Latest news with #TripGenie
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trip.com Group Rides AI, Inbound Boom, and Older Travelers to Strong Quarter
Inbound tourism to China has become Group's fastest-growing segment, thanks to favorable policy changes and increased international interest. Visa-free access for travelers from over 40 countries, along with China's new 240-hour visa-free transit policy, is making it easier for tourists to visit the country. 'In the first quarter, our inbound travel bookings surged by approximately 100% year-over-year with South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia emerging as some of the fastest-growing source markets,' said Group Co-Founder and Executive Chairman James Liang at an earnings call on Tuesday. Inbound hotel bookings from key visa-free countries surged more than 240%, driven in part by new initiatives such as free city tours for transit travelers and upgrades to multilingual offline service centers. The inbound segment also outperformed others on conversion rates and cross-selling metrics, according to Jane Sun, CEO and director of Group. Artificial intelligence is also playing a key role in Group's growth strategy. From planning to post-sale support, the company is deploying AI tools that improve the traveler experience and boost operational efficiency. The AI travel assistant TripGenie has seen user engagement increase, with average session durations rising by 50%. "We have introduced a suite of AI tools to deliver efficient and reliable travel services," said Liang. "TripGenie leverages advanced models to address user inquiries. The recommendations inspire users and help them make informed travel choices." Over 80% of post-sale inquiries are now handled by AI-driven chat and self-service tools. These capabilities allow to offer round-the-clock support while reducing the need for human intervention. The company also emphasized how vertical AI agents, focused on travel, offer better integration and service delivery than more general models. is betting that smarter tech leads to stickier customers. And the early data suggests it's working. "AI remains a cornerstone of our long-term strategy," said Liang. "As we deepen our investments in AI, we view it as a critical tool for enhancing user experience and streamlining the travel booking process." Outbound travel from China also sustained steady growth during the quarter. In the first quarter, while cross-border flight capacity for the country recovered to 83% of pre-pandemic level, Group's outbound hotel and air bookings have returned to more than 120% of 2019 levels, outperforming the market by 30% to 40%. The company said its platform has seen outbound bookings consistently outperform the industry with particularly strong growth in the long-haul destinations such as Europe. "Despite short-term disruptions in Thailand, the expanding travel radius of Chinese travelers continues to support recovery with long-haul destinations such as Europe seeing particularly strong growth," said Sun. Group is also seeing a rising demand from an often-overlooked group: older travelers. In the first quarter of 2025, both the number of users and gross merchandise volume (GMV) in the company's "Old Friends Club" doubled year-over-year. The company launched the Old Friends Club last year, targeting those aged 50 and above. "With both time and spending power on their side, this group is emerging as a key driver of long-term growth," Sun said. To better serve this demographic, the company offers over 7,000 travel products and thousands of hotel options specifically curated for senior needs. From one-on-one support to age-friendly itineraries, the goal is to make travel easier and more comfortable for senior users. The company is also experimenting with content to promote travel in more relatable ways to this segment. "We are producing short-form drama series that resonate with them to promote travel offerings," Sun said. Group reported strong first quarter results for 2025: Net revenue rose 16% year-over-year to RMB 13.8 billion ($2 billion). Adjusted EBITDA increased 7% year-over-year to RMB 4.2 billion ($583 million). Accommodation revenue grew 23% to RMB 5.5 billion ($763 million). Transportation ticketing revenue increased 8% to RMB 5.4 billion ($750 million). Packaged tour revenue rose 7% to RMB 947 million ($131 million). Corporate travel revenue increased 12% year-over-year to RMB 573 million ($79.5 million). Mobile bookings now account for 70% of international OTA transactions, highlighting how mobile apps are now most used for travel planning. The company's cash and investments stood at RMB 92.9 billion ($12.8 billion) by the end of March. The company also announced that it has so far repurchased approximately $85 million of its shares. "We'll continue with our efforts to buy back more shares. Our board of directors has approved the total amount to be about $600 million. So there is still room for us to purchase back our shares," Sun said. global strategy appears to be gaining traction, particularly in Asia Pacific and newer markets like the Middle East. "APAC remains our top priority for the operations, marketing and growth driver. We are also expanding and growing rapidly in new markets such as the Middle East, which helped to diversify our market portfolio and strengthen our global presence," said Xiaofan Wang, chief financial offer and executive vice president. What am I looking at? The performance of travel tech stocks within the ST 200. The index includes companies publicly traded across global markets including both online travel booking companies and B2B travel tech companies. The Skift Travel 200 (ST200) combines the financial performance of nearly 200 travel companies worth more than a trillion dollars into a single number. See more travel tech financial sector performance. Read the full methodology behind the Skift Travel 200. 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Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trip.com Group Ltd (TCOM) Q1 2025 Earnings Call Highlights: Strong Revenue Growth and Strategic ...
