Trip.com Group (TCOM) Q2 2025 Earnings Call August 27, 2025 08:00 PM ET Company ParticipantsMichelle Qi - Senior IR DirectorJames Liang - Co-Founder & Executive ChairmanJane Sun - CEO & DirectorCindy Wang - CFO and EVPAlex Yao - Co-Head of Asia Technology, Media & TelecommunicationsJoyce Ju - Vice PresidentThomas Chong - Managing DirectorBrian Gong - Internet & Media ResearchYang Liu - Executive DirectorParash Jain - Managing DirectorSimon Cheung - Managing DirectorWei Fang - DirectorJohn Choi - Executive D ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported a net revenue of RMB 14.8 billion for Q2 2025, representing a 16% increase year over year and a 7% increase from the previous quarter [31] - Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was RMB 4.9 billion, up from RMB 4.4 billion in the same period last year [34] - Diluted earnings per share were RMB 6.97 or USD 0.97, with non-GAAP diluted earnings per share at RMB 7.20 or USD 1.01 [34] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Accommodation reservation revenue increased by 21% year over year to RMB 6.2 billion [31] - Transportation ticketing revenue was RMB 5.4 billion, an 11% year-over-year increase [32] - Packaged tour revenue grew by 5% year over year to RMB 1.1 billion, while corporate travel revenue increased by 9% year over year to RMB 692 million [32] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Inbound travel bookings increased by over 100% year over year, with national inbound arrivals growing by 30% [15][31] - International bookings on the platform rose by over 60% year over year, particularly strong in the APAC region [18][81] - Outbound travel from China saw cross-border flight capacity recover to 84% of pre-pandemic levels, with outbound hotel and air bookings surpassing 120% of 2019 volumes [21] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to leverage AI technology to enhance travel planning and user experience, with a focus on personalized recommendations and content generation [8][41] - A new initiative, Intellitrip, was launched to help hotels capture inbound demand and improve operational efficiency through AI-powered tools [23] - The company is committed to sustainability and innovation, launching a USD 100 million tourism innovation fund to support breakthroughs in travel [28] Management Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about the long-term prospects of the travel industry, highlighting the potential for inbound travel to become a key growth engine [12][17] - The company noted that consumer sentiment remains resilient, with strong demand for experiential products and travel among various demographics [54] - Management emphasized the importance of maintaining high service quality and comprehensive product offerings in a competitive landscape [65] Other Important Information - The company has completed share repurchases totaling approximately USD 400 million and announced a new share repurchase program of up to USD 5 billion [35][96] - The balance of cash and cash equivalents as of June 30, 2025, was RMB 94.1 billion or USD 13.1 billion [35] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you elaborate on the AI and content strategy? - The integration of AI enhances content delivery and user experience, allowing for personalized travel planning and improved data processing efficiency [38][40] Question: What are the booking trends observed this year? - Domestic travel shows strong volume growth, while outbound travel has recovered significantly, with inbound travel also seeing substantial growth [44][46] Question: How have hotel and air ticket prices trended recently? - Domestic hotel and air ticket prices faced pressure despite volume growth, while outbound travel prices softened due to increased flight capacity [49][50] Question: What insights can you share on consumer sentiment? - The market shows resilience, with strong demand for experiential products among various age groups, despite slight decreases in average daily rates [53][54] Question: How does the competition landscape look with new entrants? - The company focuses on providing excellent service and comprehensive offerings rather than engaging in price competition, which is crucial for customer satisfaction [65][66] Question: What is the potential market size for the Old Friends Club and Travel Plus Entertainment? - The Old Friends Club market could grow to over USD 1 trillion in the next few years, while demand for travel plus entertainment products is also strong [69][72] Question: Can you provide insights into the inbound travel potential? - Inbound travel currently accounts for less than 0.5% of China's GDP, indicating significant growth potential if effectively promoted [77][78] Question: What is the update on the marketing strategy for trip.com? - The company maintains a disciplined ROI-driven marketing strategy, focusing on acquiring app users and enhancing operational efficiency [85][91] Question: Can you provide an update on the share repurchase program? - The company has fully utilized its previous share repurchase quota and announced a new multiyear program to strategically buy back shares [93][96]