Trip.com Group’s Chief Operating Officer, Xing Xiong, recently spoke at the Airline Global Conference in Amsterdam, sharing his perspective on the travel industry’s growth and the role of technology in shaping its future.
Xiong noted that the industry’s recovery from the pandemic had been steady until the recent Middle East conflict, which has had a visible impact on the data, with year-on-year RPK growth slowing sharply in March.
Despite this disruption, Xiong expressed cautious optimism, stating that the impact will be short-lived and that the industry will continue to believe in people’s resilience.
The travel industry’s growth is driven by cross-border travel, which is easing earlier fears about deglobalisation, according to Xiong.
He also highlighted the importance of technology in the industry, particularly the evolution of AI, which has transformed the way companies operate, making them more efficient and effective.
Xiong walked the audience through a personal framework for understanding how AI has evolved, highlighting landmark moments such as the development of Large Language Models and the rise of OpenAI’s ChatGPT.
By 2025, Google had reasserted itself as a leader in the AI space, with its Gemini iterations and structural advantages, Xiong noted.
Anthropic’s Claude, meanwhile, has carved out a distinct identity focused on problem-solving and capability, allowing AI to carry out complex tasks on behalf of human beings.
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Xiong emphasized the importance of the era where AI capability becomes productively accessible to the rest of the world through open APIs, enabling companies to build on top of existing technology.
Xiong acknowledged that the results on the discovery and inspiration side remain below expectations.
He also expressed scepticism about the idea of autonomous booking, where AI completes transactions on a traveller’s behalf.
Trip.com’s own TMC arm, Trip.biz, accounts for just 5% of revenue, but already places it among the world’s top five by volume.
Xiong concluded that AI is not a threat to the industry, but rather a challenge, and that companies that stop waiting for AI to mature and start building on top of what is already available will be best placed to thrive in the future.
As the travel industry continues to evolve, it’s clear that AI will play a significant role in shaping its future, and that companies like Trip.com are at the forefront of this transformation, driving innovation and growth.
Trip.com’s efforts to integrate AI into its operations are expected to continue, with a focus on developing more effective solutions and improving the overall travel experience for its customers, who are increasingly looking for eco-friendly options and personalized services.