Shenzhen, China – Dida, an AI-first travel technology company and one of the fastest-growing global players in travel distribution, has appointed Daryl Lee as group chief executive officer, effective October 5, 2025.
Daryl brings extensive industry leadership experience, having previously served as global CEO of WebBeds and earlier as head of GTA across the Middle East and Asia Pacific. He began his career in aviation and hospitality with Singapore Airlines and holds a degree in Economics from the London School of Economics.
His appointment comes at a pivotal time as the travel and hospitality sectors undergo transformation driven by artificial intelligence, automation, and digital connectivity.
“I am honoured to join Dida at such a transformative time for the company and the industry,” Daryl commented.
“We will strengthen our global distribution network, expand the reach of our AI-driven solutions, and help shape the future of travel technology. Our goal is clear: to empower our partners with smarter solutions that help then grow, innovate, and thrive.”
Founded in Shenzhen in 2012 by entrepreneur Rikin Wu, Dida has evolved from a startup into China’s leading B2B travel distribution platform. The company now operates across Asia-Pacific and beyond, enabling hotels, airlines, online travel agencies, wholesalers, and travel agencies worldwide to access both China’s outbound travel market and AI-driven technological solutions.
“I am proud to welcome Daryl as our group CEO,” Rikin Wu, founder & chairman of Dida, said.
“His proven leadership, expertise, and international experience will help us accelerate our mission: to bridge China and the world through smarter solutions and stronger partnerships.”
The company’s strategic growth plan is built around three core pillars.
First, expanding its global distribution network while consolidating its leading position in China and Asia-Pacific and strengthening partnerships in Europe, the Americas, and the Middle East. Second, embedding artificial intelligence across hotel and distribution operations, from performance analytics and sourcing to guest engagement and infrastructure monitoring. Third, pursuing innovation through new ventures and acquisitions that advance technology capabilities and open additional revenue opportunities.
Dida positions itself as a bridge between China and the global travel ecosystem, combining market scale with advanced AI-powered solutions to support its partners’ growth and competitiveness worldwide.
