Trip.com Group has noted a remarkable surge in global cruise bookings, with a 344% year-on-year growth from January to October 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. It says there has been a substantial rise in fly-cruise bookings, with bookings from international cruisers up by 520% year-on-year. Cruise bookings are particularly popular across key global hubs, with Singapore ranking top in international cruise destinations. The upcoming launch of the Disney Adventure - set to sail Singapore cruises in December 2025 has also generated significant buzz in Asia. This will be the first Disney ship to homeport in Asia, offering three- and four-night voyages with Disney, Pixar, and Marvel shipboard experiences. So far, nearly 10,000 travellers have signed up on Trip.com's exclusive waitlist for Disney cruises. Bookings open on December 10, 2024 for the Disney Adventure. Travellers can join the Trip.com's waitlist via this link. Trip.com will provide free transport to the cruise terminal for ticket-holders from any location in Singapore. 

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Budget leisure airline Ryanair agreed its latest ‘Approved OTA’ partnership with China based global travel platform Trip.com. The deal gives Trip.com Group’s platforms TrainPal, TripBiz, BudgetAir, CheapTickets, Vliegwinkel, Vayama, and Flugladen direct access to Ryanair fares and add-ons. The partnership allows Trip.com Group to offer Ryanair’s flights to customers as part of their dynamic product offerings. The new deal ensures that travellers booking Ryanair flights via Trip.com brands will have their contact and payment information provided to Ryanair. This guarantees access to their myRyanair account and direct delivery of essential flight information without additional customer verification. The partnership will go live in the coming weeks. Ryanair’s CMO, Dara Brady, said:“Trip.com customers will be able to book Ryanair’s low-fare flights with the guarantee of full price transparency and direct access to their booking.” Trip.com Group’s VP Global Flights Business, Chee Teong Ooi, said: “We are thrilled to enter into this partnership, which not only broadens our range of low-fare flights but also enhances the overall travel experience for our customers.”   

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Trip.com Group has inked a partnership with online booking and distribution platform Rezdy. The pact aims to boost connectivity between tour and activity operators, and travellers globally. Via Rezdy's API integration, providers in the Trip.com Group ecosystem will have access to connect and promote their tours in real-time by automating pricing updates, availability, and content through this API. This integration simplifies overall operations for tour providers. In 2023, Trip.com Group saw triple-digit growth in bookings for tours and tickets globally compared to the previous year. Through the partnership, Rezdy operators of all sizes will be able to tap into Trip.com Group's global customer base. "Enhancing our connectivity with local tour and activity partners with the help of Rezdy offers exciting new ways for travellers to explore their destinations.," said Chase Liu, General Manager of Tours and Tickets Overseas, Trip.com.   

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Trip.com Group highlighted its expansion in the Middle East with strategic partnerships and a new regional office. It presented at Arabian Travel Market (ATM) in Dubai and Boon Sian Chai, MD of International Markets joined a panel discussion on multigenerational travel at ATM. Chai also highlighted the success of Trip.com Group's "Old Friends Club", as part of initiatives to enhance multigenerational travel which first launched in China. Additionally, Trip.com Group is forging strong partnerships in the region. This includes Trip.com Group’s global partnership with the Saudi Tourism Authority and a Memorandum of Understanding with Qatar Tourism. Trip.com also announced a new regional office in Dubai. This office is set to play a pivotal role in strengthening its presence across the Middle East. Siddharth Sudhakar, Product & Marketing Director, General Manager for the Middle East and Africa at Trip.com Group said: "Establishing our office in Dubai is a critical step in our regional strategy.” “It enhances our ability to forge local partnerships and tailor our offerings to better meet the needs of Middle Eastern travellers." The company's participation at ATM Dubai is part of a broader strategy to boost service capabilities and market presence. It is doing this by leveraging propriety tech such as AI-driven tools like TripGenie for personalised travel planning and Trip.Vision for mixed-reality experiences. 

