TripAdvisor is one of the most popular online travel platforms, and it provides a wealth of benefits to hotels. As per the is statista.com, TripAdvisor is the second most visited travel and tourism website worldwide as of 2023. It has 169 million website visits as per the statista.com. Looking at the benefits of TripAdvisor for Hotels, it will be clear how much it is important to list hotels on Tripadvisor.
It not only provides a platform for hotels to showcase their unique offerings, but it also provides potential customers with invaluable insight into their experience. From detailed reviews and ratings to real-time booking options, TripAdvisor offers comprehensive tools to help hotels increase their visibility and drive more bookings.
Here we’ll explore the benefits of TripAdvisor for hotels, from boosting their online presence to driving more direct bookings. With an expansive platform for showcasing destination offerings, TripAdvisor is an invaluable resource for hotels worldwide. By leveraging the powerful features available on the platform, hotels can create an engaging experience that encourages more direct bookings and builds customer loyalty.
In addition to helpful reviews and ratings, TripAdvisor also offers targeted advertising options for hotels to reach new customers. With its wide reach and vast features, TripAdvisor is an invaluable resource for hotels looking to maximize their booking potential.
Why It Is Necessary For Hotels to Have a Listing on TripAdvisor?
Having a listing on TripAdvisor is necessary for hotels for several important reasons:
Increased Visibility:
TripAdvisor is one of the largest travel platforms globally, with a vast user base actively searching for hotels and accommodations. By having a listing on TripAdvisor, hotels can significantly increase their visibility and reach a wider audience of potential guests. This exposure can lead to more bookings and ultimately boost revenue.
Trust and Credibility:
TripAdvisor has established itself as a trusted source of travel information and user reviews. Travellers often rely on reviews and ratings when making decisions about where to stay. Having a presence on TripAdvisor allows hotels to showcase their offerings, receive genuine guest reviews, and build credibility among potential guests.
Influential Platform:
TripAdvisor’s influence in the travel industry cannot be underestimated. It consistently ranks highly in search engine results, making it a go-to platform for travellers researching and planning their trips. By being listed on TripAdvisor, hotels gain access to this influential platform and increase their chances of being discovered by travellers who rely on TripAdvisor’s recommendations.
Guest Feedback and Reputation Management:
TripAdvisor provides a platform for guests to leave reviews and ratings of their hotel experiences. While negative reviews can be challenging, they also present an opportunity for hotels to address guest concerns and improve their offerings. By actively managing their presence on TripAdvisor, hotels can respond to reviews, demonstrate their commitment to guest satisfaction, and potentially turn negative experiences into positive ones.
Competitive Advantage:
In a highly competitive industry, having a strong presence on TripAdvisor can give hotels a competitive edge. Positive reviews, high ratings, and favourable rankings can distinguish a hotel from its competitors and attract more bookings. Travellers often compare hotels on TripAdvisor, and having a well-maintained listing can make a significant difference in their decision-making process.
Marketing and Promotional Opportunities:
TripAdvisor offers hotels various marketing and promotional features, such as sponsored placements and advertisements, which can enhance visibility and drive more traffic to their listing. These paid advertising options allow hotels to target specific audiences and increase their chances of being noticed by potential guests.
Having a listing on TripAdvisor is necessary for hotels to increase their visibility, build trust and credibility, benefit from an influential platform, manage their reputation, gain a competitive advantage, and access marketing opportunities. Embracing TripAdvisor as part of its digital marketing strategy can significantly impact a hotel’s online presence, guest bookings, and overall success in the highly competitive hospitality industry. These are a few benefits of TripAdvisor for hotels, must have helped you to understand why listing on the TripAdvisor platform is necessary.
Step To Create a New or Claim Your Free Tripadvisor Listing:
Step 1: Visit the TripAdvisor homepage and scroll to the bottom of the page.
(Click on the “List your property” link)
Step 2: Choose the type of business you want to list, such as a hotel, restaurant, or attraction.
Step 3: Enter your business name, location, and other relevant details.
Ensure that this information is accurate and current. Because TripAdvisor will send an email to this address once the listing has been published.
Step 4: If your business already has a listing on TripAdvisor, claim it by clicking on the “Claim Your Business” button and following the prompts.
Step 5: If your business is not yet listed, create a new listing by filling out the necessary information and agreeing to the terms of service.
Verify your account by following the instructions provided by TripAdvisor.
Step 6: Customize your listing by adding photos, descriptions, and other property-relevant information.
Property Description –
Describe the property precisely, as it helps users learn more. It must be written in the native tongue and should not contain HTML code, contact details, or words written in all caps.
Add Photos:
Add the most attractive business profile photo as it will be displayed on the listing. Make sure your first impression is strong on users. Add more photos and videos to bring better engagement.
Property Details:
- Total No of rooms
- Amenities included
- Price range
- Hygiene and sanitation standards
- Front desk assistance details
- Safety and Security
Step 7: Once your listing is live, respond to reviews and engage with customers to build your reputation on TripAdvisor.
