(Yicai Global) July 7 -- After Wanda Group invested in Ly.com, the site reached a milestone in its quest to integrate with more than ten of Beijing Wanda Tourism Investment Co.'s travel agencies by signing its first contract with one of them.

Ly.com entered into an agreement with Hunan Enjoygoing International Travel Service Co. yesterday and introduced LY Enjoygoing, a travel agency brand that will integrate online and offline channels.

The two parties will join their online and offline brands, supply chains and other things, said Wu Jian, founder of Ly.com and President of Tongcheng International Travel Service Co.

They will merge their brands by using the name LY Enjoygoing at all stores and online and offline channels as well as with their respective supply chains to sell their tourism products and act as a platform for other industry players.

With the move, Ly.com has taken a big step forward in linking up with travel agencies under Wanda, and it will develop cooperation plans, Wu said. The integration will boost Ly.com's assets in a bid to speed up its listing, said Wu.

"Given they are in different circumstances, we are negotiating with the travel agencies one by one and have almost reached cooperative agreement with them," Wu said.

"The travel agencies indeed differ, and some position themselves as wholesalers, while some focus on retail," said Wu. "If one is a wholesaler-oriented travel agency, Ly.com will integrate more on the supply chain with it."

"The local travel agencies have edges in their respective regions." Wu said. "If we tried to establish outlets and supply chains in those regions, it would take five years, but if we integrate with the travel agencies, it may only take one or two years."

Ly.com started to expand its presence across China in the second half of 2015, working to turn into an innovative travel agency that connects online and offline channels. It has established offline stores in nearly 200 cities nationwide.

A dozen agencies under Wanda Tourism cover several regions including Beijing, Jiangxi and Hunan. Nearly all of them were acquired by Wanda. Hunan Enjoygoing is a major travel agency in central southern China.

Ly.com spun off Tongcheng Network Technology Co. and Tongcheng International Travel Service, perhaps in preparing to float. Tongcheng Network is profitable, but Tongcheng International Travel Service is under pressure to meet performance targets.

If the integration can increase income, reduce expenditures and turn a profit, it will speed up Tongcheng International Travel Service's listing, Wu said.