TripAdvisor Goes on Sale Today

Travel review site TripAdvisor will launch on the Nasdaq stock exchange today with an expected value of around $4bn.

TripAdvisor shares, being traded under the name TRIP, will go on sale at 09:00hrs in New York.

The company, which has websites in 30 countries, is being spun off by parent Expedia.

Expedia has been the largest buyer of advertising on the TripAdvisor website, accounting for as much as 35% of its total revenue, according to a report in today's Financial Times. However, the company expects to attract more business from Expedia's rivals following the sale.

After the spin-off, Expedia will no longer have any ownership interest in TripAdvisor.

By Linsey McNeill

(Source: Travelmole.com - http://www.travelmole.com/news_feature.php?news_id=1150777 )

TripAdvisor makes Nasdaq debut

By Johanna Jainchill

TripAdvisor began trading as an independent public company on Wednesday on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the ticker symbol TRIP, following the completion of its spin-off from Expedia Inc.

To mark the occasion, TripAdvisor co-founder and CEO Stephen Kaufer visited Nasdaq’s headquarters in New York City's Times Square to ring the opening bell.

“This is a truly exciting time for TripAdvisor, and we are eager to continue to innovate on behalf of our users and grow the business as we enter this next chapter,” Kaufer stated on TripAdvisor's blog.

At 11:24 a.m. Eastern, TripAdvisor shares were down about 5.5%, trading at $28.55.

(Source: Travelweekly.com - http://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Technology/TripAdvisor-makes-Nasdaq-debut/ )

TripAdvisor Goes on Sale Today

Ipswich Hotel Guest Review - Metro Hotel Ipswich International

To whom it may concern;

I would like to comment on one of your staff member's costumer service.
Erin, from platform 9 severed us Sunday last week, the 20th of november. We found her polite and enthusiastic. The service was so good compared to other places we have decided to make a visit to platform 9 weekly. When we returned we were greeted with warm smile, and she even remembered our orders.

Customer service like this is now quite rare, and we believe people like Erin should be recongnised.

Thankyou,

Jaunita Johnston

Brisbane Hotel Reviews: How to combat Fake Review Optimization on travel Sites

Unfortunately, a reactive approach to the challenge posed by RFOs (Fake Review optimisation) is not effective. Striking a single astroturfed review or having a single sockpuppet profile deleted is akin to scraping party ice from an iceberg.

The ability to generate faux user generated content at will, with the appearance of having it originate from disparate sources and locales, is difficult to stifle. By nature, FROs are exceptionally good at hiding and one can assume that contingencies have been planned in the event of satellite operations being compromised.

Conventional methods to track FROs like blacklisting reviews originating from common IP address, a technique borrowed from email anti-spam filters, are too simplistic, catching only those least likely to have the ability to launch large scale campaigns capable of materially impacting a hotel’s online reputation.

Circumstantial evidence such as ratios for reviews to the number of occupied rooms or the ratio of frequent reviewers to anonymous reviewers may hint at atypical levels of guest engagement. Additionally, flurries of positive reviews following posting of a negative review may appear unnatural.

Jumping to the conclusion that such flags are evidence of malfeasance is inadvisable. They may indicate a hotel is doing an excellent job of legitimately engaging its community of guests. Or, it just may be a coincidence.

Without being able to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the review source was illegitimate, protests are likely to fall on deaf ears when brought to the attention of the review site or authorities.

Researchers at Cornell University claim to have developed algorithms that isolate fake reviews based on sentence structure and word utilization. While the research methodology identified certain patterns, the sources of the fake reviews were not professional FROs determined to blend in with the crowd.

How to combat Fake Review Optimization on travel Sites

To Post or Not to Post - 'Get it in writing' - Hotel Reviews

It’s a phrase one often hears when guarding against legal action, its also a physical affirmation of something positive or constructive, but when it comes to hoteliers, 'getting it in writing' has a more nuanced meaning.

Ever since the first hotels and temporary lodging facilities arose, hoteliers have had to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of their most valued resource: their customers – especially when it came to the delicate world of written feedback.

But what was once relegated to a quaint leather-bound book on the corner of some concierge desk has expanded exponentially. First came widespread travel publications that would print with equal care both positive and negative reviews.

Today, those efforts seem decidedly quaint as social media and the increasingly ubiquitous nature of mobile and smartphone technology allows current and former guests unparalleled commenting access – without the filter of a publisher. While it’s easy for hoteliers to remain skeptical over such unfettered open access, the benefits of “going social” for hoteliers far outweigh the risks.

The logic behind this embrace is simple. The proverbial Pandora’s box has already been opened. Former and future guests alike are already posting their opinions on sites like Facebook and Twitter about their travel experience, beginning with the initial booking and following through all aspects of the travel cycle including: dreaming, researching, experiencing and sharing.

In addition, user generated content sites like TripAdvisor, and online travel agencies like Expedia and Priceline, among many others, are similarly embracing user comments. If hoteliers are concerned about losing control of their messaging, the best way to track what’s being said about their hotel is by promoting a guest shift from private and independent site postings to include the more controlled public arena of a hotel website or its affiliated Facebook or Twitter page.

Recognizing the inevitability of this trend, a growing number of hotels are already jumping on board. Earlier this month Marriott Hotels announced it would allow guests from several of its locations, (Marriott Marquis in New York and the Marriott Courtyard near Orlando, among others) to post comments about their stay regardless of the quality of their experience. The announcement follows a similar move by Starwood Hotels & Resorts that also began allowing their preferred customers the ability to post comments directly to their website.

