Alipay targets expansion in the US for Chinese visitors
Alipay is expanding its in-store mobile payments service to North America, aimed at Chinese visitors to the US and Canada. The company is extending its partnership with luxury travel retailer DFS Group, which will see Alipay's mobile payments launched at two DFS stores in downtown Honolulu and Honolulu Airport. DFS Group already has Alipay mobile payments at airport stores in San Francisco and Los Angeles, and at JFK in New York City.

Alipay has announced the expansion of its in-store mobile lifestyle and payments service to the North American retail market, enhancing the shopping and travel experience of Chinese consumers visiting the U.S. and Canada, according to a press release.

In time for the Chinese New Year, which this year falls on Jan. 28, Alipay is expanding its partnership with DFS Group, a luxury travel retailer. The partners will launch Alipay in-store mobile payment at the DFS store in Honolulu International Airport store and at the DFS Hawaii store in Honolulu's downtown T Galleria. DFS Group has previously launched Alipay in its airport stores in San Francisco and Los Angeles, and at JFK in New York City.

"Chinese consumers love to shop when traveling to the U.S. and Canada, but language and payment barriers often complicate the process for many North American retailers," Souheil Badran, president of Alipay North America, said in a statement. "Alipay offers Chinese consumers a familiar and seamless in-store checkout experience, eliminating the need for cash or international credit cards, which often carry high foreign-transaction fees."