JD.com

JD.com is aggressively entering the travel market. Offering hotels a commission-free program for up to three years has already attracted nearly 50,000 applications. Leveraging its vast user base and lifestyle market leadership, JD.com aims to capitalize on peak travel season. This move follows a successful foray into food delivery using subsidies. However, facing giants like Meituan and Ctrip, the travel sector presents a distinct, more competitive challenge.

Rumors suggest a PR move by JD.com’s founder: reportedly, he ordered takeout at a luxury hotel and tipped the delivery driver a significant amount, posing for photos. This follows the recent privatization of a food delivery platform, formerly public, now a JD Group subsidiary. JD.com has also launched a food delivery service processing millions of daily orders.

Richard Liu, JD.com’s founder, emphasized his commitment to employee compensation while acknowledging the industry’s demanding work environment. He highlighted significant salary increases over the past 18 months, with some employees seeing their income nearly double. Liu cited the example of delivery personnel in Beijing, whose average gross salary exceeds RMB 13,000, upon which social security and housing fund contributions are based. He reiterated the plan to keep raising cash compensation.

JD.com has entered the travel and hospitality market, launching the “JD Hotels PLUS Member Program” with commission-free services for hotels. The company aims to leverage its supply chain expertise and food delivery services, offering competitive pricing and eliminating bundled services. While initial airfare prices match competitors, hotel bookings show subsidy benefits. JD.com is also actively recruiting industry professionals to bolster this sector.

JD.com reported strong performance in the 2025 618 shopping festival. Preliminary data revealed over 2.2 billion orders processed, with user orders surging over 100% year-over-year. Consumer electronics and home appliances led market share, while FMCG, fashion, and beauty also performed well. JD’s livestreaming sales grew by 285%, with significant gains in new electronics and gaming consoles. The food delivery service also saw strong growth, exceeding 25 million daily orders.

JD.com’s founder Liu Qiangdong discussed the e-commerce giant’s supply chain-focused strategy. He clarified the food delivery service aims to improve the fresh produce supply chain, even if front-end operations incur losses. Liu acknowledged past stagnation, announcing new yearly innovation projects, including a stablecoin. He emphasized JD’s commitment to fair profit distribution and highlighted its strong logistics network and operational efficiency as core strengths.

JD.com founder Liu Qiangdong revealed his intent to enter China’s food delivery market, signaling a major competitive challenge to Meituan. He hosted a dinner with key industry figures, including Meituan’s founder Wang Xing, to announce his plans. JD.com launched its food delivery service focusing on quality and lower commissions. It also provides full social security and insurance for its delivery workforce, aiming to attract talent and disrupt the market.

JD.com’s CEO, Richard Liu, discussed parallels between JD.com’s operational philosophy and a successful retail chain’s employee-focused approach. He highlighted prioritizing employee well-being, fair treatment, and customer service. This retailer’s model emphasizes no sales targets, significant profit allocation to employees, and generous benefits like short workdays, ample paid leave, and store closures, fostering a positive work environment.

JD.com CEO Xu Ran revealed impressive earnings for the company’s food delivery riders. Full-time riders in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen now average nearly RMB 13,000 monthly, a significant increase. This increase comes despite comprehensive benefits. JD.com’s delivery arm is rapidly expanding, with over 120,000 riders and processing over 25 million daily orders, highlighting the company’s commitment to sustainable growth in the food delivery sector.

JD.com, led by Liu Qiangdong, plans to aggressively enter the hospitality and travel sectors. Leveraging its logistics network and financial strength, JD.com aims to reduce supply chain costs significantly in food, travel and hospitality, potentially lowering consumer costs by two-thirds while providing new channels for partners. They will expand from convenience stores and food delivery, with CEO Xu Ran confirming a focus on high-growth local services.