Trip.com Group reported $2.4 billion
in first-quarter net revenue, a 17% increase, driven by momentum in inbound travel and
international growth.
Last year, the company welcomed 20 million travelers, and it has set a goal to serve 200 million inbound travelers in the next five years.
"Travel continues to drive consumption, create jobs and support broader industry growth. In this context, we are focused on unlocking the full potential of inbound travel as a key engine for local economies," said James Liang, executive chairman of Trip.com Group.
During an analyst call, Liang described the company's two-pillar strategy for artificial intelligence (AI), covering the strengthening of its own capabilities as well as "connecting into broader AI ecosystems through APIs, MCPs and agent frameworks."
"We are exploring collaborations with leading platforms globally to enable integrated travel planning and fulfillment within next-generation AI experiences. By embedding our robust supply into the world’s leading AI platforms, we can tap into emerging AI-driven demand channels, expand our global footprint and capture new overseas demand more efficiently. Our goal is simple. Wherever travel planning starts, Trip.com should be well-positioned to participate and deliver trusted execution. AI may evolve the entry point into travel, but the long-term winners will be those who reliably turn complexity into confidence."
The China-based online travel agency (OTA) said
gross bookings on its international platform increased roughly 65% year over
year.
Accommodation revenue increased 17% in the quarter
to $944 million, driven by an increase in reservations, while transportation
ticketing revenue increased 12% to $877 million.
"The travel market remained resilient in the
first quarter of 2026, supported by continued growth in international travel
demand and rising interest in more personalized travel experiences,"
said Jane Sun, CEO. "To meet these evolving needs, we have worked
closely with local partners to make travel more accessible and seamless.
Through technology, AI-powered solutions and targeted destination initiatives,
we help travelers overcome language and information barriers while enabling
more suppliers to connect with global demand, including many participating in
international travel for the first time."
Packaged tour revenue rose
19% in Q1 to $164 million, and corporate travel revenue was $100 million, up 20%
year over year.
Sales and marketing expenses for Q1 increased 25% year over year to $543 million, which the company attributed to “fluctuations” in promotion costs. Sales and marketing expenses represented 23% of total net revenue in Q1.