To be sure, hotels that choose this route require a firm commitment and necessary web-savvy staffing. In other words, it can’t be done half way. Whether or not Marriott’s open-access approach or Starwood’s more limited approach is best for online guest reviews remains to be seen.

To Post or Not to Post - 'Get it in writing' - Hotel Reviews

Perth Hotel Reviews: Don't like to complain, but ...

AUSTRALIANS love to complain but mostly only to each other, as they make sure they tell as many people as possible about a bad experience with a rude waiter or an unhelpful shop assistant.

· 65% of Aussies always tell about bad service

· 61% have lost temper in restaurants or shops

· 86% have ditched a purchase over bad service

The latest American Express Global Customer Service Barometer, which surveys thousands of people across 10 countries, reveals that Australians are among the most vocal complainers in the world.

Australians tell an average 23 people about bad service compared with the 10 people who will hear about a good service experience. Only Italians and Indians bemoan bad customer service to more people than Australians.

The survey also shows that 65 per cent of Australians said they would always tell people about their bad experience.

But, while Australians are vocal in their criticism after bad customer service, 61 per cent have also lost their temper at a restaurant or in a shop, the research shows, although that figure is still much lower than most other countries.

Perth Hotel Reviews: Don't like to complain, but ...

Metro Hotel Ipswich International - Hotel Guest Reviews

Solo traveller
Sydney, Australia
June 8, 2011

The restaurant was a real suprise - very good

Rating: 7.1
Anonymous
Group of friends
Australia
May 8, 2011

The location and room where excellent and close to the main centre. I would suggest they install a gym as we came to Ipswich to play tennis.

Rubbish removal company came at 3.30am which was unreasonable. The room should be cleaned from corner to corner...notice a few areas needing cleaning.

Rating: 9.2
Anonymous
Family with young children
Australia
March 23, 2011

We really liked that it was close to the CDB and handy, and the thing that really through me was the one way streets..lol

Rating: 5.4
Anonymous
Solo traveller
Australia
March 11, 2011

Dinner meal (pizza) was very ordinary. Hot cooked breakfast was overpriced (appeared on the menu at one price but conditions apparently were that I paid a higher price to include the continental breakfast as well, even though I only wanted the cooked breakfast.

Rating: 6.3
Danielle
Young couple
Eltham, Australia
February 12, 2011

The staff were all really friendly and helpful. The room was beautifully presented and well maintained. The location is fantastic - easy walking distance to everything I needed.

Rating: 9.6
Stephen
Solo traveller
Burwood Heights, Australia
December 10, 2010

Rooms good

Restaurant service was slow. Not enough staff to cater for peak periods (0630 start for breakfast)

Rating: 6.7
Anonymous
Solo traveller
Australia
December 8, 2010

The fittings were new.

The fittings were cheap and nasty.

Rating: 5.8
Michael
Young couple
Vancouver, Canada
December 1, 2010

Clean and comfortable rooms. If you're doing business in Ipswich this is a good hotel but not for vacation.

Location. We were planning to take the train back to the city and it was an hour and half away. Website says its 40 mins away.

Rating: 6.7
Jennifer
Group of friends
Burpengary, Australia
November 21, 2010

Hot bath after two dance workshops

As I am gluten intolerant - I know by the answers in the morning at breakfast that the Chef did not really understand the problems envolving gluten in food and possible causes. As I had booked two weeks previously I did expect to be offered toast made from gluten free bread

Rating: 7.9
Khalid
Solo traveller
Southport, Australia
November 11, 2010

The services were very good. I was tired so I over slept and was perfect.

Car Parking is not locked, so there chance to get stolen.

Rating: 8.3
Christine
Mature couple
Emerald Beach, Australia
September 4, 2010

The ease of parking and the facilities on site which gave you no reason to eat and drink else where

Thin walls you could hear motor noises from ? aircon. and waterpipe noises from other bathrooms

Rating: 7.5
Merv
Solo traveller
Frankston, Victoria, Australia
August 24, 2010

The restaurant is superb, great meals ans excellent staff.

Not very responsive to customer problems, did not fix lack of room heating for my 7 night stay. Quite cold for early morning starts for work.

Rating: 9.2
Toni
Young couple
Hatton Vale, Australia
August 20, 2010

It was convenient and reasonably priced

Rating: 7.5
Mark
Young couple
Ipswich, Australia
August 16, 2010

i loved the restaurant

Rating: 9.6
Judith
Family with young children
Old Bar, Australia
August 10, 2010

everything!

Rating: 8.8
Anonymous
Family with young children
Australia
June 30, 2010

Hotel staff were exceptionally lovely, perfect stay for my family whilst in Ipswich for the kids sport.

Rating: 10
Anonymous
Mature couple
Australia
May 29, 2010

Very handy for concert at Civic Centre.

Rating: 7.5
Dianne
Family with young children
Hervey Bay, Australia
December 14, 2010

The bed was comfortable.

My room smelt like old shoes.dvd did not work.air con did not work.no hand rails when getting in and out of the shower.very dusty room as if the cleaners had not enter in weeks.Also dinner trays left near the door of the lifts from the saturday till I checked out Sunday.

Rating: 5
Anonymous
Solo traveller
France
June 28, 2010

Personnel accueillant et disponible à toute question. Hôtel calme et silencieux.

Reviews taken from bookings.com