Articles tagged “reviews”

You can only lean on a decades-long history for so long. In the new frontier of restaurant reviews, recommendations from social circles are winning the day.

Amid all the song and dance described here, professional critics have to work even harder to discern the everyday diner experience from a show put on solely for a critic's benefit.

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.

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.

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.

Translation: Show them you care, but don't go overboard.

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.

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.

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.

No one -- not even TripAdvisor -- argues that all its user reviews are legitimate but the service still provides invaluable information for travelers scoping out hotels. Many global chains understand this, although the Italian hospitality association and regulators haven't received the memo.