Latest news with #Fliggy
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Alibaba Merges Fliggy and Ele.me to Strengthen Core E-Commerce Platform
Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:BABA) ranks among the best FAANG stocks to buy according to hedge funds. Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE: BABA) announced on June 23 that it will combine its online travel agency, Fliggy, and food delivery platform into its core e-commerce business. The change, according to the company, was a 'strategic upgrade' as it moves from a standard e-commerce company to a more comprehensive platform that is centered on customers. Pixabay/Public Domain Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE: BABA) views e-commerce as essential to its future expansion, both domestically and internationally. To that end, the company intends to improve AI-driven search and suggestions, as well as monetization capabilities, to increase the quality of consumption rather than just volume. It is expected that growing cross-border demand will also help its international platforms, such as AliExpress and Lazada. Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:BABA) is an e-commerce and technology company that caters to small business owners and consumers. The company is also a pioneer in cloud computing, logistics, and digital media. While we acknowledge the potential of BABA as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. Read More: and Disclosure: None. Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
Skift
01-07-2025
- Business
- Skift
Chinese Outbound Travel, Travel Innovations, Agentic AI and Airlines: Ask Skift's Most Popular Questions
We sum up the answers to some of Ask Skift's most popular questions, including trends in Chinese outbound travel and recent innovations in travel apps and platforms. Here are three of the most common questions our answer engine Ask Skift 2.0 has fielded recently and a brief summary of the responses it gave. How is Chinese Outbound Travel Evolving in 2025? A growing percentage of Chinese travelers are going abroad for the first time. China Trading Desk's second-quarter survey revealed that 44% of Chinese travelers are making their first international trips, up six percentage points from the previous quarter. Chinese travelers are also, in general, finalizing their travel decisions closer to departure time. A survey by China Trading Desk in April found roughly 77% of bookings made by Chinese travelers are within one month of the trip and 46% are within two weeks. In addition, booking trends reveal a growing diversification in outbound travel preferences. Although locations such as Singapore, Japan, and South Korea remain the most popular outbound destinations for Chinese travelers, Skift reported in April that data from online travel platform Fliggy revealed a year-over-year doubling of booking volumes to Iceland, Morocco, Norway, and Georgia. What Are the Latest Innovations in Travel Apps and Platforms? Google rolled out a new "AI Mode" for Search in May, an update that enables users to ask nuanced, multi-part travel questions — such as "Things to do in Nashville this weekend with friends, we're big foodies who like music but also more chill vibes and exploring off the beaten path." Google's AI can also access Gmail and past search data to suggest more personalized travel recommendations and even build itineraries from a traveler's bookings. Skift reported in May that Kayak launched a new AI-powered trip planner called The user can initiate a travel search and save flight and hotel options to book later and share them with others. The chatbot also has access to ChatGPT and its web search function for questions beyond Kayak's flight and hotels. And Apple announced in June that digital passports — which can be used when age and identity verification are required — would be coming to the iPhone's digital Wallet starting this fall. Apple is also integrating live translation into the apps for Messages, FaceTime, and Phone, and the company said AI can generate spoken translation between two people speaking different languages during calls on the Phone app — even if one of those people isn't using an iPhone. What Are the Key Trends Observed in the Adoption of Agentic AI Within the Airline Industry? Agentic AI is increasingly being deployed at the heart of customer-facing tools. Qatar Airways has launched an AI-powered travel agent that assists with booking and trip planning while Delta has unveiled an AI-powered assistant on its app called Delta Concierge that can provide proactive trip planning and passport and visa notifications. United Airlines' Connection Saver AI system automatically provides passengers updates about delays and connections. Skift reported in March that more than half of United's customers who experienced a cancellation in the fourth quarter resolved their issues through the carrier's automated solutions or self-service. Airlines — including Southwest Airlines and Ryanair — have also used AI to automate marketing campaigns and ancillary revenue management, optimizing everything from personalized offers to operational messaging. And IAG is utlizing AI to aumoted the scheduling, maintenance, and reporting for Vueling, one of the airlines it owns.
Globe and Mail
27-06-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
What Makes E-Commerce the Biggest Driver of Alibaba's Revenue Growth?
