Guang Zhou Ri Bao·2026-02-12 11:39Group 1 - The core idea of the news is that Meituan has upgraded its New Year's Eve dinner reservation service by introducing a deposit system to secure reservations and utilizing VR technology for room selection, transforming the traditional reservation process into a more reliable transaction model [1][2][3] Group 2 - The new model allows consumers to lock in their dining spots by paying a deposit, which will be refunded double if the merchant fails to fulfill the reservation [1] - The service includes a flexible cancellation policy where merchants can set a "no responsibility cancellation time," allowing full deposit refunds if cancellations occur within that timeframe [1][3] - Meituan's VR feature enables consumers to virtually view dining rooms in a 360-degree immersive experience, addressing concerns about discrepancies between online representations and actual conditions [3] Group 3 - Data indicates that by 2026, the order volume for New Year's Eve dinner reservations on Meituan and Dianping is expected to increase by over three times year-on-year, with diverse consumer behaviors emerging, such as early bookings for family gatherings and last-minute reservations for smaller groups [3] - Over 24% of merchants have started offering "Spring Festival big dish" delivery or pickup services, reflecting the evolving consumption patterns during the holiday season [3]