Popularity ranking is based on three main factors at TripAdvisor:
- Quality of review: To gain more popularity it is necessary to have positive reviews and ratings.
- Quantity of review: More positive reviews will help you gain a higher ranking. So, encourage guests to write reviews as it is better for your popularity ranking.
- Latest reviews: Every new review and rating carries more weight to improve ranking. Also, it helps to build confidence faster in customers’ minds. So make sure you encourage every guest to share their feedback.
Step 8: Keep your listing up to date with accurate information and promotions to attract more customers.
How to Make More Bookings From TripAdvisor?
Driving more bookings from TripAdvisor requires a strategic approach to ensure that your hotel’s listing stands out from the competition and encourages potential guests to book with you. Here are some tips on how to drive more bookings from TripAdvisor:
1. Optimize your listing:
Make sure your hotel’s listing on TripAdvisor is complete, accurate, and optimized with high-quality photos, detailed descriptions, and up-to-date pricing and availability information. Use keywords that potential guests might use in their search queries to improve your listing’s visibility in search results.
Search results pages are a great way for travellers to sort through all of the different places to stay and find the best one for them. This helps users to choose their destination or narrow it down or shortlist hotels for consideration.
The Most popular pages that users might end up on:
- Best Value for Money – The properties are ranked considering their offerings, reviews, ratings, location, popularity, user preference, and prices.
- SEO Ranking – Hotels are ranked on the basis of quality, quantity, and the latest traveller reviews. Search-optimized pages help tourists find what they are looking for, both on TripAdvisor and on other search engines.
- Pricing – You can even find that travellers add filters (lowest to highest) more frequently to find the best accommodation on a budget. So, setting the right price is a crucial task.
- Distance – Even people search the property by location preference. The closest hotel will be the most preferable for the traveller. So, ranking the hotel by location wise is important.
Thus, your objective is to get recognized on any one of these pages that is relevant to the type of property you own. This helps you generate more customers and increase revenue.
2. Encourage Reviews:
Encourage guests to leave reviews on TripAdvisor by including a link to your hotel’s listing in post-stay emails, on your website, and in any marketing materials you distribute. Positive reviews can help attract more bookings and improve your hotel’s reputation on the platform. You can also consider offering incentives, such as discounts or free amenities, for leaving a review.
Even you can make use of the TripAdvisor review express program for free to collect reviews through email. It is one of the easy ways for hotels to invite guests to submit reviews. And by distributing custom reminder cards at the checkout or at the end of the meal, to write a review without failure. Most of the hotels hang flyers at the point of checkout, lobby, or most crowded area to make effortless reminders for guests as they pass.
3. Respond to Reviews:
Responding to reviews, both positive and negative, can show potential guests that you value their feedback and are committed to providing excellent service. This can help build trust and encourage more bookings. Make sure to respond promptly and professionally to all reviews, thanking guests for positive feedback and addressing any concerns or issues mentioned in negative reviews.
The fact is that the customers who feel that a business cares enough to reply to their feedback are more likely to continue visiting the hotel.
4. Use TripAdvisor’s Booking Tools:
Take advantage of TripAdvisor’s booking tools, such as Instant Booking or Sponsored Placements, to make it easier for potential guests to book with your hotel directly from your TripAdvisor listing. This can increase the likelihood of bookings by streamlining the booking process for potential guests.
5. Offer Promotions and Incentives:
Consider offering special promotions or incentives, such as discounts, free amenities, or package deals, to entice potential guests to book with your hotel. Make sure to highlight these offers prominently on your TripAdvisor listing and other marketing materials. This can help your hotel stand out from competitors and increase bookings.
6. Use Analytics:
Use TripAdvisor’s analytics tools to track your hotel’s performance on the platform and make data-driven decisions about pricing, promotions, and other factors that can affect your bookings. This can help you optimize your listing and increase the effectiveness of your marketing efforts on the platform.
7. Monitor Your Competitors:
Keep an eye on your competitors’ listings and pricing on TripAdvisor to ensure that your hotel is competitive and offers the best value for potential guests. This can help you adjust your pricing and promotions to attract more bookings and stay ahead of the competition.
8. Respond to Inquiries:
Responding promptly and professionally to inquiries and questions on your TripAdvisor listing can help build trust with potential guests and encourage bookings. Make sure to monitor your listing regularly and respond to inquiries in a timely manner.
9. Offer a Unique Experience:
Offering a unique experience or theme can help your hotel stand out on TripAdvisor and attract more bookings. Consider offering themed rooms or packages, or highlighting unique amenities or features that set your hotel apart from competitors.
10. Add TripAdvisor Widgets:
Free widgets from TripAdvisor can help you display ratings and snippets of recent reviews at TripAdvisor. Also, you can even encourage customers to provide reviews on the website.
11. Join Different TripAdvisor Programs:
You can join different programs offered by TripAdvisor to showcase the best of your property.
