Jinjiang and JD.com Announce Comprehensive Partnership: 7 Fresh Chef Kicks Off First Phase in Beijing

CNBC AI News, September 10th – Jinjiang Hotels and JD.com have solidified a strategic partnership, marking a significant move in the hospitality and e-commerce sectors. Announced yesterday, Jinjiang Hotels becomes JD.com’s first comprehensive strategic partner in the hotel industry.

The collaboration aims to revolutionize the hotel experience through integrated resources focusing on three core areas: innovative dining consumption scenarios, enhanced travel and hospitality services, and streamlined supply chain synergy. This alliance seeks to establish a new benchmark in the hotel industry, driven by AI and focused on elevating the overall customer experience.

Jinjiang Hotels’ extensive portfolio encompasses over 13,700 hotels with over 1.33 million rooms across 53 countries and regions. Their diverse brand portfolio covers the entire spectrum of hospitality, from luxury to economy, and boasts a membership base exceeding 200 million.

A key element of the partnership involves the integration of JD.com’s “7 Fresh Chef” (七鲜小厨) into Jinjiang Hotels’ properties in China. This collaboration will explore a novel “AI+Food+Accommodation” business model. The “7 Fresh Chef” concept leverages AI-powered kitchens to offer convenient and personalized dining options, a strategic move to diversify revenue streams for Jinjiang Hotels while catering to the evolving preferences of tech-savvy travelers. The technology behind the “7 Fresh Chef” includes automated cooking systems, data analytics for menu optimization, and personalized recommendations based on customer profiles in the JD.com ecosystem.

According to Jinjiang Hotels (China), incorporating “7 Fresh Chef” is a technological upgrade to boost customer experience and tap into new revenue streams. This allows for better use of hotel space and generate income beyond room bookings.

The initial “7 Fresh Chef” pilot program is slated to launch in October at select Jinjiang Inn, Bai Yu Lan, and 7 Days Inn hotels in Beijing. This initial rollout will provide valuable data and insights for future expansions, informing decisions regarding menu customization, kitchen layout, and customer engagement strategies. Analysts suggest that the success of this pilot program could significantly impact the future of hotel dining, with other chains likely to adopt similar AI-driven solutions.

The partnership extends to travel and hospitality services, with Jinjiang Hotels’ entire portfolio being integrated into JD.com’s travel platform. The hotels will benefit from a three-year zero-commission policy under the “JD Hotel PLUS Membership Program.” This move aims to increase the visibility of Jinjiang Hotels within JD.com’s vast customer base and drive direct bookings.

Direct connectivity between Jinjiang Hotels’ central reservation system and JD.com’s platform will enable real-time data exchange of vital operational information like room availability, pricing, and booking status. This integration aims to improve efficiency, reduce errors, and provide a seamless booking experience for customers.

Furthermore, the companies are exploring potential synergies between Jinjiang Hotels’ “Jinjiang Club” membership program and JD.com’s “JD PLUS” membership. The goal is to enhance member benefits and create a unified loyalty program that rewards customers across both platforms. This cross-platform loyalty program could incentivize customers to choose Jinjiang Hotels for their travel needs while also increasing engagement within the JD.com ecosystem.

In the corporate travel sector, Jinjiang Hotels will offer services to JD.com’s employees nationwide. This partnership could further expand to JD.com’s corporate travel platform. This platform serves over 30,000 major corporations and more than 8 million small and medium-sized businesses.

On the supply chain front, the duo plans to establish a B2B platform to consolidate resources, improving service coverage in individual hotels. Through mutual resource sharing, this will streamline operations and enhance effectiveness.