Track Trip.com Group (NASDAQ: TCOM) in one feed. This hub aggregates the latest news, earnings and expansion around the global travel platform formerly known as Ctrip, curated by 10 Minutes News. Follow the leader in Asian online travel.
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Google Ships Agentic Booking and Puts a Points Price Beside Your Rate, HVS Holds 4.5% for 2026, 98% of Ready Buyers Abandon Anyway
28 August 2026The week opened with Google’s agentic hotel booking described as a limited test with a GDS partner attached. It closes with the test shipped as a product, and with a second change alongside it that most of the coverage will underplay. Elsewhere the forecasts settled into a consistent picture for 2027 budgets, and a conversion study made an uncomfortable point about what happens after all this discovery work succeeds. Google Ships the Booking, and Puts a Points Price Next to…
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Your rate now competes with a points price inside Google’s answer
28 August 2026Driving the news. In a post published Thursday , Google said travelers in the United States can now book a hotel without leaving AI Mode, the conversational version of its search. The traveler describes the trip, gets a list of properties with reviews, picks one, taps “Continue on Google,” checks the room and the cancellation policy, and pays with Google Pay. Ten companies are in at launch: Booking.com , Choice, Expedia, Hilton, Hotels.com , IHG, Marriott, Priceline, Trip.com and Wyndham.…
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Google Acquires Spirit Airlines’ Operational Data Archive for $10 Million to Enhance AI Training Capabilities
28 August 2026🛫 Flight search products struggle due to data limitations, with a bankrupt airline’s history valued at $10 million. Airline loyalty programs face challenges as load factors rose to 82% in 2025. Google acquires Spirit Airlines’ operational archive for $10 million, showcasing the value of decision-making data. Deloitte reports only 23% of loyal airline members find value, and Gen Z/millennials are underrepresented. Co-branded travel card revenue could reach $60 billion by 2035, with banks paying travel brands more.
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Google officially integrates hotel booking into AI Mode
28 August 2026This article was written by Travolution. Click here to read the original article Google announces the end of its pilot program and officially makes it possible to book and pay for hotel rooms from the AI Mode interface. Google has announced the official launch in the US of hotel bookings directly integrated into AI Mode – the conversational interface of Google Search. Following a pilot phase, the American giant now allows users to formulate a search in natural language, obtain…
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Google Launches AI Mode Hotel Booking in US with Google Pay, Partners Include Choice, Hilton, Wyndham
28 August 2026🏨 Aug 28, 2026, Google launched hotel booking via AI Mode in the U.S., allowing users to book using Google Pay. Ten companies, including Choice, Hilton, and Wyndham, participated. Launch partners can also show hotel costs in points. This service is English only and excludes the EEA. The points pricing doesn’t affect hotel visibility in AI Mode. Google’s rate feed changes on September 30, affecting how hotels manage their pricing feeds.
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Google Launches AI Chat Feature for U.S. Hotel Bookings with Partners Including Booking.com and Marriott
27 August 2026📅 On Thursday, Google rolled out a new feature in the U.S., integrating AI chat for hotel bookings. Users can now search, compare, and pay for hotels directly through Google’s platform using Google Pay. The feature partners with major brands like Booking.com, Hilton, and Marriott. While Google facilitates the booking process, the hotel or OTA handles charges, confirmations, and support. This development enhances Google’s agentic travel booking capabilities.
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Radisson Hotel Group Launches AI-Powered Real-Time Price Matching, Enhancing Direct Booking Across Global Properties
27 August 2026💸 Radisson Hotel Group launches AI-powered real-time hotel price matching worldwide, eliminating manual claims and ensuring best rates on RadissonHotels.com. This innovation automates detection and matching of lower third-party rates from platforms like Booking.com and Expedia, enhancing price transparency and booking simplicity. Global Chief Commercial Officer Gianni Di Fede emphasizes the ease and transparency of direct bookings. This move is part of Radisson’s digital strategy to optimize guest experiences and direct booking efficiency.
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Shiji’s Iceportal Content Surpasses 650 Global Demand Channels, Connecting 60,000 Hotels with 2.5 Million Images Worldwide
12 August 2026📷 In Q2 2026, Shiji’s Iceportal Content expanded to over 650 global demand channels, connecting 60,000+ hotels with 2.5 million images distributed worldwide. Integrations with Adobe Experience Manager, Birdeye, Cavok, SOCI, and OTS Globe enhance content distribution. Iceportal Content collaborates with platforms like Booking.com, Expedia, and Google, ensuring accurate content across the booking journey. This ecosystem addresses the fragmented distribution landscape, aiding hotels and travel sellers in managing and distributing trusted, consistent content.
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Expedia and Airbnb Stocks Surge, Defying Predictions of AI Disruption in Online Travel Agencies Market.
