JD.com's "zero commission" aggressively enters the hotel and travel market: OTA giants show disdain mixed with a sense of crisis

After entering the takeaway field and "hard battling" Meituan, JD.com has recently made a strong entry into the hotel and travel market with a policy of "up to three years of zero commission." However, JD.com's foray into the hotel and travel sector has had little impact on the OTA camp and large hotel groups, akin to a punch hitting cotton. Previously, as a new entrant in the takeaway industry, JD.com and Meituan engaged in a fierce "giant mutual tearing," with both sides fiercely competing against each other. In contrast, the hotel and travel front has seen a stark contrast, with OTA giants responding relatively calmly to JD.com's entry. In the face of JD.com's "zero commission" olive branch, large hotel groups are mostly in a wait-and-see state. "JD.com's layout in the hotel and travel sector has little impact on the existing OTA landscape; platforms are basically not paying attention and do not care much," said an insider from an OTA platform. As the "big brother" of the OTA industry, Trip.com responded by stating, "The players in China's tourism market are in a state of misaligned competition with Trip.com. Currently, Trip.com's main growth point comes from the globalization of the tourism industry. Trip.com has shifted its focus to the global market, seeking broader growth opportunities."