TripAdvisor Instant Booking Program –
The TripAdvisor Instant Booking Program is a service offered by TripAdvisor that allows users to book hotels directly through the TripAdvisor website or app, without having to visit the hotel’s website.
When a user searches for a hotel on TripAdvisor, they will see a “Book on TripAdvisor” button next to the hotel’s listing. Clicking on this button allows the user to book a room at the hotel directly through TripAdvisor, using a booking system that is integrated with the hotel’s own reservation system.
The Instant Booking Program benefits both users and hotels. For users, it provides a convenient and streamlined booking experience, with the ability to compare prices and read reviews all in one place. For hotels, it provides access to a large and engaged audience, as well as a way to drive more direct bookings and reduce reliance on third-party booking sites.
Hotels that participate in the Instant Booking Program pay a commission to TripAdvisor for each booking made through the platform. The commission rate varies depending on the hotel’s size, location, and other factors.
1. TripAdvisor Affiliate Program –
The TripAdvisor Affiliate Program can be helpful for hotels in several ways:
- Increased visibility: When hotels partner with the TripAdvisor Affiliate Program, they can reach a wider audience by promoting their products on third-party websites. This can increase their visibility and potentially lead to more bookings.
- Access to new customers: The Affiliate Program allows hotels to reach new customers who may not have otherwise found them. Affiliates can promote hotels to their own audiences, which may include travellers who have never heard of the hotel before.
- Cost-effective marketing: The Affiliate Program provides a cost-effective way for hotels to market themselves. Rather than spending money on traditional advertising, hotels can partner with affiliates and only pay a commission when a booking is made.
- Increased direct bookings: By participating in the Affiliate Program, hotels can encourage more direct bookings through their own website. Affiliates can link directly to the hotel’s booking engine, which can increase the likelihood of a traveller booking directly with the hotel.
- Access to data and insights: The Affiliate Program provides hotels with access to data and insights about their bookings and customer behaviour. This information can be used to make informed decisions about marketing strategies and product offerings.
Overall, the TripAdvisor Affiliate Program can be a valuable tool for hotels looking to increase their visibility, reach new customers, and drive more bookings.
2. Sponsored Placements Campaign –
The TripAdvisor Sponsored Placements Campaign is an advertising program that allows hotels to promote their properties on TripAdvisor to a targeted audience of travellers. Sponsored Placements appear at the top of relevant search results and in other prominent locations on the TripAdvisor website and app.
To participate in the Sponsored Placements Campaign, hotels create an advertising campaign with a daily budget and bid on a cost-per-click (CPC) basis for placement in search results. The hotels can target their ads to specific types of travellers based on their location, travel dates, and other criteria.
When a traveller clicks on a Sponsored Placement, they are directed to the hotel’s TripAdvisor listing or website, where they can learn more about the property and book a stay. Hotels are only charged for the clicks they receive, making Sponsored Placements a cost-effective form of advertising.
The Sponsored Placements Campaign is helpful for hotels in several ways. First, it increases a hotel’s visibility on TripAdvisor, helping them stand out among competitors and increasing the likelihood of its property being seen by travellers. Second, it allows hotels to target specific types of travellers based on their location, travel dates, and other criteria, which can increase the likelihood of a booking. Finally, it provides a cost-effective form of advertising, as hotels only pay when a traveller clicks on their ad.
Conclusion – Benefits of TripAdvisor For Hotels
TripAdvisor offers a range of benefits for hotels. By listing their properties on the platform, hotels can increase their visibility, reach new customers, and generate more bookings. Through features like the Instant Booking Program, Sponsored Placements Campaign, and Affiliate Program, hotels can access cost-effective marketing tools and targeted advertising options.
TripAdvisor also provides hotels with valuable data and insights that can inform their marketing strategies and improve their products and services. Overall, TripAdvisor can be a valuable partner for hotels looking to grow their business and succeed in the competitive travel industry.
FAQs – Benefits of TripAdvisor For Hotels
Here are some frequently asked questions about the benefits of TripAdvisor for hotels:
TripAdvisor can increase your hotel’s visibility and reach new customers through features like the Instant Booking Program and Sponsored Placements Campaign.
Listing your hotel on TripAdvisor is free, but some features like the Instant Booking Program and Sponsored Placements Campaign have associated costs.
Yes, TripAdvisor provides hotels with valuable data and insights that can inform their marketing strategies and improve their products and services.
The TripAdvisor Affiliate Program allows hotels to partner with affiliates who promote their properties to their own audiences, potentially leading to more bookings.
Whether TripAdvisor Plus is worth it or not depends on a hotel’s specific needs and marketing strategy. For hotels that are looking to increase their visibility and reach new customers, TripAdvisor Plus can be a valuable tool. However, hotels should carefully evaluate the costs and benefits of the program before making a decision. Overall, considering the benefits of TripAdvisor for hotels, I can say that it is worth it for the hospitality industry.