Tripadvisor launches officially in India, quietly in Japan

As we revealed in May, Tripadvisor is setting its sights on the Far East and the Indian subcontinent.

A few months earlier than expected, but the world's biggest hotel review site has unveiled its Indian site today, tripadvisor.in.

A good move for the Expedia-owned site, of course, although one wonders why India was chosen first rather than China, given the enormous attention the 2008 Olympic host is currently getting.

Anyway, Tripadvisor.cn still blank.

But check out the flags at the bottom of a number of the Tripadvisor country site homepages and you'll notice that Tripadvisor Japan is also up and running in Beta.

Global domination beckons...

Kevin May, editor, Travolution

Technorati tags: tripadvisor expedia india china beijing olympic games 2008

Tripadvisor and Kayak may read the same books

What a remarkable coincidence.

Press release from Tripadvisor today, about the Top 10 Literary Destinations around the world.

Post on the Kayak blog today, about the Top 5 Literary Destinations around the world.

Well fancy that...

Kevin May, editor, Travolution

More on the Expedia-Tripadvisor referral saga

There are some issues that just seem fire people up.

Take yesterday’s story leading our enews bulletin, revealing some detail of the Expedia-Tripadvisor partnership.

We found some data via Compete.com which showed how much Expedia benefits from upstream clicks from hotel search pages on its sister user review site in the US.

It captures 48% of these valuable leads. Accommodation aggregator Hotels.com, which is also part of the Expedia Inc empire, grabbed a further 11% of clicks.

This means that almost three out of five of all outbound ad clicks from Tripadvisor on the US site go to one of its sister companies.

We eventually managed to get a comment from Tripadvisor, but only confirming Expedia is “one of its biggest” advertisers.

This may well be PR sleight of hand as one could surmise that Expedia, according to the Compete figures, is clearly the biggest advertiser on Tripadvisor if most of the outbound clicks go to its site.

So to summarise some of the correspondence we received yesterday after publishing the story:

What must the others, who should surely be known as “some of the other biggest advertisers” on Tripadvisor, think about Expedia’s dominance of the outbound clicks?

If Expedia is only “one of the biggest”, are its ad copy-writing skills that much better than its big spending rivals to the extent that it can lure users away from clicking on other ads? [Tongue firmly planted in cheek, one suspects, with this one]

There were also plenty of comments about whether Expedia’s outbound click share correlates to the share of ad revenue on Tripadvisor from Expedia – an topic area Tripadvisor would not discuss yesterday.

All food for thought, though…

NB: More on the Compete blog.

Kevin May, editor, Travolution

Technorati tags: expedia tripadvisor user review

TripAdvisor spending more money - but now involved in search

There appears to be no stopping TripAdvisor's Steve Kaufer and co with their desire to buy as many "travel media" properties as possible.

The Expedia-owned company has bought two further sites, VirtualTourist and OneTime, both for undisclosed fees.

The addition of the pair to the TripAdvisor Media Network will give the user review firm an impressive 32 million unique visitors a month.

Of the two acquisitions, OneTime is probably the most interesting. It is essentially a travel search site which allows users to find deals across a number of OTAs (Expedia, Orbitz, Travelocity) and meta search engines (Kayak, SkyScanner).

Previously TripAdvisor and its string of community sites were all primarily concentrated on producing or sharing content, much of it user-generated, but with OneTime it has reasonably discreetly added decent travel search to its armoury.

Kevin May, editor, Travolution

Technorati tags: tripadvisor virtualtourist onetime travel search meta search

Resilient Brits still spending

There's quite a few of these surveys around at the moment all showing the impact of (or lack 0f) credit crunch and rising prices on Britain's holidaymakers.

Tripadvisor's annual summer survey is no exception although it does compare Britons with other travellers worldwide.

Here are the headline findings:

21% of Britons said the high price of fuel would affect their plans compared to 41% of travellers globally.

21% said they would take fewer car trips to save on fuel compared to 31% of all travellers - (clearly the survey was carried out before the lorry drivers' strike).

Meanwhile, the weakening of the pound against the Euro will push travellers to seek out cheaper accommodation or travel to destinations not adversely affected by the exchange rates, according to the study.

Now, here's the really interesting bit - 61% are planning to take the same amount of time off this summer and 25% are planning to take more time off.

It does question where all the talk of looming recession is coming from - airports are packed, planes are full and Brits are as unwilling as ever to give up their annual holiday abroad.

