TripAdvisor, a travel information website featuring customer reviews and opinions, has launched a new review collection service to assist tourism-related businesses in obtaining reviews.
Review Express is a free facility that enables businesses to send a customised e-mail simultaneously to a large number of their recent customers, requesting them to post a review of their visit. TripAdvisor claims that the importance of reviews to businesses cannot be underestimated, as figures compiled by its own statistical format, TripBarometer, show that 87 percent of travellers worldwide said that they use review sites when planning a trip, and 95 percent say that they are influenced in their decision-making by the reviews of others.
The new format is intended as a tool for restaurants, hotels, guesthouses, attractions and all other travel businesses that welcome guests directly to help build their reputation on TripAdvisor by quickly gaining reviews. It also provides the consumer with easy access to the review process, as the e-mail that they receive from the business in question has a ‘Write a Review’ link direct to the TrpAdvisor website.
Severine Philardeau, vice president of global partnerships for TripAdvisor, was quoted by Breaking Travel News, saying, ‘This is a time-saver for owners, providing them with a powerful system to manage multiple emails and requests at no cost to the business. Review Express has been developed and enhanced based on extensive user testing and is an invaluable service for hospitality business owners looking to build their online reputation. When used in conjunction with our free display offerings for owners, Review Express provides a great online marketing package for small and independent hospitality business owners to capture the value of user reviews for their property.’
