Leading travel service provider, Trip.com Group, revealed a range of enhanced services, driven by advanced AI and intended to empower travelers transform the way they experience their journeys.
The company introduced TripGenie, an AI travel assistant incorporated into its mobile app and designed to essentially change travel planning and booking on its platform. With the utilization of large language model technologies, TripGenie aims to enhance the user experience by offering personalized and intuitive travel solutions, catering to all aspects of the travel journey. TripGenie boasts a few new capabilities such as deciphering complex user requests, providing immediate and relevant app results and facilitating seamless communication through voice and text input.
James Liang, Co-founder and Executive Chairman of Trip.com Group said, “Tourism, being the embodiment of our intrinsic desire to explore and experience, will remain crucial in an increasingly smart society. Although AI cannot replace the unique human experience of travel, it can enrich it. That’s why Trip.com Group is embracing technological development, focusing on advanced AI-driven services to enhance the travel process and overall experience.”
Amy Wei, senior product director at Trip.com and product owner of TripGenie, emphasized the human-like and intuitive conversation flow that TripGenie provides. By interpreting user inputs and responding with rich text, images and related pages, TripGenie represents a significant step towards an efficient “super AI assistant” for users.
According to the company, the capabilities of TripGenie extend beyond traditional booking functions. For instance, when asked about planning a trip to a particular destination, TripGenie provides detailed recommendations for tourist spots, shopping destinations and offers booking links and images, all within a conversational interface. The “My Itinerary” feature allows users to save and structure their travel plans for future convenience.
Additionally, TripGenie introduces a new concept known as the language user interface (LUI). The LUI allows users to interact with the AI assistant through a semi-transparent overlay, enabling users to type or voice their queries without interrupting their browsing experience. The algorithm of TripGenie auto-populates relevant fields and offers contextual assistance throughout the process.
In a bid to offer a seamless and hassle-free booking experience, Trip.com Group also rolled out a series of AI-enhanced curated lists – “Trip.Trends,” “Trip.Best,” and “Trip.Deals.” Each of these lists caters to different user needs and preferences by capturing real-time information about the latest travel trends, price fluctuations, and the best-rated hotels, flights, and attractions.
“Trip.Best” is designed for global travelers seeking the finest experiences a destination can offer, including flights, hotels, attractions, and lifestyle choices such as restaurants and nightlife. The list is curated by examining various travel products on Trip.com and scoring them using an algorithm. Only the top 1 per cent of the scored products are featured.
For those with a keen eye for budget-friendly options, “Trip.Deals” offers the best deals on flights, accommodation, and travel destinations. The list is curated considering various factors, such as historical and projected price changes and current travel expenses.
On the other hand, “Trip.Trends” keeps a pulse on the most popular travel topics and events across different markets. This feature feeds off user searches across various platforms, including Trip.com, mainstream online search engines, and social media, providing users with up-to-date information about the most exciting activities and events worldwide.
“We have seen a robust recovery in travel across various markets, with many reporting numbers surpassing pre-pandemic levels,” said Bo Sun, CMO of Trip.com Group. “We are delighted to launch this series which will further enable our customers to plan and book their next perfect trip, tailored to their requirements and preferences.”
The capabilities of TripGenie are the natural next steps since the initial launch of the AI travel assistant TripGen in February. The company is also confident that TripGenie will undergo further enhancements in the future. Upcoming upgrades will include a virtual tour guide feature that focuses on extra immersion.
