Hong Kong-based DirectBooking Technology has joined forces with DeepYou Digital Technology to build an artificial-intelligence (AI)-native hotel booking platform.
“Through technological innovation, the partners aim to reshape the travel and hospitality ecosystem and inject new momentum into the industry’s high-quality development,” the companies said.
DirectBooking and DeepYou will form a joint venture company to build the AI-powered platform, offering services such as natural language interaction, intelligent recommendations, real-time room-status information, automated services, dynamic pricing and demand forecasting.
Over the next three years, DirectBooking and DeepYou aim to have the platform covering 100,000 hotels.
“Through technological and business model innovation, the platform seeks to break the traditional OTA industry’s channel monopolies and information silos, promote fair market competition, reshape value distribution across the sector and build a more open and inclusive industry ecosystem,” the companies said.
According to DirectBooking and DeepYou, hotels will benefit from reduced customer acquisition and channel costs and improved direct sales, while travelers will experience a more convenient and personalized booking process.
DirectBooking officially rebranded last September, changing its name from Primega Group Holdings Limited to DirectBooking Technology Co. Since then, the company has broadened its focus from construction transportation in Hong Kong to include more involvement in hospitality and retail technology. DirectBooking also highlighted its efforts in improving hotel digital supply chains, direct-connect technologies and “private-domain operations.”
Yesterday, the company also announced investments from several Chinese tech investors, including DeepYou founder Li Daxue. The total investment amount was not disclosed.
DeepYou focuses on industrial digitalization and AI, partnering with scenic spots in China to build a tourism service network.