9 August 2026Blog Post 📈 Expedia stocks hit a record $327 on August 5, 2023, with a 14% revenue rise and 12% gross bookings growth. On August 7, it closed at $311, marking a 61% annual increase. Airbnb shares soared 17% to $178 the same day, up 51% year over year. Fora achieved $1 billion in bookings with 15,000 advisors. Amadeus processes 10,000-20,000 searches per ticket, with future estimates up to 200,000 searches.
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TikTok GO Launches in the US, Allows In-App Hotel Bookings via Partner OTAs, Leveraging Creator Content
31 July 2026📅 TikTok GO, launched in the U.S. on May 12, 2026, allows hotel bookings via TikTok, using partners like Booking.com and Expedia. It converts travel inspiration into bookings, but relies on OTAs for transactions. Over 200 million U.S. users make it a potent discovery tool. In Japan, TikTok GO bookings rose 270% in six months, showcasing its growth potential. Creators play a key role in linking content to bookings, influencing hotel marketing strategies.
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Trip.com Sales Growth Falls from 17% to 3% After Discontinuing Lowest-Price Rule Due to Regulatory Pressure
31 July 2026💸 Trip.com, in March 2026, turned off its price-matching tool due to regulatory pressure from China’s regulator. This tool ensured room rates matched the lowest online prices, affecting Trip.com’s earnings, which plummeted from a 17% growth to as low as 3%. The change highlighted the financial impact on hotels, as the platform could no longer profit from forcing lower prices. Despite the adjustment, the tool remains active outside China, continuing to compress hotel margins.
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China Fines Trip.com Group €670 Million for Antitrust Violations in Online Hotel Booking Sector
27 July 2026💸 China’s State Administration for Market Regulation fined Trip.com Group 5.18 billion Yuan (€670 million) in 2026 for abusing its market position in online hotel booking. The penalty includes a 3.521 billion Yuan fine (7.5% of 2025 domestic sales) and confiscation of 1.658 billion Yuan in illegal gains. Trip.com must reimburse 122 million Yuan of reserve funds to hoteliers. The antitrust investigation began in January 2026, prompting a US shareholder class action over undisclosed pricing practices.
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China Fines Trip.com 5.2 Billion Yuan, Orders Refund of 122 Million Yuan in Withheld Hotel Deposits
27 July 2026💵 July 25, 2026, in China, the State Administration for Market Regulation fined Trip.com 5.2 billion yuan ($765 million) and ordered a refund of 122 million yuan in withheld hotel deposits. Trip.com’s fine is 7.5% of its 2025 domestic sales. The regulator cited abuse of market dominance, forcing hotels into exclusive deals. Despite similar issues, no Western OTA has refunded hotels. This marks China’s crackdown on internet giants, though no global legal precedent is set.
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Travolution Awards 2026 Opens for Nominations, Offering 34 Trophies in Technology and Innovation Categories
24 July 2026🎉 Nominations for the Travolution Awards 2026 are now open, featuring 34 trophies in five categories. Celebrating achievements over the past year from the UK, Europe, and worldwide, the nomination process started yesterday. The ceremony, sponsored by Mastercard for the third consecutive year, will occur on November 26, 2026. Sponsors include Gail Kenny Executive Recruitment, HolidayPirates, HotelRunner, and more. Nominees have eight weeks to submit entries. Categories include tech-focused awards and Rising Star of the Year.
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Radisson Hotel Group Implements Real-Time Price Matching Across 1,600+ Properties to Boost Direct Bookings
3 July 2026🏨 Jul 3, 2026, Radisson Hotel Group launched real-time price matching across 1,600+ hotels in 100+ countries. The system monitors and matches rates from OTAs like Booking.com, Expedia, and Google Hotels, redirecting bookings to RadissonHotels.com without claims or approvals. While Radisson gains pricing insights, no data on conversion improvements were shared. The system excludes member fares and requires guests to start on OTA platforms. Automating this ensures competitive pricing, but implementation is costly.
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Radisson Hotel Group Launches AI-Powered Real-Time Price Matching Across All Properties to Enhance Direct Booking
2 July 2026📈 Radisson Hotel Group launches AI-powered real-time hotel price matching technology, enhancing direct bookings. This system automatically verifies and matches lower rates found on third-party platforms, eliminating manual claims. Covering leading OTAs like Booking.com and Expedia, it operates across all Radisson properties globally. The innovation is part of Radisson’s digital strategy, focusing on transparency and efficiency, benefiting both guests and hotel staff by streamlining the booking process and reducing administrative tasks.
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Major Hotel Chains Misalign AI Investments by Focusing on Direct Booking as Traveler Discovery Shifts Elsewhere
1 July 2026📈 Hotel chains’ AI investments focus on direct bookings, missing the shift to discovery platforms like ChatGPT and Google AI Overview. Oracle VP Tanya Pratt emphasizes cloud over AI as transformative in hospitality tech. Alliants deploys its Experience Platform across Premier Inn’s 95,000 rooms in the UK and Germany. Coolcation searches rise 74% YoY in H1 2026. WTTC and UNEP sign a sustainability MoU through June 2028. New hotel openings in the Faroe Islands, Northern Thailand, and Vienna.
