Trip.Biz, the business travel management brand of Trip.com Group, has launched Trip.Biz ONE, an all-in-one solution that redefines how organisations manage business travel, at its annual Trip.Biz Transform 2025 conference in Singapore.

As an all-in-one solution that makes the entire business travel experience more seamless for corporates, Trip.Biz ONE is designed to help organisations overcome existing challenges such as booking leakages in the form of off-platform bookings and overspending, non-adherence to travel policies and inefficient reconciliation processes.

“Companies need to redefine expectations on how business travel can support revenue growth amidst ongoing trade policy uncertainty and economic risks, and this has shifted from cost management to one that is smarter, safer and more sustainable,” Tao Song, CEO, Trip.Biz. “With Trip.Biz ONE, we are bringing together three critical pillars – People C Service, Technology C Inventory and Sustainability – into a single, intelligent platform that empowers companies to deliver greater efficiency, stronger compliance and a better travel experience for every business traveller.”

Travel Management Made More Efficient for Companies with Trip.Biz ONE

With the launch of Trip.Biz ONE, Trip.Biz is able to directly address major pain points affecting business travel management, including cost control, policy enforcement, limited customer support and inefficient reconciliation. By integrating booking, policy compliance, workflow automation and AI-driven business intelligence features with real- time desktop-to-mobile synchronisation, Trip.Biz ONE is able to streamline the business travel management process to empower companies with a better travel return on investment (ROI) and peace-of-mind.

Key capabilities of Trip.Biz ONE include:

• Consolidated Bookings s Policy Management
o Single platform for multiple travel services including flights, hotels, airport transfers, ride-hailing, and car rentals with automated approval workflows
o Extensive booking selections through numerous inventory sources, including corporate negotiated rates
o Real-time policy compliance monitoring and enforcement

• Advanced Technology Integration
o AI-driven business intelligence via the Trip.Biz AI Chatbot, providing smart and flexible recommendations, real-time traveller support for enhanced traveller experiences
o Rapidly customisable configurations via in-house IT based on travel teams’ needs
o Comprehensive duty-of-care capabilities with dedicated traveller support

• Strategic Business Intelligence:
o Consolidated reporting insights and analytics
o Improved ROI through data-driven decision-making

Strengthening Marketing Leadership in Southeast Asia, with Global Expansion

Eugene Tan, General Manager, Southeast Asia, Trip.Biz

In addition to the launch of Trip.Biz ONE, Trip.Biz is strengthening its market leadership in Southeast Asia while extending global coverage through partnerships. The company’s latest inked cooperation agreements are with Saudia Airlines, Pan Pacific Hotels Group and Constellation Travels in the Philippines to enhance its inventory offerings and local market penetration.

The platform’s digital-first architecture supports both traditional business travel and emerging bleisure trends, providing comprehensive solutions that adapt to changing workforce expectations. This approach positions Trip.Biz as a transformative force in redefining industry standards.

By adding predictive insights and enhancing its ecosystem beyond booking selections through its partners and the strategic value of the Trip.com Group, Trip.Biz is well- positioned to be the strategic business travel partner that empowers companies to travel smarter, safer and more sustainably now and into the future.

India’s growing appetite for international travel is fuelling a new borrowing trend among young Indians. Ashish Singhal, Co-founder of CoinSwitch and Lemonn (for stocks and MFs), warned in a LinkedIn post that many are taking on substantial debt to fund short-term trips.

“One in four Indians took a loan to go on vacation last year,” Singhal said. Loans for popular destinations can be hefty: Rs 2 lakh for Bali, Rs 1.5 lakh for Thailand, and Rs 3 lakh for a “once-in-a-lifetime” Europe tour.

This trend is particularly visible in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities. “71% of these borrowers are from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities. These are the same cities where people used to save for months just to visit relatives in Mumbai. Now they’re borrowing lakhs to post sunset photos from Santorini,” he wrote.

Gen Z is leading the charge, with their participation rising sharply. “Gen Z is leading this madness. Their share jumped from 14% to 29% in just two years,” Singhal said.

The financial implications are striking. A two lakh loan at 18% interest comes with an EMI of Rs 5,079 for five years, adding up to roughly Rs 3.05 lakh for a seven-day trip. “That’s Rs 40,000 extra. For Instagram stories,” he noted.

Singhal contrasted this with previous generations, saying, “Your parents called buying train tickets ‘splurging’. You call borrowing two lakh rupees ‘living your best life’.” He also compared vacation loans to the earlier Buy Now, Pay Later schemes. “BNPL made us buy stuff we couldn’t afford. Now vacation loans make us travel to places we can’t afford.”

He advised a more disciplined approach to travel spending. By creating a travel fund and setting aside five thousand rupees a month, one could save enough for a Bali trip in six to eight months without paying interest.

Booking flights early can provide discounts equivalent to EMI costs, while using credit cards responsibly can earn miles or vouchers without creating debt.

Singhal’s post underlines a shift in spending behaviour among India’s youth, who increasingly prioritise experiences over traditional savings, sometimes at the risk of long-term financial stability.

– Ends

Shares of Travel Food Services (TFS) will be on investor radar on Friday, September 12, after the company said it has secured a license from Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) to set up, operate, and manage food and beverage outlets, a lounge, and a bar in the Security Hold Area of the Domestic Terminal (T1).

Under the agreement, TFS will serve as the concessionaire for T1, operating about 11 quick-service restaurants along with one passenger lounge. The license runs for five years, with the option to extend by another two years, subject to terms and conditions. The deal also includes payment of license fees and a minimum guarantee amount.

Cochin International Airport, India’s eighth busiest, handled more than 11 million passengers in FY2024-25 and is served by 27 airlines offering direct connectivity to multiple destinations. Notably, it is also the world’s first airport powered entirely by solar energy, achieving full power neutrality.

With this win, TFS expands its presence to 14 of India’s 15 largest airports. “This reflects the strength of the TFS franchise and technical expertise. We plan to bring a diverse mix of brands to Cochin Airport and aim to create a better travel experience for passengers,” said Varun Kapur, Managing Director and CEO of TFS.

In a separate development, last week, the company announced the termination of its extended contract to provide lounge access services to Dreamfolks customers. “Dreamfolks was acting as one of the aggregators for banks and networks in relation to lounge access services for various lounges operated by the company. Despite efforts to re-negotiate the commercial terms of the agreement in good faith, we have been unable to reach a closure,” Travel Food Services said in a regulatory filing

Travel Foods made its stock market debut on July 14, 2025. The IPO received a moderate response from investors, closing with 3.03x overall subscription.(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)