Core Insights - The report highlights resilient growth in travel demand during the National Day holiday, with a projected year-on-year increase of 6.2% in cross-regional mobility from October 1 to 8, 2024, surpassing the pre-holiday forecast of 3.2% [4][24] - The consumer services sector underperformed the broader market in September, with the A-share consumer services sector declining by 2.69%, lagging behind the CSI 300 by 5.89 percentage points [4][5] - The report emphasizes the importance of policy support for service consumption, with various measures aimed at enhancing service sector growth and consumer spending [24][25] Subsector Insights Travel Chain Sector - The travel chain sector is expected to benefit from a shift towards experience-driven consumption, with a focus on hotel and retail experiences as the market enters a low season in Q4 [4][24] - Notable performance was observed in specific regions and segments, such as a 22% increase in visitor numbers to Changbai Mountain from October 1 to 3 and significant sales at duty-free stores in Sanya [4][24] - The report suggests monitoring the recovery of the duty-free sector and the hotel industry as supply and demand dynamics stabilize [4][24] Chain Dining Sector - The dining sector shows signs of stabilization, with leading brands in tea and fast food performing well despite concerns over the expansion capabilities of traditional dining models [4][24] - The report recommends focusing on high-quality dining leaders that have adjusted their business models to enhance growth potential [4][24] Education and Human Services Sector - The education sector is poised for growth as external uncertainties diminish, with increased demand for vocational training and educational services [4][24] - The report highlights the potential of AI in education, with ongoing advancements in educational technology expected to drive growth [4][24] Investment Recommendations - The report suggests a diversified investment strategy, recommending companies such as Trip.com, Atour, Tongcheng Travel, BOSS Zhipin, and others in the consumer services sector [4][24]

Investment Rating - The industry investment rating is "Maintain Overweight" [5] Core Viewpoints - The travel and consumption market remains vibrant, with significant increases in cross-regional travel during the holiday period, indicating strong consumer activity [1][2][3] - The report highlights four main investment themes: new consumption growth, transformation and reform opportunities, overseas expansion, and favorable policies [4][7][8] Summary by Sections Travel and Tourism - During the Mid-Autumn and National Day holidays, cross-regional travel is expected to reach 2.36 billion trips, a 3.2% increase from last year [1] - Tourist attractions have seen record visitor numbers, with notable increases in various regions, such as a 22.16% rise in visitors to Changbai Mountain [2] Hotel and Retail Performance - Hotel occupancy rates have improved, with an average of 64.7% during the first four days of the holiday, up 2 percentage points year-on-year [2] - Retail sales from key enterprises increased by 3.3% year-on-year during the holiday period, with specific regions like Guangxi showing an 11.3% increase [3] Investment Recommendations - Short-term focus on companies with strong Q3 performance certainty and those likely to benefit from the upcoming holiday season, including cross-border e-commerce and certain tourist attractions [4] - Recommended companies include Xiaogoods City, Yonghui Supermarket, and Jiuhua Tourism, among others [4][7][8]

Investment Rating - The report maintains an "Outperform" rating for the social services industry [1] Core Insights - The overall revenue of the sector is steadily increasing, but the recovery in performance is slower, with significant differentiation among sub-sectors. Attention is recommended for cyclical recovery sectors such as human resources and exhibitions, as well as resilient sectors like tourism and scenic spots [1][2] - In 2024, the social services sector achieved a total revenue of 191.54 billion, a year-on-year increase of 36.57%, while the net profit attributable to shareholders was 7.48 billion, a year-on-year decrease of 18.21%. The overall profitability has declined [10][14] - In Q1 2025, the sector generated a revenue of 44.84 billion, a year-on-year increase of 38.75%, with a net profit of 1.81 billion, a year-on-year increase of 33.06% [20][22] Summary by Sections Sector Summary - The revenue growth rate outperformed the profit growth rate, with the professional services and education sectors performing better. In 2024, the professional services sector saw a year-on-year increase of 79.57%, while the education sector's profit level improved significantly [10][14] - In Q1 2025, the professional services sector led with a revenue growth of 89.62%, followed by tourism and scenic spots at 7.39% [22] Tourism - The domestic travel market shows strong resilience, with a total of 5.615 billion domestic tourists in 2024, a year-on-year increase of 14.80% [34] - The cross-border travel market is experiencing high demand, with inbound tourists reaching 132 million in 2024, a year-on-year increase of 60.8% [40] Hotels - Business travel demand is still recovering, with the RevPAR expected to be under pressure throughout 2024 [13] Catering - The catering market is expected to see slower revenue growth in 2024, with Q1 2025 showing some improvement [16] Duty-Free - Duty-free sales in offshore areas are showing marginal improvement, with city channels expected to contribute to growth [18] Human Resources - The human resources sector is experiencing stable data operations, but employment market pressures remain [22] Exhibitions - The domestic exhibition market is steadily growing, with the number of exhibitions remaining stable in 2024 [24]

