Core Insights - The Dragon Boat Festival is expected to be a "not expensive and not crowded" short holiday, with a focus on short-distance travel, cultural experiences, and seasonal cuisine driving the tourism market [1][2] Group 1: Travel Trends - The travel market during the Dragon Boat Festival is characterized by short-distance trips, primarily due to its timing between the "May Day" holiday and the summer vacation, as well as its proximity to the college entrance examination [1] - Popular travel destinations include Beijing, Nanjing, Hangzhou, Shanghai, Chengdu, Qingdao, Fuzhou, Yili, Changsha, and Chongqing [1] - High-speed rail travel within a 2-hour radius remains the main choice for travelers, with popular routes including Beijing-Qinhuangdao, Chengdu-Leshan, Hangzhou-Ningbo, and Shanghai-Jiaxing [1] Group 2: Pricing and Accommodation - Comfortable (3-star) hotel prices in multiple cities are below 300 yuan, with cities like Shantou, Kaifeng, Zibo, Luoyang, Changzhou, Xuzhou, and Liuzhou maintaining prices comparable to the off-season [1] - The increase in train ticket bookings and hotel reservations is notable, with over a 30% year-on-year growth in hotel bookings driven by seasonal food attractions [1] Group 3: Cultural and Culinary Experiences - The search volume for keywords related to the Dragon Boat Festival, such as "Dragon Boat" and "Zongzi," has increased by 220% compared to the previous month, while searches for "ancient towns" rose by 150% [2] - The expansion of high-speed rail networks has allowed more travelers to reach food origin locations, enhancing the cultural experience and increasing the appeal of related scenic spots [2] - Traditional Chinese festivals are evolving to meet deeper consumer expectations for cultural and tourism experiences [2]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company recorded a gross booking value of $9.8 billion for the year, with a year-on-year growth rate of 25.9% in constant currency terms [6] - Adjusted operating profit reached an all-time high of $167.3 million, reflecting a year-on-year growth of 34.7% [6][25] - For Q4, gross booking value growth accelerated to 30.4% year-on-year in constant currency terms, while adjusted operating profit grew at a rate of 37.9% year-on-year [6][27] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The international air ticketing revenue grew by over 33% year-on-year, significantly outpacing industry growth [9] - The international hotels revenue grew by over 65% year-on-year, making it one of the fastest-growing segments [9] - The accommodation business, including hotels and packages, saw a gross booking value growth of 27.7% year-on-year in Q4 [11] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The international business now contributes 25% to overall revenue, up from 22% in the previous fiscal year [10] - Domestic departures crossed pre-pandemic levels, while international departures grew by 18.5% year-on-year [10] - The online penetration in international air ticketing is steadily increasing, aiding gross booking value growth [10] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on enhancing user experience through generative AI, with features like trip planning chatbots and AI-driven support for booking changes [8][9] - The strategy includes expanding into underpenetrated international outbound markets and strengthening product propositions [9] - The company aims to maintain a marketing spend around 5% of gross booking value while investing in ancillary travel services and geographic expansion [35][36] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about recovering lost momentum following recent geopolitical disruptions, emphasizing collaboration with airline and hotel partners [22] - The company remains focused on driving growth in the twenties and does not foresee a slowdown in growth trajectory [39][40] - Management highlighted the importance of agility in responding to macroeconomic changes and maintaining a strong execution strategy [21][22] Other Important Information - The company has a capital allocation strategy focused on growth initiatives, exploring niche opportunities, and returning value to shareholders through buybacks [30] - The company has deployed approximately $21.7 million in its share repurchase program [31] Q&A Session Summary Question: On selling and marketing expenses - Management plans to maintain marketing expenses around 5% of gross booking value, focusing on driving growth rather than reducing spend [35][36] Question: Industry growth rate outlook - Management aims for growth in the twenties and believes the current trajectory will continue despite temporary challenges [39][40] Question: Competition from generative AI - Management is confident in leveraging their data and technology to stay ahead of potential competition in the AI space [42][44] Question: Competition in the Indian market - Management views the Indian travel market as underpenetrated and believes there is significant room for growth despite current competition [55][59] Question: Margin guidance and buyback strategy - Management aims to stabilize margins in the 1.8% to 2% range and will continue to be opportunistic with buybacks based on market conditions [70][74]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company recorded a gross booking value of $9.8 billion for fiscal year 2025, representing a year-on-year growth rate of 25.9% in constant currency terms [6] - Adjusted operating profit reached an all-time high of $167.3 million, with a year-on-year growth of 34.7% [6][27] - For Q4, gross booking value growth accelerated to 30.4% year-on-year in constant currency terms, while adjusted operating profit grew at a rate of 37.9% year-on-year [6][29] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The international air ticketing revenue grew by over 33% year-on-year, significantly outpacing industry growth [10] - The international hotels revenue grew by over 65% year-on-year, making it one of the fastest-growing segments [10] - The