Net Revenue: RMB13.8 billion, a 16% increase year-over-year and a 9% increase from the previous quarter. Accommodation Reservation Revenue: RMB5.5 billion, a 23% increase year-over-year and a 7% increase quarter-over-quarter. Transportation Ticketing Revenue: RMB5.4 billion, an 8% increase year-over-year and a 13% increase quarter-over-quarter. Packaged Tour Revenue: RMB947 million, a 7% increase year-over-year and a 9% increase quarter-over-quarter. Corporate Travel Revenue: RMB573 million, a 12% increase year-over-year and an 18% decrease quarter-over-quarter. Adjusted EBITDA: RMB4.2 billion, compared with RMB4 billion in the same period last year. Diluted Earnings per ADS: RMB6.09 or USD0.84 for the first quarter of 2025. Non-GAAP Diluted Earnings per ADS: RMB5.96 or USD0.82 for the first quarter. Cash and Cash Equivalents: RMB92.9 billion or USD12.8 billion as of March 31, 2025. Share Repurchase: Approximately USD84 million of shares repurchased. Warning! GuruFocus has detected 4 Warning Signs with PPSI. Release Date: May 20, 2025 For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. Group Ltd (NASDAQ:TCOM) reported a 16% year-over-year increase in net revenue for Q1 2025, indicating strong business momentum. Inbound travel bookings surged by approximately 100% year-over-year, driven by favorable visa policies and increased global visibility. AI-driven tools like TripGenie have enhanced user engagement, with a 50% increase in average user session duration. The company has successfully expanded its international presence, with overall travel bookings on its international OTA platform growing by over 60% year-over-year. Group Ltd (NASDAQ:TCOM) has a strong cash position, with cash and cash equivalents totaling RMB92.9 billion or USD12.8 billion as of March 31, 2025. Corporate travel revenue decreased by 18% quarter-over-quarter, reflecting normal seasonality but indicating potential volatility in this segment. Adjusted product development expenses increased by 14% year-over-year, driven by higher personnel-related costs. The company faces challenges from geopolitical tensions and forex volatility, which could impact outbound travel trends. Hotel ADR decreased by high single digits in Q1 2025 compared to the previous year, indicating pricing pressure in the hotel segment. Despite strong performance, the marketing expenses ratio may fluctuate due to seasonality and varying market conditions, impacting overall cost efficiency. Q: Could you share your perspective on how vertical AI agents compare to general AI agents within the travel industry? Additionally, how do you envision the future development of these technologies? A: Vertical AI agents excel at providing real-time proprietary travel data and integrating products and services, while general agents offer broader information but rely on vertical OTAs for bookings. AI is crucial in strategy, with tools like TripGenie enhancing user engagement. We aim to be the most efficient and reliable one-stop travel service platform. - Jianzhang Liang, Executive Chairman of the Board Q: Could management provide some color about your performance during the Labor Day holiday and the quarter-to-date? A: We saw strong performance during the Labor Day holiday, with domestic hotel bookings increasing by over 20% and cross-border bookings growing by around 30%. Inbound bookings surged by approximately 150% year-over-year, indicating resilient leisure travel demand. - Xiaofan Wang, Chief Financial Officer Q: Can you share insights on the outbound travel trend and your expectations for the full year, considering the current uncertain environment? A: Cross-border flights from Mainland China recovered to 83-84% of 2019 levels, with expectations to exceed 90% by the end of 2025. Our outbound bookings outperform the industry, especially in long-haul destinations like Europe. Forex exchanges create a natural hedge for our inbound and outbound operations. - Xiaofan Wang, Chief Financial Officer Q: How are hotel prices trending recently, and what is the outlook for the full year? A: Hotel ADR decreased by high single digits in Q1 but stabilized in Q2, with prices dropping by low single digits during the Labor Day holiday. We expect increasing travel demand and normalizing supplier growth to stabilize hotel prices. - Xiaofan Wang, Chief Financial Officer Q: Can you share insights on consumer sentiment in the context of the dynamic macro environment and geopolitical tensions? A: Travel demand remains resilient across markets, with strong leisure travel demand and stable business travel trends. Corporate users expect their travel budgets to grow or remain unchanged by 2025, indicating stable demand. - Jie Sun, Chief