DirectBooking Technology Co., Ltd. (ZDAI) and DeepYou Digital, Founded by Former JD.com Senior Vice President Li Daxue, Form Strategic Partnership to Build an AI-Native Hotel Booking Platform Targeting 100,000 Hotels in Three Years

Rhea-AI Summary

DirectBooking Technology (Nasdaq: ZDAI) signed a strategic cooperation framework with DeepYou Digital to form a joint venture building an AI-native hotel booking platform. The partners plan to integrate AI features and aim to cover 100,000 hotels in three years, leverage Huawei collaboration, and invest in R&D and market expansion.

Positive

• Joint venture formed to build an AI-native hotel booking platform
• 100,000-hotel coverage target within three years
• DeepYou's existing Huawei collaboration and HarmonyOS integration
• DirectBooking's mature hotel direct-connect and dynamic revenue management capabilities

Negative

• None.

Key Figures

Price change: -6.92% Hotel coverage target: 100,000 hotels Goal timeframe: 3 years +5 more

8 metrics

Price change -6.92% Move prior to AI partnership news

Hotel coverage target 100,000 hotels Three-year goal for AI-native booking platform

Goal timeframe 3 years Timeline to reach 100,000 hotels

Scenic spot partners Nearly 1,000 DeepYou cooperation with scenic spots across China

Registered for resale 60,815,975 shares Class A ordinary shares on Form 424B3

Revenue USD 5.44 million Six months ended Sep 30, 2025; down 43.2%

Net loss USD 5.08 million Six months ended Sep 30, 2025; EPS USD (0.19)

PIPE proceeds USD 15,000,000 Private investment in public equity at $0.15 per share

Market Reality Check

Price: $0.3850 Vol: Volume 144,405 is below i...

low vol

$0.3850 Last Close

Volume Volume 144,405 is below its 20-day average of 406,258, indicating muted pre-news activity. low

Technical Shares at $0.4291 are trading below the $0.55 200-day moving average and 57.93% below the 52-week high.

Peers on Argus

ZDAI fell 6.92% while momentum data show peer FGL down 4.04%. Broader peer list ...

1 Down

ZDAI fell 6.92% while momentum data show peer FGL down 4.04%. Broader peer list is mixed, with some names sharply higher and one notably lower, suggesting today’s move reflects company-specific factors rather than a uniform sector rotation.

Historical Context

3 past events · Latest: Dec 16 (Neutral)

Pattern 3 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Dec 16	AGM approvals	Neutral	+6.0%	Shareholders approved capital increase, dual-class structure and potential share consolidation.
Sep 11	Name change	Positive	+39.0%	Name change to DirectBooking Technology to emphasize hospitality and retail technology focus.
Aug 18	Strategic acquisition	Positive	-0.8%	Acquisition of China Wangmao Liquor to enter premium baijiu and drive diversified growth.

Pattern Detected

Past corporate and strategic announcements have sometimes triggered strong positive moves, but reactions have been inconsistent.

Recent Company History

Over the past six months, ZDAI has undergone notable corporate changes and strategic shifts. On Dec 16, 2025, shareholders approved an authorized capital increase, new dual-class share structure and a potential share consolidation, with the stock rising 6.05%. On Sep 11, 2025, approval of the name change to DirectBooking Technology and focus on hospitality technology coincided with a 39.02% gain. An Aug 18, 2025 acquisition move into premium baijiu saw a small -0.82% reaction. Today’s AI-focused partnership aligns with this ongoing strategic repositioning toward technology and diversified growth.

Market Pulse Summary

This announcement highlights DirectBooking’s strategic push into AI-enabled hospitality through a jo...

Analysis

This announcement highlights DirectBooking’s strategic push into AI-enabled hospitality through a joint venture with DeepYou to build an AI-native hotel booking platform targeting 100,000 hotels over 3 years. The move extends its shift from construction-related operations toward digital travel services, complementing earlier diversification into premium baijiu and significant governance changes. Investors may watch how this aligns with recent financial pressure, large share registrations, and the company’s ability to monetize AI capabilities across the broader “travel + stay” ecosystem.

