For contemporary young travelers, a trip is no longer a simple journey from point A to point B, but a pursuit of an ideal life, guided entirely by moments of genuine emotional spark.
So, what exactly drives their decisions? At TravelDaily China’s Digital Intelligence Conference 2025 (Greater Bay Area edition),, Yanyu Jiang, Head of Douyin Life Services “Heart-Beat Hotel List,” revealed the numbers behind this shift:
* Content featuring boutique and specialty hotels on Douyin has amassed 35 billion views.
* Live streams of specialty hotel videos have exceeded 130 million sessions.
* The top hotel videos have been shared 55.8 million times by users.
The competition ahead will no longer be about price — it will be about the ability to craft distinctive lifestyle experiences. Brands that tell compelling stories and create memorable atmospheres will be the ones who win the hearts of young travelers.
Over the past two years, the number of specialty hotels on Douyin has surged by 73%. During this year’s May Day holiday and summer peak season, specialty hotel bookings jumped 133% and 83%, respectively.
Behind these numbers lies the arrival of a new era: the Heart-Beat Experience Economy.
For young people, deciding on their next trip often begins with a single emotional spark on a screen. And for the industry, the greatest opportunity lies in becoming an irreplaceable “heart-beat destination” on the wish lists of young travelers. This is not just business logic, it is the key to resonating with a new generation of consumers.
