Skip to main content

User-Generated Content and Travel: A Case Study on Tripadvisor.Com

  • Conference paper
Information and Communication Technologies in Tourism 2008

Abstract

Consumer generated content is rapidly gaining traction as part of the purchase decision making process. After examining the implications for travel businesses, this paper focuses on TripAdvisor.com, the largest online network of travel consumers to establish its current practices and challenges. Using a sample of London hotels, it was shown that the system displays detailed, rich and relevant data for use by consumers in their travel planning. Analyses also suggest that the belief that the system is compromised by false reviews posted to enhance a hotels reputation or tarnish that of competitors is unfounded. Little evidence was found of characteristics that typify false reviews.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Amis, R (2007) You can’t ignore social media: How to measure Internet efforts to your organisation’s best advantage, Tactics, May, p 10.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bellman, S, Johnson, E Lohse, G and Mandel, N (2006) Designing marketplaces of the artificial with consumers in mind: Four Appproaches to understanding consumer behaviour in electronic environments, Journal of Interactive Marketing, 20(1), pp 21–33.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carroll, J and Rosson, M (2003) A Trajectory for Community Networks, The Information Society, 19, pp 381–393.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • comScore Media Metrix (2007) Digital Calculator Report, July.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dearstyne, B (2007), Blogs! Mashups and Wikis: Oh, My! Information Management Journal, July / August, pp 25–33.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dellarocas, C (2003) The digitization of word-of-mouth: Promise and challenges of online feedback mechanisms. Management Science, 49(10), pp 1407–1424.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ellis-Green, C (2007) The Travel Marketer’s Guide to Social Media and Social Networking. Hotel Sales and Marketing Association International, McLean, VA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gretzel, U, Hyan-Yoo, K and Purifoy, M (2007) Online Travel Review Study: The role and impact of online travel reviews, Laboratory for Intelligent Systems in Tourism, College Station.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harwood, S (2007) Travellers trust user reviews over travel agent content, Revolution UK, p 1.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hennig-Thurau, T, Gwinner, K, Walsh, G and Gremler, D (2004) Electronic word of mouth via consumer-opinion platforms: What motivates consumers to articulate themselves on the Internet?, Journal of Interactive Marketing, 18(1), pp 38–52.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Keates, N (2007) Deconstructing TripAdvisor, Wall Street Journal, 1 June, p 4.

    Google Scholar 

  • Looker, A, Rockland, D & Taylor-Ketchum (2007) Media myths and realities: A study of 2006 media usage in America. Tactics, June, pp 10, 21–22.

    Google Scholar 

  • Milan, R (2007) 10 things you can do in response to traveler reviews. http://www.hotelmarketing.com/index.php/content/article/070920_10_things_you_can_do_in_response_to_traveler_reviews/ (Accessed 22/9/07)

    Google Scholar 

  • Mintel (2007) International Hotel Report, Mintel International, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pew Internet and American Life project (2005), Internet Evolution, Pew Research Centre (Access online at http://www.pewinternet.org/PPF/r/148/report_displav.asp) (Accessed 18/8/07)

    Google Scholar 

  • Puri, A (2007) The web of insights: The art and practice of webnography, International Journal of Market Research, 49(3), pp387–208.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reiter, C (2007) Travel Web sites clamp down on bogus reviews. International Herald Tribune, 16/2/2007, p 12.

    Google Scholar 

  • Richins, M & Root-Shaffer, T (1988), The role of involvement and opinion leadership in consumer word-of-mouth. Advances in Consumer Research, 15, 32–36.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schipul, E (2006) The Web’s next generation: Web 2.0. Tactics, March, p 23.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, R (1993) Integrating information from advertising and trial: Processes and effects on consumer response to product information. Journal of Marketing Research, 30, pp 204–219.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith, D, Menon, S and Sivakumar, K (2007) Online peer and editorial recommendations, trust and choice in virtual markets. Journal of Interactive Marketing, 19(3) pp 15–37.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Travel Weekly (2007) Internet’s Share of Travel Business Continues to Rise, July 23.

    Google Scholar 

  • TripAdvisor.com (2007) TripAdvisor Fact Sheet, http://www.tripadvisor.com/PressCenter-e4-Fact_Sheet.html (accessed 1/9/07).

    Google Scholar 

  • Valkenburg, P, Peter, J and Schouten, A (2006) Friends network sites and their relationship to adolescents’ well-being and social self-esteem, Cyberpsychology & Behaviour, 9(5), pp 584–590.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2008 Springer-Verlag Wien

About this paper

Cite this paper

O’Connor, P. (2008). User-Generated Content and Travel: A Case Study on Tripadvisor.Com. In: O’Connor, P., Höpken, W., Gretzel, U. (eds) Information and Communication Technologies in Tourism 2008. Springer, Vienna. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-211-77280-5_5

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-211-77280-5_5

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Vienna

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-211-77279-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-211-77280-5

Publish with us

Policies and ethics