Unsurprisingly, seaside holidays were the most popular among the 4,000 people questioned and 61% said they were planning to visit a beach destination.

And top of the hot list of summer holiday activities was relaxing (66%) followed by city sightseeing and shopping.

Linda Fox, lead reporter, Travolution

Will enthusiasm for travel apps be the same on MySpace?

For very obvious reasons TripAdvisor is to push its three enormously successful Facebook applications onto rival social network MySpace. We got the story this morning.

The trio of apps - Cities I’ve Visited, Local Picks and the frighteningly addictive Traveler IQ Challenge - have attracted six million downloads over the last year, which is impressive.


But we are pondering a few things:

• Is the drive for apps slowing down?
• Many people are members of both social networks, so would it be unlikely (odd, even) if the same user dowloaded the app again for MySpace?
• What is the longevity of a travel app?
  

Kevin May, editor, Travolution

Technorati tags: myspace facebook tripadvisor apps

Travel mag publishes edition with (almost) 100 per cent user generated content

This will send a shiver down the spine of many old school editors but Budget Travel, a glossy travel mag in the US, has decided to commemorate its birthday by producing the entire edition with contributions from readers.

All copy and photography was sent in by loyal fans - bar its regular Deals section, which staffers wrote.

Editor Erik Torkells admitted an "extraordinary amount" of editing was needed to knock it all into shape and the whole exercise was not cheap at all.

The opposite of TripAdvisor, then.

Foliomag.com has more details and an interview with the editor.

Kevin May, editor, Travolution

Technorati tags: budget travel

The Search Gap

Some good insight from Gareth Williams of Skyscanner on what's wrong with search in the travel sector.

What Williams terms as the 'gap' in search appears when you enter something like a flight number and what you get back is nonsense.

It is a problem that needs solving and is something that is holding the industry back.

"Travel desperately needs a solution to getting flight information and a number of other areas . One of the reasons that search gap exists is search technology for travel is really difficult. It lags behind other sectors," said Williams.

He goes on to say that if Google solves the problem there is the incentive of huge margins and it will make for a more efficient experience for consumers.

Over the course of today's Travolution conference we have heard a lot about different sectors of the industry taking each other on - kayak attacking tripadvisor and google - and now it seems Skyscanner is gearing up to also take on Google with its answer to much improved flight information.

Meanwhile, we have Thomson Holidays considering less reliance on the search giant.

It's that recurring theme of what do we do about Google?

Linda Fox, lead reporter, Travolution

TripAdvisor watches more dogs

Busy day in Expedialand.

Smarter Travel Media, a subsidiary of TripAdvisor (a subsidiary of Expedia Inc), has bought the AirfareWatchdog.com brand, a US low-cost airlines listing site.

Full announcement here.

TripAdvisor loves its watchdogs, having bought the UK review giant HolidayWatchdog.com in February.

Kevin May, editor, Travolution

Technorati tags: tripadvisor expedia airfarewatchdog

Grauniad takes a hit on user generated content - lessons for travel

This is not hot news as such but has raised a few issues.

The Guardian website has fallen foul of its readers this week following a blog post penned - apparently - by a 19-year-old heading off on his first jaunt to Asia.

Readers reacted with varying degrees of scorn, dismay, anger and vitriol to the drivel penned by Max Gogarty as he explained what travelling to Asia meant to him ("finding himself") amongst other things.

Guardian's "Comment is Free" editors have since closed the comments section of the blog post. Yes, we recognise the irony.

Was this a wise decision?

And what conclusions can be drawn about travel and UGC?

First of all the Guardian brand was taking quite a pasting in the comments, so in some respects it probably was a good idea to halt the discussion - regardless of the ramifications for its supposed CiF channel.

There are no direct comparisons to a travel brand being on the end of such carnage (as Travel Weekly put it) through user generated content.

It appears at this stage that consumers are - on the whole - far better behaved and balanced in their approach when it comes to commenting on what they would perceive to be poor products.

What travel companies, especially hotels, appear to be doing as a result of bad ratings on sites such as TripAdvisor is reflecting on the problem and rectifying it before the issue spirals out of control.

Consumers are unofficial watchdogs these days.

Unfortunately the Guardian seems reluctant - or doesn't know how to, some would argue - to admit it has made a mistake in commissioning something likely to disappoint its readers.

It will recover, of course. But many will remember this - at times, hilarious - faux pas.

