May 30
TripAdvisor’s Certificate of Excellence Awards have created quite a buzz on the web and social networks! Thanks to all winners who have shared the news on sites such as Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, their business’ blogs and news wires!
Here’s a sample of just a few of the ways people have shared the news:
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We are excited to announce the 2012 Certificate of Excellence Awards, given to highly rated hotels, restaurants and attractions around the world.
“From exceptional accommodations in Beijing to remarkable restaurants in Boston, we want to applaud these businesses for offering TripAdvisor travelers a great customer experience,” says Christine Petersen, president of TripAdvisor for Business.
The winners are determined by those who matter the most – your guests. The key to winning the award is consistently excellent service: properties had to maintain an overall ranking on TripAdvisor of four out of five. The volume of reviews in the past 12 months was also a determining factor.
Yes. The Certificate of Excellence Award is an extension of Travelers’ Choice. While Travelers’ Choice recognizes the top 25 properties or destinations in different categories and geographical locations, the Certificate of Excellence award focuses on hotels, restaurants and attractions that provide exceptional customer service and consistently receive positive reviews from their guests.
In addition to receiving the certificate in the mail, winners will receive an e-mail notifying them that they have won the award. A 2012 Certificate of Excellence widget will also appear in the Management Center under the “Online Marketing tools” section.
Congrats to all of the winners! Check back here tomorrow for tips on how to promote your Certificate of Excellence Award!
TripAdvisor’s Popularity Index is based on traveler feedback and reflects how your property ranks compared to your competitors. If you’re a business owner, it’s important to know what factors impact your popularity ranking. One of the questions we often receive is whether management responses are part of the equation.
The Popularity Index is primarily based on three key components: quantity, quality and recency of reviews written about the property. Management responses are not factored into popularity rankings.
However, research shows that when an owner responds promptly and professionally to a review, addressing any specific complaints as well as the positive comments, it can make a big impact on prospective customers. Our surveys show that 78% of travelers say that a management response to a good review makes them think highly of the hotel and when considering two comparable properties, 68% would choose the property with management responses.1 So while responding to reviews doesn’t impact your ranking, it does make a strong impression on travelers when it comes time to book.
Find out about some of the best practices in responding to traveler reviews here.
For more information about TripAdvisor’s Popularity Index, check out the Pop Index Overview and read our previous post on “How to improve your popularity ranking on TripAdvisor.”
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¹ “TripAdvisor Custom Online Survey 2010”, conducted by Forrester Consulting, commissioned by TripAdvisor
What is the popularity index ranking on TripAdvisor, where does it come from, and how does it influence travelers during the decision-making process? Discover the answer to the most common questions we receive from properties around the globe Thursday at 2 p.m. EST.
In this presentation, we’ll discuss:
Have any specific questions about your popularity ranking? There will be a 15-minute Q&A after the 35-minute presentation.
Click here to register for the “Popularity Explained” webinar.
Apr 23
The TripAdvisor Popularity Index is based on traveler feedback and reflects how a property ranks compared to competitors within a geographic area. The closer you are to the top of the list, the more likely it is that travelers will see your listing when they search for properties in the area. In addition, research shows that travelers are drawn to places that are highly praised by other travelers.
Our popularity ranking algorithm is based on three key components: quantity, quality and recency of reviews written about the property.
All reviews must be authentic opinions of real travelers. We take content integrity very seriously and screen every review. If you are caught breaking our guidelines, it can take a big hit on your popularity ranking. Please review the guidelines to learn more.
The key to building a successful business and a higher popularity ranking is stellar hospitality and paying attention to your customers needs. Encourage customers to write reviews, learn from them and watch your hard work pay off.
If your business is listed on TripAdvisor, it is important for you to understand our incentives policy. While we encourage you to ask guests to write reviews, giving out incentives in exchange for reviews is against TripAdvisor’s policy.
Incentives are rewards or preferential treatment given in exchange for reviews. This can be in the form of drawings, raffles, discounts, special treatment (i.e. upgrades, coupons, free amenities, gifts), etc. We strictly prohibit incentives because they can impact the legitimacy of reviews; guests who receive incentives may be more likely to write reviews that don’t match their true experience.