Key Terms

ai-native, dynamic pricing, ota, private investment in public equity, +3 more

7 terms

ai-native technical

"build a next-generation AI-native intelligent hotel booking platform"

A company or product described as ai-native is built from the ground up around artificial intelligence rather than having AI added on later; its core processes, user experience and decision-making rely on machine learning models and data pipelines. Like a house designed for wheelchair access versus one retrofitted, ai-native firms can move faster, scale more cheaply and offer unique products or cost advantages—information investors use to judge future growth potential and risk exposure to model, data or regulatory failures.

dynamic pricing financial

"demand forecasting, dynamic pricing, real-time room-status connectivity"

Dynamic pricing is a strategy where the cost of a product or service changes frequently based on factors like demand, time, or availability. It’s similar to how airline tickets or hotel rooms can become more expensive during busy periods and cheaper when demand is low. For investors, understanding this approach is important because it affects a company's revenue, competitiveness, and overall market behavior.

ota technical

"break the traditional OTA industry’s channel monopolies and information silos"

OTA stands for over-the-air update, a way companies send software or firmware changes wirelessly to devices — like pushing a new app version to your phone without a cable. For investors it matters because OTAs let businesses fix bugs, add features, close security holes or improve product performance quickly and at lower cost than recalls or physical servicing, which can protect revenue and reputation.

private investment in public equity financial

"entered into a securities purchase agreement for a private investment in public equity"

Private investment in public equity occurs when investors buy shares directly from a company that is publicly traded, often at an early stage or at a discount, instead of purchasing them on the open market. This allows investors to acquire a stake more quickly and with potentially better terms, which can influence the company's future growth and stability—making it an important option for those seeking to support or benefit from a company's development.

regulation s regulatory

"issued to 16 non-U.S. investors under Section 4(a)(2) and Regulation S"

Regulation S is a set of rules that allows companies to sell securities (like shares or bonds) to investors outside the United States without having to follow all U.S. securities laws. It matters because it makes it easier for companies to raise money from international investors while still complying with U.S. regulations.

form s-8 regulatory

"filed a Form S-8 to register ordinary shares for issuance"

A Form S-8 is a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission registration that lets a public company set aside shares for employee benefit plans and stock-based compensation. Think of it as opening a dedicated account that authorizes the company to issue or reserve stock for workers and directors; it matters to investors because it enables share dilution when those awards are granted or exercised and signals how management is compensated and incentivized.

stock incentive plan financial

"ordinary shares for issuance under its 2025 Stock Incentive Plan"

A stock incentive plan is a company program that gives employees or directors pieces of ownership or the right to buy shares over time, similar to receiving a bonus paid in company stock instead of cash. Investors pay attention because these plans align staff incentives with long‑term company performance but can also dilute existing shareholders and affect reported profits when grants are expensed, so they influence both ownership percentages and financial results.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

HONG KONG, Feb. 10, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- DirectBooking Technology Co., Ltd. (“DirectBooking Technology” or the “Company”, Nasdaq: ZDAI) announced that it has signed a strategic cooperation framework agreement with DeepYou Digital Technology Co., Ltd. The two parties will fully leverage their respective strengths in technology, application scenarios and ecosystem resources, jointly invest to establish a joint venture company, and build a next-generation AI-native intelligent 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.

DeepYou was founded by Mr. Li Daxue, founder of Magcloud Digital, Lifetime Honorary Technical Advisor of JD.com, and specially appointed digital economy expert of the Ministry of Commerce. The company has long focused on industrial digitalization and artificial intelligence innovation, and has already cooperated with nearly 1,000 scenic spots across China to build a smart cultural tourism service network that connects core attractions, local culture and tourism operators, and visitors across entire destinations, making it a benchmark enterprise in the AI + culture-and-tourism field. Notably, DeepYou has entered into a deep strategic collaboration with Huawei. Relying on the HarmonyOS ecosystem, Huawei’s Xiaoyi voice interaction and device-side computing capabilities, DeepYou deeply integrates cultural tourism services with mobile operating systems to provide hundreds of millions of users with a more intelligent, convenient and one-stop travel experience.

DirectBooking Technology, for its part, has spent years deeply cultivating hotel digital supply chains, direct-connect technologies and private-domain operations. The company has developed a mature hotel direct-connect system, dynamic revenue management and channel optimization solutions. It is committed to empowering hotel operations through technology, helping hotels reduce channel costs, lower their reliance on high-commission platforms, and significantly enhance their own direct-sales capabilities and operational efficiency.