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SiteMinder has deepened its partnership with leading travel platform Trip.com. The two companies have been collaborating for 10 years. The expansion enables more hotels to access the rebounding outbound China travel market. Trip.com signed an agreement to participate in SiteMinder's new Channels Plus program, which simplifies distribution for hotels. It gives hotels access to multiple distribution channels through one setup. For Trip.com, it means access to more hotels, expanding its global hotel inventory. SiteMinder reports over the first three months of 2024, bookings from China to the company's 41,000 hotel customers surged by 75% from a year ago. It says the average daily rate of those bookings was 10 percentage points higher than the global average. SiteMinder's Changing Traveller Report 2023 found that Chinese travellers were the most price-resilient globally. The same report found the majority of Chinese travellers (55%) both researched and booked their accommodation using a specific website or app, such as Trip.com. "There is clear indication that the outbound China travel market is rebounding, and we are delighted to take our partnership with SiteMinder to the next level," says Monica Xiao, CEO of Accommodation Business Group at Trip.com Group. SiteMinder's hotel ecosystem consists of more than 2,150 partners—from distribution channels such as Trip.com, hotel applications, management systems and hotel consultants. It says the Channels Plus program continues to gain traction with leading travel brands. SiteMinder has so far secured agreements with 14 distribution partners for the program. 

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Trip.com is aiming to alleviate the boredom of a long airport layover with a free city tour of Shanghai. It is rolling out the "Shanghai Express", free layover city tours starting later this month. The tours will showcase the top highlights of Shanghai before their next flight – all within a few hours. Starting from 15 April 2024, international travellers stopping by the Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) for over eight hours will have the opportunity to join the airport layover city tours – the first of its kind in Shanghai. The tours are available to international travellers who are eligible for China's 72/144-hour visa-free transit policy, and those holding a 24-hour temporary entry permit. "Trip.com Group is excited to unveil this innovative programme for those with just a short stopover," said Han Feng, Head of Marketing at Trip.com. "We will leverage our extensive resources to ensure a memorable tour." After passing customs travellers should head to the Trip.com Group currency exchange counter in the Departure Hall of Terminal 2 for in-person registration. Registrations are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Travellers will be able to choose from several tour timings. Each free tour accommodates a maximum of ten travellers and lasts five to six hours. Current itineraries include: Shanghai Highlights City Tour (9:00-14:00): a tour of classic Shanghai highlights, including traditional Chinese architecture in the Yu Garden and viewing Shanghai's futuristic skyline at the Bund. Strolling Under the Trees Citywalk Tour (16:00-22:00): a tour for romantics and urban history lovers, which includes a city walk through the old villas and cafes along Wukang Road, a visit to Yu Garden, and a stroll on the Bund. Huangpu River Cruise Sightseeing Night Tour (18:00-23:00): Enjoying a night view of the Bund aboard the Huangpu River Cruise and a visit to Yu Garden at night. The tours are led by English-speaking guides, and each tour includes transport, tickets, e-sim cards and insurance. Travellers can store their luggage at the airport or on the shuttle bus if space permits. Detailed information about the tours can be found here. 

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Online travel giant Trip.com Group has inked a wide-ranging strategic partnership with AirAsia parent Capital A Berhad. The two companies will collaborate in multiple area, from flights to accommodations, attractions ride-hailing and payments. They will work together to further expand AirAsia's reach and product range through Trip.com Group's distribution and the Virtual Interline product. Additionally, there will be collaboration between both companies’ customer service teams. Also, TripLink will provide AirAsia with payment solutions. Jane Sun, Chief Executive Officer, Trip.com Group, said: "We have a strong and long-standing relationship and this strategic partnership marks another important milestone.” “It is also an affirmation of the positive outcomes we have seen since we signed our initial agreement in 2020.” CEO of Capital A Tony Fernandes said: "Our collaboration extends beyond promoting AirAsia flights and ancillaries on Trip.com Group's platforms.” “AirAsia's growth plans are focused on China and then getting Trip.com Group's customer base into ASEAN." 

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Trip.com Group has inked a comprehensive partnership with LCC Vietjet Air. It will give Vietjet fliers access to a host of travel products such as hotels, airport transfers, attractions and activities via Vietjet's website. Meanwhile, Trip,com will provide Vietjet with a Virtual Interline solution to widen Vietjet's global network footprint. Also, the MoU gives members of Vietjet SkyJoy and Trip.com Rewards can accumulate reward points to exchange for gifts, flight tickets, and other services and perks. The companies aim to create a seamless travel experience for customers, offering a full range of travel content, products, and deals. Yudong Tan, CEO, Flights, Trip.com Group, said: "We are delighted to partner to offer travellers seamless experiences when planning and booking their trips.” “We have worked with Vietjet before on successful campaigns to promote Vietnam as a destination of choice for travellers." To celebrate the tie-up, Vietjet and Trip.com Group will offer a special promotion with up to 50% off on airfares until 22 January 2024, across Vietjet's entire flight network. Customers can book Vietjet flights on Trip.com, www.vietjetair.com, or the Vietjet mobile app and unlock a 50% discount with the TR24150 promo code. 