TripAdvisor penalizes properties that offer incentives. All reviews in question are removed and further penalties, which range from a warning to a red badge on your property page, are given out on a case-by-case basis.
There are many acceptable ways to encourage reviews. To begin simply ask! Showing that you appreciate your guests’ feedback can go a long way.
For on and off-line tools to help remind guests, look no further than the Management Center. You can add widgets to your website or Facebook page, hand out reminder cards and much more!
Log in to your Management Center to access all of these helpful tools, and to contact TripAdvisor if you have any questions regarding incentives.
To read more about our incentives policy, see this guide.
We’ve seen more and more evidence that hotels are starting to pay attention to the mobile lifestyle of today’s travelers. And now one brand is taking new leaps into the digital world, with innovations aimed at making it easier to choose and book a hotel room. The first brand to ever do so, La Quinta now allows you to hold a hotel room reservation via your smartphone…using only your telephone number. No other identifying information is initially required. The room will hold for up to four hours, during which period – whenever you choose – you can enter credit card information to confirm your stay.
The new mobile site also integrates TripAdvisor reviews for its hotels, letting travelers browse comments and ratings before booking. This makes La Quinta the first hotel brand to ever add TripAdvisor reviews directly to its mobile site. According to USA Today, these features will also be added to La Quinta’s regular website in the next few months.
La Quinta introduces this “Instant Hold” technology and other new mobile features here:
We’ll be watching for what other on-the-go travel innovations emerge this year for savvy travelers.
The owners and managers of four Caribbean properties recently sat down to tell us how they use TripAdvisor as a tool for their business – from marketing their accommodations to staying current with the needs of guests. Representatives from each weighed in on making TripAdvisor reviews work for them, sharing customer feedback with staff, and the role of TripAdvisor Business Listings. All very popular with travelers, these establishments were also the recipients of 2012 Travelers’ Choice Awards. In the following video, hear from the management of these four properties – Hermitage Bay, Nisbet Plantation Beach Club, East Winds Inn, and The Cove Atlantis – and gain insight into their success.
TripAdvisor’s Industry Index 2012 survey results were released today in the UK, U.S., Spain, Italy and France. The Industry Index survey is one of the world’s largest hotel business surveys incorporating responses from more than 9000 accommodation owners and managers from around the world, of which 1,100 were from the UK.
The Index gauges the industry’s outlook for the year ahead. From the survey results, we discovered that:
UK accommodation owners were less optimistic about the general economy with only 19% of respondents believing the economy will improve in 2012, with 65% of respondents stating that concerns about the economy have influenced financial planning for 2012.
In addition, less than 50% of the UK’s hospitality industry plans to engage with travellers using mobile devices in 2012, one of this year’s emerging travel marketing trends, putting them behind the global response of 53%.
“The TripAdvisor Industry Index reveals scepticism among UK accommodation owners. Despite being one of the most profitable regions in 2011, they are cautious with their business plans for 2012 due to concerns over the country’s economic recovery,” said Christine Petersen, president of TripAdvisor for Business.
See the coverage of this on Tnooz, Caterer and Hotelkeeper and MSN Money.
For more data from the TripAdvisor Industry Index, please download the report here.
TripAdvisor’s Industry Index 2012 survey results were released today in the UK, U.S., Spain, Italy and France. The Industry Index survey is one of the world’s largest hotel business surveys incorporating responses from more than 9000 accommodation owners and managers from around the world, of which 1,276 were from the U.S.
The Index gauges the industry’s outlook for the year ahead. Among the survey’s key findings, we have discovered that:
In addition, the TripAdvisor Industry Index also reveals the hospitality industry’s top trends, ranging from hotel representatives’ economic outlook and plans to engage travelers using mobile devices to property investments and the top deals hoteliers plan to offer their guests.
“The TripAdvisor Industry Index reveals an economic optimism among U.S. accommodation owners which reflects data showing one-third of U.S. travelers are planning to increase travel spending in 2012***,” said Christine Petersen, president of TripAdvisor for Business.
For more data from the TripAdvisor Industry Index, please download the report here.
