Trip.com says premium searches doubled

Trip.com Group said on September 8 that global searches for first- and business-class flights on its platform rose 99% year over year in the first half of 2026, adding to signs that higher-spending travelers are putting more money into comfort-focused trips. The Singapore-based online travel company said 5-star hotel searches increased 57% over the same period, while custom tour bookings climbed 600%. The company said travelers were prioritizing comfort, wellness, privacy and personalized itineraries, and it linked that shift to higher conversion and ancillary revenue. ### What exactly did Trip.com say increased? Trip.com Group said the premium-flight figure covered searches for first- and business-class tickets, not completed bookings. The company said those searches jumped 99% year over year in the first half of 2026 on its platform. (prnewswire.com) The same Sept. 8 release said demand extended beyond air travel. Trip.com reported a 57% rise in searches for 5-star hotels and a 600% increase in custom tour bookings, which it described as bespoke, itinerary-led travel products. ### Why is the 600% custom-tour figure getting attention? (prnewswire.com) The 600% number is the largest growth figure in the release and points to demand for travel products beyond standard flight-and-hotel bookings. Trip.com said custom tours appealed to travelers seeking privacy, flexibility and more personalized journeys. (prnewswire.com) Trip.com also said that stronger premium search volume and bespoke-tour demand helped lift conversion and ancillary revenue. The release did not provide absolute booking totals, revenue figures or a comparison base for ancillary sales. ### Did the company say where this demand was coming from? (prnewswire.com) The Sept. 8 release described the trend as global, but it did not identify specific routes, airlines or source markets. Trip.com did not break out which regions or customer groups drove the increase in premium-cabin searches. (prnewswire.com) Trip.com Group operates a portfolio that includes Trip.com, Ctrip, Skyscanner and Qunar, according to its investor materials and corporate site. The company describes itself as a one-stop travel service provider spanning accommodation reservations, transportation ticketing, packaged tours and corporate travel management. (prnewswire.com) ### How should readers read “searches doubled”? The 99% figure refers to search activity on Trip.com’s platform in the first half of 2026 versus the same period a year earlier. It is a demand indicator, but it is not the same as a disclosed rise in ticket sales or passenger volumes. (investors.trip.com) Trip.com’s wording matters because online travel companies often use search data to show intent before bookings are finalized. In this case, the company paired that search data with the 600% increase in custom tour bookings to argue that travelers are spending more on higher-end and more tailored trips. (prnewswire.com) ### What is missing from the release? Trip.com did not disclose carrier-specific trends, route-level data, average selling prices or how much ancillary revenue increased. The release also did not say whether the premium-cabin growth was driven more by leisure travelers, corporate travelers or mixed “bleisure” demand. (prnewswire.com) The company’s investor relations site and media center list additional corporate releases and filings, but the Sept. 8 announcement itself was limited to headline growth metrics and consumer-preference language. ### Where can the next details emerge? Trip.com’s investor relations page publishes annual reports, filings and news releases, while its media center carries company announcements and travel-trend updates. (prnewswire.com) Any fuller breakdown of premium travel demand, booking conversion or ancillary revenue would likely appear in future company disclosures or investor materials. (investors.trip.com)