Executive Officer Q: Could you help us understand the current domestic competitive landscape and the impact of competitors' aggressive membership programs? A: The domestic competition is rationalized, and our strong membership program provides competitive pricing and coverage. Our partners can offer customized services, with 80% of revenue from existing customers, extending our leadership. - Jie Sun, Chief Executive Officer Q: Could you provide insights into the first quarter performance, both operationally and financially? A: achieved strong growth with bookings increasing by over 60% year-over-year. APAC remains a priority, and we are expanding in new markets like the Middle East. Cost efficiency is improving, and marketing ROI aligns with requirements. - Xiaofan Wang, Chief Financial Officer Q: Could you elaborate on the latest developments in the inbound business and its current revenue contribution? A: Inbound travel is supported by favorable policies like visa-free access for over 40 countries. We offer comprehensive inventory and competitive pricing, leading to strong momentum and three-digit growth in Q1. - Jie Sun, Chief Executive Officer For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Sign in to access your portfolio
Economist
01-05-2025
- Business
- Economist
When can AI book my summer holiday?
HOWEVER YOU do it, booking holidays can be a hassle. It used to mean a visit to a travel agent. Online firms at least let you set up trips yourself, in your pajamas. Now they are promising to do the brainwork too, via artificial intelligence. Expedia has trialled Romie, its 'AI-powered travel buddy', has brought out TripGenie and has introduced the more prosaically named AI Trip Planner.
Korea Herald
05-04-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
'Global vision, local focus': How Trip.com brings mission to life in Korea
In an age where global access is taken for granted, travel has never been easier -- flights booked, hotels reserved and itineraries mapped out with just a few taps. Yet the easier travel becomes, the more we value what can't be made universal: local nuance. This is where Group steps in as a global travel service provider, well-versed in both scale and localization, striking a balance between global efficiency and market-specific customization. In an interview with The Korea Herald, Boon Sian Chai, managing director and vice president of international markets at Group, shed light on how the company is putting its 'global vision, local focus' strategy into action in Korea. 'As a global platform, we strongly believe in tailoring the experience to local needs,' Chai said, noting that the company serves Korean users with content and language fully adapted to the local market. The platform offers a seamless and integrated travel planning experience, he explained, allowing customers to book flights, hotels, activities and transportation all in one place. Stating that the company places the highest priority on its customers, Chai pointed to practical features such as language-assistance services -- which, for instance, display hotel addresses in Korean for taxi drivers -- and support for local payment methods like KakaoPay and Naver Pay. 'These details make a big difference in building trust and enhancing user satisfaction,' he added, further highlighting the app's support for Korean won pricing and Korean-language call center service. Going hand in hand with localization in enhancing user convenience are personalized services that create a more relatable user experience -- a distinguishing feature that sets the company apart from its competitors, according to Chai. A standout aspect in this regard is the app's social media-like functionality, which uses extensive data to provide personalized content for each user. This functionality enables users to quickly access what they're looking for and has proven effective in fast-growing areas like Korean entertainment and the gourmet industry, the managing director highlighted. Further underpinning the company's progress in personalization and operational efficiency is its proprietary artificial intelligence engine, TripGenie -- which he describes as 'AI travel assistance.' 'AI is a key pillar of our competitiveness, enabling smarter operations, enhanced personalization and faster innovation,' he said. 'Since its introduction, TripGenie has led to a significant increase in app engagement time and doubled the conversion rate. Beyond recommendations, AI handles 60 to 70 percent of customer inquiries through automation." In tandem with its user-focused efforts, the company is working to expand local partnerships in Korea. 