Asia that will feature a dedicated China UnionPay member lounge and we look forward to rolling out more benefits in conjunction with China UnionPay in the future,” said Ms Soon Su-Lin, CEO, Orchard Turn Development. 

Located at level 1 of ION Orchard, the China UnionPay Lounge is scheduled to open in 2012, while shopper benefits and exclusive spending promotions will begin in November 2011, according to an ION Orchard report.