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Trip.com Reports 74% Increase in Searches for Cooler European Destinations Amid Rising Heatwaves in 2026
1 July 2026🌍 In 2026, “coolcations” in Northern Europe and Alpine regions gained popularity, with searches rising 74% year-over-year, as travelers sought milder summer temperatures around 15°C to 25°C. Destinations like Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland saw increased interest. Traditional Mediterranean spots such as Spain and Italy remain popular but are adapting to extreme heat with improved cooling systems and extended seasons. Trips are increasingly booked for May, June, September, and October rather than peak months July and August.
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Trip.com Reports Two-Thirds of Pre-Booking Queries Focus on Conditions Over Price, Affecting Booking Decisions
30 June 2026📅 June 30, 2026, Japan: Trip.com’s AI data shows that two-thirds of pre-booking queries are about conditions like baggage or cancellation, not price. Over three years, real-time use for issues like menu translation and local navigation has surged. The AI’s job is moving from discovery to decision-making, shortening hotel browsing sessions significantly. Clear, accessible policies win bookings, highlighting the importance of transparency over vague terms for hotels.
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Visa Launches Travel Platform in 10 Cities, Securing Direct Deals with Louvre, Disneyland Paris, and Printemps
30 June 2026🏠 Visa launched the Visa Destinations platform on June 25, 2026, across ten cities, including Paris, London, Dubai, and New York. More than 150 card issuers promote it. The platform focuses on dining, culture, and shopping, with direct deals for the Louvre, Disneyland Paris, and Printemps. Hotels are accessed via the pre-existing Visa Luxury Hotel Collection. The platform moves hotel decisions to a secondary role, influencing how trips are planned and where cardholders spend.
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WIT Middle East Highlights Varied Recovery in Gulf Travel, With Dubai Experiencing 65% Drop in Tourism
17 June 2026📈 At this week’s WIT Middle East event, the Gulf conflict’s impact on tourism was analyzed. Saudi Arabia saw minimal impact due to its focus on domestic travel and religious tourism, while Dubai experienced a 65% drop in tourism. Booking.com and Trip.com aim to boost regional recovery. Wego’s CEO highlighted challenges in inbound tourism due to perceptions and advisories but is optimistic about long-term prospects, citing a young population and investment in future industries.
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Over 80% of Travellers Prefer Human-Generated Travel Content Over AI, Survey Indicates
16 June 2026🌎 In a recent survey, over 80% of respondents trust human travel content over AI-generated content, with only 1% trusting AI equally. A personal account of a £100 trip to Łódź received more attention than transactional content. While AI-generated content creators may eventually entertain audiences, human travel experiences remain crucial. Travolution Connects launches on June 23 in London as an exclusive event for travel industry leaders. For details, visit the Travolution Connects website.
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Trip.com Focuses on Reducing Friction in Europe-Asia Travel by Enhancing Cross-Border Connectivity and Support
16 June 2026🛫 On June 23, in London, Travolution Connects will host an exclusive event for senior leaders. Trip.com focuses on bridging Europe-Asia travel challenges by offering coherent booking experiences and ensuring regulatory compliance across markets. The platform aims to reduce friction in travel through local expertise, clear information, and responsive support, addressing differences in traveler expectations and complexities such as cost, connectivity, and safety. Success hinges on understanding traveler behavior beyond just routes.
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TikTok GO Enables In-App Hotel Bookings in Partnership with OTAs, Challenging Google Search in the U.S.
1 June 2026📰 TikTok GO is now live in the United States, enabling users to book hotels directly through the app. It partners with Booking.com, Expedia, Viator, GetYourGuide, Tiqets, and Trip.com to process bookings. Unlike Instagram, where users are redirected, TikTok allows bookings within the app, except for the transaction, which is handled by OTAs. This initiative challenges traditional search engines like Google by streamlining the travel customer journey from inspiration to booking. TikTok GO’s expansion to Europe or Asia is not…
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TikTok Launches TikTok GO, Enabling Users to Book Hotels and Experiences Directly Within the App with Partners Like Booking.com and Expedia
1 June 2026📲 TikTok GO launches, enabling users to book hotels, tours, and experiences directly within the app. Integrated partners include Booking.com, Expedia, Viator, GetYourGuide, Tiqets, and Trip.com. This shift reflects the fading of the traditional travel funnel, with inspiration, discovery, and booking now merging in single digital spaces. Key strategic challenges for hospitality include controlling visibility, managing supplier dependency on intermediaries, and adapting to “social commerce” environments. TikTok evolves from a marketing channel to a transactional interface.