Core Insights - The report emphasizes the importance of domestic demand and high-performing leading companies, as well as sectors benefiting from increased tariffs [3][7] - The consumer services sector has outperformed benchmarks since March, with low-valued high-performing stocks showing resilience amid tariff negotiations [3][10] Sector Analysis 1. Consumer Internet Platforms - The performance of leading companies in the consumer internet space is expected to be stable, with significant growth in domestic travel during the Qingming holiday [4] - Companies like Tongcheng Travel and Ctrip are projected to benefit from increased user engagement and market penetration [4][19] 2. Natural Scenic Area Leaders - Companies in this sector are noted for their defensive attributes, with expected profit growth driven by increased visitor numbers during holidays [4] - Jiuhua Tourism is anticipated to see a net profit increase of approximately 32% in Q1, supported by improved visitor flow [4][8] 3. Chain Consumption Leaders - The hotel industry is showing signs of stabilization, with RevPAR (Revenue per Available Room) expected to improve due to rising travel demand [5][25] - Major hotel chains are focusing on expanding their market share through aggressive opening strategies, with significant growth targets set for 2025 [28][33] 4. Duty-Free Sector - The duty-free market is positioned to benefit from tariff increases, with a focus on the recovery of consumer spending and the influx of foreign tourists [6][7] - The report highlights the potential for growth in the duty-free segment as policies evolve to stimulate economic recovery [6][19] Investment Recommendations - The report suggests a focus on companies such as Tongcheng Travel, Meituan-W, Ctrip Group-S, and Huazhu Group-S, which are expected to perform well in the current economic environment [7][8] - The emphasis is on sectors with strong domestic demand and those that are likely to benefit from tariff adjustments, indicating a favorable investment outlook [7][8]

Summary of the Conference Call on the Tourism, Hotel, and Catering Industry Industry Overview - The conference focused on the tourism, hotel, and catering sectors within the service industry, with a particular emphasis on the outlook for 2025, highlighting the importance of industry infrastructure and the potential for recovery in both volume and pricing [1][2]. Key Insights and Arguments - **2024 Performance**: The tourism and hotel sectors faced a downward trend in volume due to high base effects from 2023, while sub-sectors like catering and duty-free continued to experience pricing pressures [1]. - **Valuation Recovery**: Despite some recovery in valuations since September 2023, leading companies still have valuations below historical averages and comparable overseas firms [1][2][9]. - **Consumer Behavior**: A dual focus on rational consumption and value-for-money is expected to persist, with an emphasis on emotional value and cost-effectiveness [1][17]. - **Policy Impact**: A broader and more robust expansion of catering and tourism policies could lead to demand recovery and a turning point in volume and pricing [2][10]. Key Data Points - **Spring Festival Performance**: Domestic travel saw a 5.9% increase in visitor numbers, indicating resilience despite high base effects from the previous year [3]. - **Price Trends**: Hotel prices experienced a 3% decline, with occupancy rates dropping by 7 percentage points during the Spring Festival [5][6]. - **Duty-Free Sales**: Hainan's duty-free sales reached approximately 2.1 billion, down 16% year-on-year, but showing signs of recovery compared to a nearly 30% decline in 2023 [6]. Sector-Specific Insights Catering Industry - **Market Dynamics**: The catering sector is stabilizing, with leading brands like Haidilao and others showing resilience despite previous pressures on pricing and volume [21][22]. - **Consumer Trends**: There is a shift towards quality and service, with brands focusing on maintaining product quality rather than engaging in price wars [21][22]. Hotel Industry - **Performance Outlook**: The hotel sector is expected to see a gradual recovery, with leading brands like Huazhu and Atour maintaining competitive advantages through superior service and operational efficiency [30][31]. - **Supply and Demand Balance**: The supply of hotel rooms is expected to stabilize, with potential for price recovery if demand policies are effectively implemented [30]. Tourism Sector - **Leisure Demand**: The leisure tourism segment is anticipated to remain resilient, with a focus on high-value experiences despite some price pressures in popular destinations [35][36]. - **Emerging Trends**: The growth of niche markets such as ice and snow tourism is expected to provide new opportunities for companies within the sector [35][36]. Additional Important Points - **Long-Term Trends**: The service consumption sector is expected to grow, driven by structural changes in consumer behavior and increased focus on service quality and brand experience [14][15][19]. - **Investment Recommendations**: Analysts suggest focusing on leading companies with reasonable valuations, those with strong cyclical characteristics, and firms poised for recovery in demand [2][8][21]. This summary encapsulates the key points discussed during the conference call, providing a comprehensive overview of the current state and future outlook of the tourism, hotel, and catering industries.