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Online travel platform Trip.com has upgraded its loyalty program with extra perks to celebrate its 6th anniversary. Extra program benefits include a renewed membership tier mechanism and upgraded member rewards globally. During the 6^th anniversary promotion campaign until Oct 31, Trip.com members get added benefits on top of basic membership privileges. Customers can sign up to become a Silver member to earn rewards and get discounts on bookings. Members progress through the tiers based on the number of valid bookings made within twelve months. Members will have their new membership tier extended by one year from the date of their membership upgrade and reset membership tiers according to the  most recent settlement date. This year, Trip.com will be rolling out new services for members. A new Emergency Assistance will be introduced ranging from medical support to translation assistance, child repatriation, and assistance with missing baggage. This service will be available in all English-language regions. Platinum and Diamond members enjoy Priority Assistance for Calls & Chats service and fast access to a live Trip.com agent, and free airport VIP lounge access. This is available once per calendar year for Platinum members, and twice per calendar year for Diamond members. The VIP Service is available for Australia, UK, Singapore, Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Spain, Denmark and Italy. Gold, Platinum, and Diamond tier members can now enjoy a full waiver of the train handling fee. Schubert Lou, COO, said, "We are thrilled to celebrate this significant milestone with these exciting new benefits and features." The company recently unveiled TripGenie, an advanced AI travel assistant to streamline travel planning and booking.  

Trip.com Group says it recorded a significant spike in outbound travel during China's eight-day Golden Week holiday period. Trip.com Group data found outbound travel volumes increased eight-fold compared to the same period in 2022. The company says there was particularly strong demand for outbound travel by younger travellers. They accounted for nearly 30% of outbound tourists. The younger post millennium generation showed the fastest growth rate, with a 22% share. Top destinations for international travel by Chinese tourists included Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, and South Korea. Notably, long-haul international destinations such as Switzerland, Spain, Turkey, the UK and France had the fastest growth in tourist numbers compared to the Labour Day holiday in May. Jane Sun, CEO of Trip.com Group said, "We are witnessing a surge in demand from Chinese travellers seeking diverse and enriching experiences abroad.” "This Golden Week has been a remarkable turning point. The recovery of international flights and the optimisation of visa policies will increase the enthusiasm for travel." Trip.com recently launched the "China Travel Guide", a comprehensive guide for international visitors visiting China.  

Travel demand has surged ahead of the upcoming Golden Week holiday period, Trip.com says. Golden Week is China’s longest holiday of the year. The eight-day holiday combines the Mid-Autumn Festival and the National Day holiday. Trip.com Group data shows outbound travel bookings increased nearly 20-fold year on year. Domestic travel is up four-fold, it says. Golden Week is the first long holiday since resuming international travel from China. Popular destinations are Thailand, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia and the UK. Lesser known countries are also on the rise, like Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Sri Lanka and Kenya. Trip.com says travellers are more willing to pay for high-quality services and more in-depth experiences. It says five-star hotel booking volumes for Golden Week have surged compared to last year. They are up over 500% in South East Asia, the Middle East and Europe. Additionally, in Europe, first-class and business-class flight bookings have increased by 300%. Jane Sun, CEO of Trip.com Group said, "It's exciting to witness this surge in travel bookings.” “This year's holiday season reflects a strong desire for immersive experiences."

Online travel platform Trip.com Group has inked a strategic partnership as the exclusive travel partner for ULTRA Beach Bali and RESISTANCE, one of the world's largest EDM brands. In association with Endeavor China, Trip.com is the official travel partner. It will offer travel packages with hotel accommodations and festival tickets. Jessie Zhai, Head of Corporate Branding at Trip.com Group, said, "We are thrilled to have an exclusive co-branding partnership as the official travel partner.” "We look forward to our long-term partnership with ULTRA Music Festival. "This partnership illustrates the potential of combining exceptional event offerings with top-tier travel services." Both parties will also explore collaborations across additional ULTRA festivals in Asia Pacific in the coming years. Ultra Music Festival began in Miami in 1999. It has grown into an internationally-recognised, three-day event hosting top electronic music acts every March. In 2008, Ultra began exporting the experience to destinations around the globe with ULTRA Worldwide. It has so far hosted events in 29 countries including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, China, India, Japan, and South Africa.