air ticketing business gross booking value grew by 24.3% year-on-year in constant currency terms for Q4 [11] - The hotels and packages business gross booking value grew by 27.7% year-on-year in constant currency terms for Q4 [12] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - International air ticketing revenue now contributes 25% to overall revenue, up from 22% in fiscal year 2024 [10] - Domestic departures crossed pre-pandemic levels, while international departures grew by 18.5% year-on-year [11] - The online penetration in international air ticketing is steadily increasing, aiding gross booking value growth [11] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on enhancing customer experience through generative AI innovations and a connected trip strategy [8][10] - The introduction of Myra.ai, a trip planning chatbot, aims to simplify trip discovery and booking [7] - The company is targeting the underpenetrated international outbound market as a growth opportunity [10] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about recovering lost momentum following recent geopolitical disruptions [23] - The company remains focused on driving growth in the twenties and does not foresee a slowdown in growth trajectory [40][41] - Management emphasized the importance of agility in responding to macroeconomic changes [24] Other Important Information - The company added over 9 million customers during the year, bringing the lifetime transacted user base to 82 million [6] - The corporate travel business is witnessing strong growth, with active corporate customer counts increasing significantly [22] - The company has deployed approximately $21.7 million in a share repurchase program [33] Q&A Session Summary Question: Selling and marketing expenses strategy - Management plans to maintain marketing expenses around 5% of GMV while investing in ancillary travel services and geographic expansion [36][38] Question: Industry growth rate outlook - The company aims to continue growing faster than the industry, targeting a similar growth trajectory in the coming years despite temporary macro-related impacts [40][41] Question: Competition from generative AI - Management is confident in leveraging their rich data and speed to stay ahead of potential competition in the AI space [44][45] Question: Competition landscape in India - The company views the overall travel market as large with significant headroom for growth, and does not see direct bookings as competition [62][63] Question: Margin guidance and buyback strategy - The company aims to stabilize margins in the 1.8% to 2% range and will continue to be opportunistic with buybacks based on market conditions [72][78]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q1 2025, Expedia Group reported a 43% increase in bookings and revenue, which was at the lower end of their guidance range due to weaker travel demand in the U.S. [6][7] - EBITDA grew by 16%, and earnings per share increased by 90% [7][22] - Booked room nights grew by 6%, with low single digits growth in the U.S., mid single digits in Europe, and mid-teens growth in the rest of the world [7][22] - Total gross bookings reached $31.5 billion, up 4%, while revenue grew by 3% to $3 billion [24][26] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The B2B business saw a 14% increase in bookings, significantly outperforming the industry [8][22] - The advertising business delivered a robust 20% revenue growth, with a record number of deals signed [9][15] - Brand Expedia was the fastest-growing consumer brand with room nights up 7%, while Vrbo grew modestly and Hotels.com experienced a decline due to softer U.S. demand [9][10] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - U.S. demand was soft, with inbound travel bookings down 7%, particularly from Canada, which fell nearly 30% [25][60] - The average daily rates (ADR) were $214, down 1%, although up 1% on an FX neutral basis [24][30] - The B2B segment benefited from strong international performance, particularly in APAC, which grew by 30% [23][30] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on three strategic priorities: delivering more value for travelers, investing in growth opportunities, and driving operational efficiencies [10][19] - AI is being leveraged to enhance product offerings, improve marketing effectiveness, and streamline operations [13][80] - The company aims to improve its loyalty program and has made adjustments to better serve travelers [108][110] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledged the uncertainty in the macroeconomic environment but expressed confidence in the company's ability to adapt and continue delivering value [21][121] - The company expects Q2 gross bookings growth of 2% to 4% and revenue growth of 3% to 5%, with EBITDA margin expansion of 75 to 100 basis points [35][36] - Management highlighted the importance of maintaining a diversified B2B business to mitigate risks from macro headwinds [49][117] Other Important Information - The company ended the quarter with $6.1 billion in unrestricted cash and short-term investments [33][34] - A quarterly dividend of $0.40 per share was reinitiated, and share repurchases were accelerated [34] Q&A Session Summary Question: Marketing spend and ROI - Management indicated that they spent about $1 billion on marketing in Q1, slightly deleveraging, and will focus on profitable growth opportunities [39][42] Question: Hotels.com turnaround - Management expressed optimism about Hotels.com, noting recent brand relaunch efforts and positive momentum [40][41] Question: Managing macro headwinds - Management highlighted the strength and diversity of the B2B business, which is well-positioned to handle macroeconomic challenges [48][49] Question: Monthly trends and consumer behavior - Management noted a slowdown in April compared to March, with a shift towards lower ADR rate plans and increased discounts from hotel partners [60] Question: Experiences and attractions investment - Management acknowledged the growing