Dennis Schaal, Skift
Many Airbnb hosts of the mom-and-pop variety — yes, there are a few left — feel aggrieved when they welcome guests into their homes and have to bear the consequences of hostile reviews penned with the worst intentions. Airbnb is trying to tip the balance back toward hosts — and is probably making neither party totally happy.
6 months ago
Dennis Schaal, Skift
If you think protest is futile, then you're wrong. Petitioners didn't think TripAdvisor went far enough to promote traveler safety, and they got the travel website to take stock of itself and make additional reforms.
12 months ago
Associated Press
Normally we'd say this is a typical congressional letter to a regulator that will come to nothing. After all, TripAdvisor has already started placing notifications above hotel listings where there are allegations of rampant crime. However, this is Trump's Federal Trade Commission, the one that will likely gut net neutrality rules. So all bets are off.
3 years ago
Associated Press
TripAdvisor let down its users when it deleted reviews about rape allegations, although there has to be a balance between allegations and verified facts. We look forward to seeing TripAdvisor appending online badges next to hotels that are prone to violence and discrimination.
3 years ago
Sean O'Neill, Skift
Today Expedia's computers are analyzing guest reviews. We predict that someday its computers will use the reviews to create software-generated, Zagat-style hotel summaries, for its search results.
3 years ago
Martin Soler and Daniel E. Craig, Skift
Google has fought and annoyed TripAdvisor and Yelp for years when it comes to user reviews. The search giant obviously has the scale to compete and is now putting new emphasis on its own user reviews, but it has to prove it has the focus to upend the review balance of power.
3 years ago
Dennis Schaal, Skift
Lots of consumers start their trip-planning with flights. Expedia will use its customer reviews of flights to spur more flight bookings but the company is also focusing on up-selling and facilitating smooth navigation to hotel and vacation-package options.
4 years ago
Dennis Schaal, Skift
Expedia is finally poised -- and its technology investments confirm it -- to give TripAdvisor's Viator a run for its money in tours and activities. It's an uphill climb but with mobile coming into its own, the decision is a no-brainer.
5 years ago
Dan Peltier, Skift
While a five-star rating still signals that a property has class, it's not always sufficient in making clear what guests can expect beyond the high-quality service and amenities.
5 years ago
Dennis Schaal, Skift
Would adding verified reviews to TripAdvisor detract from the perceived value of reviews that aren't overtly tied to transactions? Not necessarily. A hybrid system could work but TripAdvisor isn't going there for now.
5 years ago
Rafat Ali, Skift
A fascinating peek into how user reviews get changed in a sharing economy platform site like Airbnb, but this paper leaves the possibility of tons more research that could be done from here.
5 years ago
Dennis Schaal, Skift
It is interesting that Expedia touts the new feedback tool for hoteliers as a way to discourage negative reviews instead of as a means for improving customer service. There is something wrong with the juxtaposition.
5 years ago