Alibaba 's BABA e-commerce business continues to be the company's biggest strength. Its main platforms, Taobao and Tmall, help drive strong customer management revenues, which grew 12% year over year in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025, driven by the improvement of take rates. Better tools and shopping incentives have improved user activity and order frequency, helping the company recover its core business despite a tough macro environment. Alibaba sees e-commerce as key to future growth, both in China and globally. With stronger monetization tools and better AI-driven search and recommendations, the company plans to grow consumption quality rather than just volume. Its global platforms, like AliExpress and Lazada, are also expected to benefit from rising cross-border demand. Alibaba is combining its food delivery platform, and Fliggy, its travel services platform, with its core e-commerce business, realigning resources around its main revenue engine and building a stronger delivery network. In April, the company also launched a new rapid delivery feature on Taobao, which the company called a strategic upgrade, as it helps it evolve from an e-commerce platform into a broader consumer-focused platform. In the fiscal fourth quarter, Taobao and Tmall Group earned RMB 93.2 billion ($12.9 billion) in revenues, up 4% year over year, and made up 47% of total company revenues. International commerce, including AliExpress and Lazada, earned RMB 27.4 billion ($3.8 billion), up 45% year over year, with AliExpress alone growing 22%. Together, domestic and global e-commerce remain Alibaba's strongest growth drivers. BABA Faces Stiff Competition in the E-Commerce Space As Alibaba sharpens its focus on e-commerce, it faces growing competition from domestic rivals JD and PDD Holdings Inc. Sponsored ADR PDD, both of which are rapidly expanding in China's digital retail market. is driving growth through strong category execution and ecosystem integration. Its RMB 200 billion 'export to domestic' program and food delivery momentum are boosting engagement. In the first quarter of 2025, JD Retail revenues grew 16.3% year over year. PDD Holdings continues to scale its group buying model while expanding merchant support. In the first quarter of 2025, online marketing services revenues rose 15% year over year, driven by PDD Holdings' enhanced tools to improve reach and performance. BABA's Share Price Performance, Valuation and Estimates BABA shares have gained 34.4% in the year-to-date (YTD) period, outperforming the Zacks Internet – Commerce industry and the Zacks Retail-Wholesale sector's growth of 5.7% and 2.8%, respectively. BABA's YTD Price Performance From a valuation standpoint, BABA stock is currently trading at a forward 12-month Price/Earnings ratio of 10.39X compared with the industry's 24.70X. BABA has a Value Score of B. BABA Valuation The Zacks Consensus Estimate for first-quarter fiscal 2026 earnings is pegged at $2.48 per share, which has remained steady over the past 30 days, indicating 9.73% year-over-year growth. The consensus mark for fiscal 2026 earnings is pegged at $10.47 per share, which has remained steady over the past 30 days. The estimate indicates 16.2% year-over-year growth. Alibaba currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Zacks' Research Chief Picks Stock Most Likely to "At Least Double" Our experts have revealed their Top 5 recommendations with money-doubling potential – and Director of Research Sheraz Mian believes one is superior to the others. Of course, all our picks aren't winners but this one could far surpass earlier recommendations like Hims & Hers Health, which shot up +209%. See Our Top Stock to Double (Plus 4 Runners Up) >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Inc. (JD): Free Stock Analysis Report PDD Holdings Inc. Sponsored ADR (PDD): Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (
CNBC
27-06-2025
- CNBC
More Southeast Asians are flocking to China's Chongqing city. Social media hype is a big reason
A new trend is driving Southeast Asian tourists to China's Chongqing city — viral social media clips of monorails running through a residential building, buildings perched atop hilly terrain, and a pedestrian bridge on the 13th floor. Flight bookings from Southeast Asia to Chongqing increased more than sixfold during the Dragon Boat Festival holiday, which fell on May 31 this year, compared with the previous year, Chinese online travel platform Fliggy told CNBC. "In 2025 alone, we've captured a nearly 12-fold surge in demand for Chongqing, compared to demand for other cities," said Sarah Wan, Klook's general manager for Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore, in an email. Demand doubled for other popular cities such as Beijing and Shanghai, and tripled for Chengdu, she added. Chongqing has captured online attention for its duality — it's home to natural attractions such as the Three Gorges and the Dazu Rock Carvings, and futuristic architecture that inspired its nickname, "cyberpunk city." That's partly because young adults are turning to social media for recommendations when planning their holidays, with 79% of millennial and Gen Z travelers doing so, according to Klook Travel Pulse research published in February. That was the case for Ong Chong Yu, a 24-year-old undergraduate at the National University of Singapore, and his friends, who wanted to visit the city after it "blew up" on Douyin and TikTok for its "8D magic," refering to the way buildings sit on the hilly parts of Chongqing that adds dimension to the city's landscape. The