importance of experiences and attractions but did not provide specific investment details [65][69] Question: AI investments - Management discussed the strategic importance of AI in enhancing products, driving traffic, and improving team effectiveness [75][80] Question: Booking curve and international rollout - Management noted a mixed picture in booking windows and highlighted strong growth in the B2B segment, particularly in Asia [89][90] Question: B2B performance and advertising impact - Management confirmed that while B2B experienced some pressure, it remained diversified and continued to grow, with advertising business prospects remaining strong [115][117]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q1 2025, the company reported a 43% increase in bookings and revenue, which was at the lower end of the guidance range due to weaker travel demand in the U.S. [5][22] - EBITDA grew by 16%, and earnings per share increased by 90% [5][22] - Booked room nights grew by 6%, with low single digits growth in the U.S., mid single digits in Europe, and mid-teens growth in the rest of the world [6][22] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The B2B business posted a 14% bookings growth, outperforming the industry [7][22] - The advertising business achieved a robust 20% revenue growth [8][22] - Brand Expedia was the fastest-growing consumer brand with room nights up 7%, while Vrbo grew modestly and Hotels.com experienced a decline due to softer U.S. demand [8][22] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - U.S. demand was soft, driven by declining consumer sentiment, with inbound travel to the U.S. down 7% and bookings from Canada falling nearly 30% [6][25] - The company noted a shift in consumer behavior, with travelers opting for lower average daily rates [61] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on three strategic priorities: delivering more value for travelers, investing in growth opportunities, and driving operational efficiencies [9][18] - AI is being leveraged to enhance product experiences, improve marketing effectiveness, and streamline operations [13][80] - The company is expanding its B2B business and enhancing advertising solutions to drive future growth [15][16] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledged the uncertainty in the macroeconomic environment but expressed confidence in the company's ability to navigate challenges and continue delivering value [21][120] - The company expects Q2 2025 gross bookings growth of 2% to 4% and revenue growth of 3% to 5%, with EBITDA margin expansion of 75 to 100 basis points [36][37] Other Important Information - The company ended the quarter with $6.1 billion in unrestricted cash and short-term investments and maintained a total debt of $6.3 billion [34][35] - The company reinitiated a quarterly dividend of $0.40 per share and accelerated stock repurchases [35] Q&A Session Summary Question: Marketing spend and ROI - Management indicated that they spent about $1 billion on marketing in Q1 and will focus on profitable growth opportunities while reducing costs where necessary [45][46] Question: Hotels.com turnaround - Management expressed optimism about Hotels.com, highlighting recent brand relaunch efforts and positive momentum [44][46] Question: Managing macro headwinds - Management noted the B2B business's geographic and segment diversity, which helps mitigate macroeconomic pressures [51][52] Question: Monthly trends and consumer behavior - Management reported that April was softer than March, with a shift towards lower average daily rates and increased discounts from hotel partners [61] Question: Experiences and attractions investment - Management acknowledged the growing importance of experiences and attractions but did not provide specific investment details [70] Question: AI investments - Management discussed the strategic importance of AI in enhancing products, driving traffic, and improving team effectiveness [76][80] Question: Booking curve and international rollout - Management noted a mixed picture in booking windows, with slight expansion for hotels and decline for vacation rentals, while the B2B business showed strong growth in Asia [88][89] Question: B2B performance and advertising impact - Management confirmed that while the B2B business faced some pressure from U.S. softness, it remained globally diversified and continued to grow [118][119]

Core Points - Agoda's hotel booking app displays a price of 2509 yuan per night, but the final payment shows an average of 3234 yuan per night, resulting in a price difference of nearly 29% [1][3][4] - The price discrepancy is attributed to a 15% service fee and a 10% tax, which are only disclosed in small print during the final payment stage [1][6][8] - This lack of transparency in pricing has raised concerns among consumers, especially when compared to domestic OTA platforms that display all-inclusive prices [8][10][12] Pricing Transparency Issues - Consumers have reported that Agoda's pricing structure is misleading, as the initial displayed price does not include additional fees, impacting their travel budget [2][3][8] - In contrast, domestic OTAs like Ctrip and Qunar clearly indicate that their prices include taxes and fees, making it easier for consumers to understand the total cost upfront [10][12] - Agoda's customer service indicated that the pricing display depends on the hotel or supplier's policies, which can lead to inconsistencies across different platforms [12][13] Consumer Behavior and Expectations - Chinese consumers prefer to see a comprehensive price that includes all fees from the beginning, contrasting with practices in other countries where fees are often added later [13][16] - The dynamic pricing model used by Agoda, where different prices may be shown to the same consumer across various platforms, can create confusion and mistrust [13][16] - There is a call for Agoda to align its pricing display practices with local consumer expectations to better serve the Chinese market [16]