In association with: Trip.com Group
The travel technology company celebrates its UK growth and predicts key trends for 2024
Trip.com Group has been creating holidays for a huge variety of travellers for more than 25 years, transforming from a local business in Shanghai into a global enterprise with more than 30,000 employees serving millions of customers along the way.
For the past seven years, Trip.com Group has tailored its services to cater for the UK and European markets and, as a result, has seen impressive growth. Since hiring its first UK employee in 2017, the group has launched offices in London and Edinburgh and established relationships with key figures in travel and tourism, as well as airlines, hotels, and transportation, tour and attraction providers.
Outstanding customer service comes as standard with Trip.com, and the Edinburgh-based support teams aim to respond to customer calls within 30 seconds.
To find out more about Trip.com Group, visit uk.trip.com
Three highlights for 2024
UK in the top spot
Chinese tourists will continue to favour the UK, with a 155% rise in hotel bookings and a 150% increase in flight bookings. The feeling is mutual too – Trip.com Group reports that the UK is among the top-10 source markets of inbound tourism to China.
Transforming travel with AI
TripGenie, launched by Trip.com Group in 2023, is an AI-driven tool that creates personalised itineraries and answers queries immediately. This year, travellers can expect planning technology to continue evolving, including the recent launch of Trip.com’s AI‑curated collection of Trip.Best, Trip.Deals and Trip.Trends.
Thinking green
In its most recent sustainability report, Trip.com Group noted that more than 16 million customers have selected travel options with a smaller carbon footprint. Hotel providers are focusing on sustainability too – more than 1,500 of the group’s partners have echoed the commitment to greener travel.
Andy Washington, Trip.com Group general manager, Europe
“In the UK, our growth is remarkable. Since 2022, flight bookings have increased by 66% and hotel bookings by 88%. Anchoring this success is our dedicated team of almost 300 individuals, driving innovation at every turn. As we head into 2024, we are steadfast in our commitment to AI-driven, sustainable travel experiences, constantly adapting and evolving.”
PICTURES: Frank Olaya