Fireside Chat, Interview
The Future of Global Travel: Trip.com Group CEO Jane Sun
- The company anticipates international business will exceed 50% of total revenue within the next three to five years.
- Trip.com plans to evolve product offerings annually and add new lines every couple of years, expanding into hotel-plus-air, train, vacation packages, rental cars, and corporate travel.
- Engineering productivity is projected to more than double, reducing coding tasks from five days to two, with a prior year increase of 15-30%.
- AI integration aims to generate audio, video, and pictures more efficiently, empower user-friendly operations across four areas, and enhance customer service response times.
- The company expects to immediately automate contingency responses, such as rebooking high-speed rail for delayed flights, adjusting pickup locations, and extending hotel check-ins.
- A $2 billion partnership fund will be established to support cash flow for local tour operators and small businesses.
- Strategic focus includes shifting from first-tier to second and lower-tier cities, promoting long-tail destinations like South Africa and Iceland, and targeting major events such as the Paris Olympics and Taylor Swift concerts.
- Trip.com intends to expand its global footprint from mainland China to the Great China area, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Europe as per capita GDP rises.
- The organization plans to develop a one-stop platform offering limousine services, Michelin dining, spa options, and Broadway show tickets to boost satisfaction.
- Leadership aims to retain industry talent and foster growth from entry-level to senior roles, while training teams to handle future crises with confidence derived from pandemic experience.
- The company will advance money to customers for refunds ahead of suppliers to uphold its "customer first" philosophy during disruptions.
- Trip.com seeks to serve the elderly-friendly market segment in China and establish itself as a globally recognized brand named Trip.com.
- The firm expects travel to remain an ever-growing sector contributing approximately 10% of global GDP and 11-12% of job opportunities.