Chinese language and Chinese studies major, who is on a student exchange program in Beijing, visited Chongqing on a weekend trip in March. He said he found the city's unique landscape most memorable. "[It] takes a climb up and down the mountain to get from one road to another, the first floor of one building might be the 15th floor of another," Ong said. Aside from social media hype, an improvement in amenities and a variety of activities have contributed to the city's growing popularity. The wide range of activities available for tourists means that "there is something in Chongqing for everyone," said Edmund Ong, senior regional director of Southeast Asia at in an email to CNBC. "Older folks have long enjoyed Chongqing for its beautiful scenery, including the Yangtze River and Three Gorges, while younger travelers have seen many places there go viral on social media," he added. But it takes more than good views to make a good holiday. Although Chongqing has become more crowded since undergraduate Ong's last visit in 2018, "the city's crowd control is great," he said, "so moving around was quite orderly, which I am impressed by." The municipality has been focusing on making travel more convenient for tourists, said Gao Ling, director-general of the Chongqing Municipal Commission of Culture and Tourism Development, in a interview translated from Mandarin by CNBC. The municipality has invested more into the transport systems for those traveling in and out of the city. With more options to and from other major cities such as Beijing and Chengdu via air and train, the city aims to make entry into Chongqing easy for tourists, Gao said in an interview with CNBC conducted in Mandarin. Earlier this year, Chongqing also established one-stop service centers in major transit hubs such as its Jiangbei International Airport and Chongqing North railway station, Gao said. The centers provide luggage storage and information desks for travelers. Young Southeast Asians may be enticed to visit, partly because of the region's proximity to China, Gao said. Among countries in Southeast Asia, has seen the most bookings to Chongqing from Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand, which all enjoy visa-free travel to China. Similarly, Klook has noted that tourists from Singapore and Malaysia lead sales for tours in the region, with tourists from Thailand and Indonesia fueling demand. The number of hotel bookings to Chongqing from Thai travelers has also risen more than fivefold, according to data provided by Fliggy. But the hype isn't confined to Chongqing — travel demand is rising across cities in mainland China. According to the Klook Travel Pulse research study, mainland China is the top "must-go destination" for millennial and Gen Z travelers — second only to Japan. The country's youth appeal can be attributed partly to cultural experiences such as themed photoshoots and live performances incorporating song and dance, said Elvis Yap, travel experience and design planner for China at Singapore-based tour agency Dynasty Travel. Themed photoshoots, in which travelers dress up in traditional outfits, have also blown up on social media, fueling demand, Yap said. Foreign and local tourists alike post photos of themselves on social media, dressed up in the traditional Han clothing, complete with a wig and heavy makeup, all of which are included in the service that tourists purchase. Another popular example is "gong yan," a multi-course banquet meal and show, during which customers can dress up in traditional outfits. It's "a lot more dynamic," with "high level cultural arts" performances combined with the dining experience at an affordable price, Yap said, citing the strength of the Singapore dollar against the yuan. But social media isn't the only factor — hospitality in China has also improved, with more attractive services offered in hotels and attractions, he added. "The other countries in Asia have to watch out for the level of competition that China hospitality institutions are providing," Yap said.
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Alibaba Group (BABA) to Combine Ele.me and Fliggy to its Core E-Commerce Business
Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:BABA) is one of the 10 Best and Cheap Stocks to Buy Now. On June 23, the Wall Street Journal reported Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:BABA) is combining its food-delivery platform and online travel services platform Fliggy to its core e-commerce business. This is a strategic move that realigns the company's resources towards its core revenue driver and develops a stronger delivery network. Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:BABA) has been facing serious competition from competitors like and Meituan, this move indicates that the company is fortifying its delivery network. Following the folding, the CEO of and Fliggy will directly report to Jiang Fan, who leads Alibaba's E-commerce Business Group. An e-commerce platform displaying a wide range of products to customers online. The company in April also launched a new rapid delivery feature on its shopping platform, Taobao. 'This marks a strategic upgrade as we evolve from an e-commerce platform into broader consumer-focused platform,' said Eddie Wu Yongming, Chief Executive of Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:BABA). While we acknowledge the potential of BABA as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: The Best and Worst Dow Stocks for the Next 12 Months and 10 Unstoppable Stocks That Could Double Your Money. Disclosure: None.
