News

August 13th -

For students preparing to study abroad, the journey begins well before the flight. There are new cities to understand, housing to arrange, mobile service to consider, insurance to navigate, and countless everyday decisions that come with building a life somewhere new.

This summer, Dealmoon met students during that important period through Boarding Soon 2026, a four city event series in Beijing, Chengdu, Shenzhen, and Shanghai. The events brought students together with brands, services, and resources that could help them prepare for what comes next.

Boarding Soon also gave Dealmoon an opportunity to begin building community before students ever arrived overseas. The relationship starts during preparation and can continue as students settle into campus life, discover new places, shop, travel, and establish routines abroad.

Across all four cities, the rooms were filled primarily with the students preparing to make the move themselves. Students represented 95% of attendees, creating an environment centered around their questions, interests, and plans for life abroad.

Those conversations covered much more than academics. Students were thinking about where they would live, how they would stay connected, what insurance they might need, how they would travel, which products to bring with them, and the services they would use once they arrived.

These are decisions that can begin months before departure. Boarding Soon brought many of those conversations together in one place and gave students the opportunity to explore their options directly.

Students did not simply arrive and sit through a series of presentations. At check in, they received a Boarding Pass that became part of their experience throughout the event.

They moved between participating partners, asked questions, explored products and services, completed activities, and collected stamps along the way. Those interactions led into games, giveaways, presentations, and prize opportunities throughout the day.

The format gave students a reason to explore the full event while giving partners more opportunities for direct conversations. A question about preparing a phone for international use could lead to a conversation with a mobile provider. Planning where to live could lead students toward housing resources. Questions about healthcare, travel, education, or personal care could become another stop along the journey.

The result was an experience that reflected what students were already doing: preparing for a new life one decision at a time.

The brands and organizations participating in Boarding Soon represented many of the needs students encounter as they prepare to live abroad.

The 2026 program brought together partners across mobile connectivity, healthcare and insurance, education, housing and travel, personal care, retail, and career development. Participating organizations included ENC Mobile, Laifen, PEA Education, Student Medicover, Airbnb, New Oriental, Vision Overseas, and others.

That mix created natural connections throughout the event. Students could discover a service because it answered a question they already had. They could speak directly with representatives, experience products, and leave with information they could use as departure approached.

For partners, those conversations happened at a meaningful point in the customer journey. Students were preparing to enter new markets, establish new routines, and make purchasing decisions that could continue well after they arrived.

The final stamp on a Boarding Pass was never intended to be the end of the relationship.

Students can continue connecting through Dealmoon communities and the Dealmoon App as their needs change from preparing for departure to navigating everyday life overseas.

The questions change once they arrive. Where should I shop? What should I buy for my dorm or apartment? Where should I eat? Which services do other students recommend? How do I find deals? Where should I travel during a break?

Those everyday moments create new opportunities for discovery. A brand first encountered at Boarding Soon can become familiar again when a student is ready to make a decision abroad.

Boarding Soon 2026 established a foundation Dealmoon plans to continue developing. Future programs are intended to reach more cities, more students, and more brand partners while strengthening the connection between pre departure experiences and Dealmoon's international student community.

For students, that means finding community and useful resources earlier in their journey.

For brands, it creates an opportunity to become part of that journey before students leave home and remain present as their lives abroad begin.