Under the strategic plan, the two parties will use AI technologies as the core engine, integrating capabilities such as natural language interaction, intelligent recommendation, demand forecasting, dynamic pricing, real-time room-status connectivity and end-to-end automated services to jointly create an all-new lodging experience featuring “one-sentence booking, personalized matching, and one-stop fulfillment.” The platform will connect the entire chain from AI-powered travel guidance and itinerary planning to hotel booking and on-property services, forming an integrated “travel + stay” closed loop and driving an experience shift from “passive search” to “proactive service.”

The partners have set a three-year strategic goal: the AI hotel booking platform aims to cover 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 platform will rebuild the value chain from both the hotel and consumer sides. For hotels, the system can significantly reduce customer acquisition and channel costs, increase the share of direct sales, and, through AI-enabled smart pricing, precision marketing and data-driven operations, drive simultaneous growth in both revenue and brand reputation. For users, the platform will offer an efficient, convenient, transparent and personalized one-stop booking experience, eliminating cumbersome price comparisons and algorithmic discrimination, and delivering truly intelligent matching and frictionless booking.

Looking ahead, DirectBooking Technology and DeepYou will take the joint venture as the core platform, continue to increase investment in technology R&D and market expansion, and deepen the integrated application of AI across lodging reservations, smart cultural tourism and all-region tourism scenarios. Together, they aim to build a highly efficient, transparent, secure and shared new travel-and-hospitality ecosystem, and to drive the industry’s comprehensive transformation toward digitalization, intelligence and greater fairness.

About DirectBooking Technology Co., Ltd.

The Company is a holding company incorporated in the Cayman Islands, and its operations are conducted through its Hong Kong operating subsidiary, Primega Construction Engineering Co. Limited. The Company provides transportation services in Hong Kong’s construction industry and employs environmentally friendly practices with the aim of facilitating the reuse of construction and demolition materials and reducing construction waste. The Company primarily handles the transportation of materials excavated from construction sites. The Company’s services principally consist of (i) soil and rock transportation services and (ii) construction works, which mainly include excavation and lateral support works and bored piling. The Company generally provides its services as a subcontractor to other construction contractors in Hong Kong.

Safe Harbor and Informational Statement

This announcement contains “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements are made under the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, including, without limitation, those with respect to the objectives, plans and strategies of the Company set forth herein and those preceded by or that include the words “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “future,” “will,” “intend,” “plan,” “estimate” or similar expressions, are “forward-looking statements.” Although the Company’s management believes that such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot guarantee that such expectations are, or will be, correct. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties, which could cause the Company’s future results to differ materially from those anticipated. These forward-looking statements can change as a result of many possible events or factors, not all of which are known to the Company, which may include, without limitation, our ability to timely and accurately respond to changes in fashion trends and consumer preferences; management of customer concentration risk; reliance on third parties for supplies of raw materials, manufacturing services and transport infrastructure; changes in government policies; overall economic conditions and local market economic conditions; our ability to expand through strategic acquisitions and the establishment of new locations; compliance with government regulations; legislation or regulatory environments; geopolitical events; and other events and/or risks outlined in the Company’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All information provided in this press release is as of the date hereof, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

For more information, please contact:

DirectBooking Technology Co., Ltd.

tanyu@primegaghl.com

FAQ

What is the partnership between DirectBooking (ZDAI) and DeepYou?

They formed a strategic cooperation to create a joint venture building an AI-native hotel booking platform. According to the company, the JV will combine DeepYou's AI and HarmonyOS integration with DirectBooking's hotel direct-connect and revenue management technology.

What is the three-year goal for the new ZDAI-led AI hotel platform?

The partners aim for the platform to cover 100,000 hotels within three years. According to the company, this target supports a full travel+stay ecosystem using AI for booking, pricing, recommendations, and end-to-end service fulfillment.

How will the ZDAI and DeepYou platform use AI to help hotels?

AI will enable demand forecasting, dynamic pricing, intelligent recommendations, and real-time room connectivity. According to the company, these features intend to reduce channel costs, boost direct sales, and improve hotels' operational efficiency and data-driven marketing.

What consumer benefits does the DirectBooking–DeepYou platform promise?

The platform promises one-sentence booking, personalized matching, and one-stop fulfillment for users. According to the company, it aims to simplify comparisons, reduce friction from algorithmic bias, and deliver a proactive, personalized travel booking experience.

How will the joint venture leverage existing technology partnerships?

The JV will leverage DeepYou's HarmonyOS and Huawei collaboration alongside DirectBooking's channel technology. According to the company, integration with HarmonyOS and device-side capabilities will support voice interaction and broader mobile ecosystem reach.