'Our partners feel at ease collaborating with us because they know we're not just promoting our own brand, but also helping to elevate theirs,' Chai said, adding that the company connects domestic partners to its global platform and helps them reach international audiences. That commitment has already paid off, particularly in the area of air ticketing: 'We've established strategic partnerships with major airlines and low-cost carriers to offer a broad range of flight options." Taking a broader view, the company also sees itself as part of Korea's wider tourism infrastructure, working with the Korea Tourism Organization, local governments in Busan, Daejeon, Gangwon and Yeosu, as well as the Incheon International Airport Corporation. The company seeks to revitalize local tourism in Korea, according to Chai, as demonstrated by initiatives such as promoting the Gangwon Snow Festa and partnering with the Gyeonggi Tourism Organization to attract international tourists. 'We aim to take the lead in showcasing the unique charms of each region in Korea to the global market,' he said, citing Korea's critical position in the company's broader Asia strategy -- one in which enhancing travel experiences for both Korean customers and global travelers visiting Korea is essential. minmin@
Yahoo
27-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Brand Finance Global 500: Trip.com Group Recognised Among the World's Best, Only Asian Travel Services Provider to Rank
SINGAPORE, Jan. 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Group, the only Asian travel services company on the prestigious Brand Finance Global 500 list for 2025 has reached a historic milestone in its global journey. This marks its first appearance on the list since its rebranding in 2019, underscoring its growing influence worldwide. The company also secured the third place in online travel services, solidifying its leadership in the travel sector. The Brand Finance Global 500 report, published by valuation consultancy Brand Finance, celebrates Group's innovative achievements and strong brand growth. Its progress is fuelled by cutting-edge AI-powered solutions and an unwavering commitment to customer service excellence. By integrating artificial intelligence into its offerings, the company provides travellers with smarter, more personalised options that enhance their experiences. Among its flagship tools is TripGenie, an AI assistant that delivers tailored travel recommendations, significantly reducing decision-making time for users. Other tools, such as and offer travellers top-rated, trending and value-for-money offerings at a glance. Meanwhile, the recently launched the Group's culinary arm, elevates the travel experience with an AI-powered food ranking guide, making culinary exploration an integral part of any journey. In the Leisure & Tourism category, Group ranks 5th overall and 3rd in online travel services, reflecting its robust industry presence. The company has made a remarkable leap from 550th in 2024 to 452nd in 2025 on the Brand Finance Global 500 list. Its brand value has reached an all-time high of 5,399 million USD, representing a significant increase of 23.34% from the previous year's value of 4,378 million USD. The Brand Finance Global 500 list spans industries including Banking, Retail, Media, Electronics, Internet & Software, Telecoms, Automobiles, Insurance and more. This year, Apple leads the rankings with a brand value of USD 574.5 billion, followed by Microsoft (USD 461.1 billion), Google (USD 413.0 billion), and Amazon (USD 356.4 billion). Group's inclusion emphasises its exceptional growth and influence in a diverse and challenging landscape. Globally, the top five countries by brand value in the Brand Finance Global 500 for 2025 are the United States (52.9%), China (15%), Germany (5.8%), Japan (5.1%), and France (4.4%). This distribution underscores the dynamic growth of Asian brands and amplifies the significance of Group's achievement as a leader in Asian travel services. Brand Finance, a respected independent consultancy based in London, specialises in brand valuation and analysis. It ranks the world's 500 most valuable brands by calculating brand value in US dollars, using a methodology based on the hypothetical license fees a company would pay if it did not own its brand. This approach highlights Brand Finance's credibility in assessing global brand value. This recognition reflects Group's progress in making travel more accessible and convenient for everyone. Staying true to its mission of enhancing customer experiences, the company remains committed to delivering innovations that shape the future of travel on a global scale. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Group Sign in to access your portfolio
