Comments on: User generated content and Hotel review sites http://dottourism.com/blog/2006/11/15/user-generated-content-and-hotel-review-sites/ Online and destination marketing for travel and tourism Tue, 07 Sep 2010 06:56:26 +0100 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Nawar Alsaadi http://dottourism.com/blog/2006/11/15/user-generated-content-and-hotel-review-sites/comment-page-1/#comment-46519 Nawar Alsaadi Fri, 06 Aug 2010 21:43:34 +0000 http://dottourism.com/blog/2006/11/15/user-generated-content-and-hotel-review-sites/#comment-46519 The problem is tripadvisor is owned by a travel agency (expedia) there is an inherent conflict of interest when the review provider actually benefit from the reservations. regards, Nawar Alsaadi GHR founder The problem is tripadvisor is owned by a travel agency (expedia) there is an inherent conflict of interest when the review provider actually benefit from the reservations.

regards,
Nawar Alsaadi
GHR founder

]]> By: Jacques Vandekamp http://dottourism.com/blog/2006/11/15/user-generated-content-and-hotel-review-sites/comment-page-1/#comment-44046 Jacques Vandekamp Tue, 13 Jul 2010 12:17:06 +0000 http://dottourism.com/blog/2006/11/15/user-generated-content-and-hotel-review-sites/#comment-44046 Hiya, interesting blog post. Just found your blog and I will bookmark it - keep up the good work. Hiya, interesting blog post. Just found your blog and I will bookmark it – keep up the good work.

]]> By: chris @ Nozio.com http://dottourism.com/blog/2006/11/15/user-generated-content-and-hotel-review-sites/comment-page-1/#comment-11435 chris @ Nozio.com Tue, 26 Aug 2008 12:37:10 +0000 http://dottourism.com/blog/2006/11/15/user-generated-content-and-hotel-review-sites/#comment-11435 Sorry, I should have said we allow any reviews but give priorty to users that have booked themselves and are highlighted with the adjacent 'OFFICIAL REVIEW' logo. Sorry, I should have said we allow any reviews but give priorty to users that have booked themselves and are highlighted with the adjacent ‘OFFICIAL REVIEW’ logo.

]]> By: Dominic Sawyer http://dottourism.com/blog/2006/11/15/user-generated-content-and-hotel-review-sites/comment-page-1/#comment-11431 Dominic Sawyer Tue, 26 Aug 2008 10:51:41 +0000 http://dottourism.com/blog/2006/11/15/user-generated-content-and-hotel-review-sites/#comment-11431 Cheers Chris, will take a look Cheers Chris, will take a look

]]> By: chris @ Nozio.com http://dottourism.com/blog/2006/11/15/user-generated-content-and-hotel-review-sites/comment-page-1/#comment-10930 chris @ Nozio.com Mon, 11 Aug 2008 17:01:15 +0000 http://dottourism.com/blog/2006/11/15/user-generated-content-and-hotel-review-sites/#comment-10930 In fact we have implemented a system that only allows users that have booked direct with the accommodation to add reviews to our travel portal. In fact we have implemented a system that only allows users that have booked direct with the accommodation to add reviews to our travel portal.

]]> By: Dominic Sawyer http://dottourism.com/blog/2006/11/15/user-generated-content-and-hotel-review-sites/comment-page-1/#comment-8 Dominic Sawyer Thu, 16 Nov 2006 18:25:49 +0000 http://dottourism.com/blog/2006/11/15/user-generated-content-and-hotel-review-sites/#comment-8 Great points Jen! I agree with a lot of what you say. I'm not a heavy user of hospitality review sites but I did use Trip Advisor to search for hotels during a recent stay in Bristol. In this instance the hotels in my search did have a number of positive user reviews which meant that I did treat them with a smaller pinch of salt. The reviews were one element that did help me, of equal importance was the ability to refine my search, and the accompanying photos, forums and 'goLists'. Although, I do think I'd be more hesitant about relying on recommendations for longer travels further afield! Great points Jen!

I agree with a lot of what you say. I’m not a heavy user of hospitality review sites but I did use Trip Advisor to search for hotels during a recent stay in Bristol. In this instance the hotels in my search did have a number of positive user reviews which meant that I did treat them with a smaller pinch of salt.

The reviews were one element that did help me, of equal importance was the ability to refine my search, and the accompanying photos, forums and ‘goLists’. Although, I do think I’d be more hesitant about relying on recommendations for longer travels further afield!

]]> By: Jen http://dottourism.com/blog/2006/11/15/user-generated-content-and-hotel-review-sites/comment-page-1/#comment-6 Jen Wed, 15 Nov 2006 18:43:25 +0000 http://dottourism.com/blog/2006/11/15/user-generated-content-and-hotel-review-sites/#comment-6 The user generated model was extremely popular when it first emerged, primarily because people were excited to have up-to-the-minute content. It was a big influencer in travel decisions because people always look for 'word of mouth' recommendations and were more likely to try things that they previously hadn't heard about. The problem now is that the internet is flooded with travel content which, for the most part, is irrelevant and unsubstantiated. It's fun to read someone's travel blog, but you rarely get enough information and detail to make informed travel plans. The user-generated sites such as Tripadvisor are now being abused, hotel owners and tour guides are getting on these sites to tout their own places and bash their competition. I've heard too many stories of people choosing the cheaper, more adventurous option they found on a forum, only to arrive at their destination and find they were mis-led. This happened to some friends recently with their holiday to hike the Inca Trail. The online recommendation they received was fraudulent and they were stuck in Cusco for a week without a permit or guide to hike the trail. Further, it's hard to tell whether the person writing a review is someone who you would want to take advice from. For example, if someone whose only travel experience has been a 1-week stay at a low-end all inclusive resort in Mexico recommends a pousada in Brazil to me, I'm not likely to give that recommendation too much weight. I think the inflection point has been hit where people are going to revert to less mass-market options, simply because they don't have time to filter through the information and find what is relevant to them. There are a number of sites that have niche focuses or blogs geared to a specific demographic that highlight relevant areas or service providers of interest to that market. I think these will be the real travel influencers because they can bring the experience directly to their audience through content, video, podcasts, etc. The user generated model was extremely popular when it first emerged, primarily because people were excited to have up-to-the-minute content. It was a big influencer in travel decisions because people always look for ‘word of mouth’ recommendations and were more likely to try things that they previously hadn’t heard about. The problem now is that the internet is flooded with travel content which, for the most part, is irrelevant and unsubstantiated. It’s fun to read someone’s travel blog, but you rarely get enough information and detail to make informed travel plans.

The user-generated sites such as Tripadvisor are now being abused, hotel owners and tour guides are getting on these sites to tout their own places and bash their competition. I’ve heard too many stories of people choosing the cheaper, more adventurous option they found on a forum, only to arrive at their destination and find they were mis-led. This happened to some friends recently with their holiday to hike the Inca Trail. The online recommendation they received was fraudulent and they were stuck in Cusco for a week without a permit or guide to hike the trail. Further, it’s hard to tell whether the person writing a review is someone who you would want to take advice from. For example, if someone whose only travel experience has been a 1-week stay at a low-end all inclusive resort in Mexico recommends a pousada in Brazil to me, I’m not likely to give that recommendation too much weight.

I think the inflection point has been hit where people are going to revert to less mass-market options, simply because they don’t have time to filter through the information and find what is relevant to them. There are a number of sites that have niche focuses or blogs geared to a specific demographic that highlight relevant areas or service providers of interest to that market. I think these will be the real travel influencers because they can bring the experience directly to their audience through content, video, podcasts, etc.

]]>