Kevin May, editor, Travolution

Technorati tags: max gogarty guardian blog guardian travel skins

What Expedia expects

Expedia is making a big consumer PR splash today - just in time for those desperate hacks on the Sunday newspaper travel supplements who have run out of ideas for top ten lists, perhaps?

A huge research project, including a survey of 14,000 Expedia users, has led the OTA to create what it's calling its ten travel trends for 2008.

The glossy press pack includes an intro by EMEA president Dermot Halpin:

Our research indicates travel being motivated by a desire to expand cultural horizons - both with the rise of mini-breaks to more exotic destinations, as well as people participating in cultural or other leisure activities as part of their trip.

Hopefully these trends will inspire you as you plan and book your next trip.

[Through Expedia, of course]

So what about the trends:

1) Extravagant escapism. Brits are willing to pay more for their travel. If they want luxury, they will opt for it more often than not.

2) Creative tourists. We want to take part in and learn stuff, such as wine tasting, rock climbing, sailing and, er, dancing.

3) Rise of the super-break. This is interersting. More people are looking at mid-haul destinations for a few days away. Popular places include Dubai, Hong Kong, Egypt and South Africa.

4) Fly cheap - sleep expensive. More people are buying low-cost flights in order to select a more expensive hotel at the destination.

5) The 'new' package holiday. Great line here: "We're not talking about a return to the 1960s". Ouch. Travellers are increasingly packaging together products such as car hire, tours, transfers and theatre tickets into their holiday.

6) Low cost flights. Two-thirds of travellers reckon price is the detemining factor when choosing an air ticket. This isn't going to change.

7) Holiday maximising. Ooh, controversial one here. Apparently Brits lose 4.4 days a year in holiday allowance. And if you earn around £30K a year this means you are giving back around £550 a year to your boss. Nice! However, we are being more discerning in this area and taking longer bank holiday breaks in order to use our entitlement.

8) Wellbeing and nostalgia breaks. Bizarre as it may sound to some, going away to get healthy/clean-up/find yourself is becoming popular. As is returning to childhood holiday destinations.

9) Lobby snobbery. Not only do we want cheap flights, we also want - and will pay for it - the best hotels, based on their location, atmosphere, style of room, service and food.

10) Traveller reviews. Talking up TripAdvisor and user-generated content, for obvious reasons, as it owns the company. Consumers love reviews and ratings. Travellers are also increasingly inspired by the likes of Michael Palin, who has been credited with reviving the the Eastern European tourist industry.

Kevin May, editor, Travolution

Technorati tags: expedia trendy

TripAdvisor catches up with Travolution

You heard it here first, but the Mother Ship in Massachusetts has finally announced TripAdvisor's purchase of HolidayWatchdog.com.

No other nuggets of information in the press release.

We've heard - and TA is understandably keeping schtum on fees - that the deal is worth around £9-£10 million.

So well done to Chris Brown and Chris Clarkson, HW's founders, who are both well respected in the affiliate world and wider travel community.

Unsuprisingly they have chosen not to stick around once the transition is complete.

Below is a picture showing the last time TripAdvisor caught up with Travolution. [Sorry Charlotte]


Kevin May, editor, Travolution

Technorati tags: tripadvisor holidaywatchdog acquisition

Travo weekly round-up #4

Here are the top stories by visits on the Travolution website for the week ending Friday 8 February 2008:

• TripAdvisor buys HolidayWatchdog.com
• British Airways Holidays set June 08 for DP push
• Ryanair to shut website for three days
• Travel trends for 2008 - report
• Mobissimo unveils dramatic new site

Best of the blogs:

• Reputation in a social network, from Travel Technology
• Travel writing cliches, from Travel Weekly
• Reuters CEO on the semantic web, from Reilly Radar
• Why Google is unstoppable, from ValleyWag
• Soggy, from Seth Godin

Travel Technology Show coverage:

• Live blog
• News round-up

Please post further recommendations in the comments section.

Kevin May, editor, Travolution

++Big story: TripAdvisor snaps up HolidayWatchdog.com++

A lot of digging about yesterday but weve uncovered this rather interesting story.

TripAdvisor has bought travel and hotel giant HolidayWatchdog.com.

We have more detail in the main story.

The point here is that two of the UK's biggest independent travel review sites, HolidaysUncovered and HolidayWatchdog, are now in the hands of big multi-national travel brands.

[The former was bought by TUI Travel last year]

Will consumers care?

Indeed, much is being made of how little will be done initially to the HolidayWatchdog site. So users may not even realise.

Thoughts?

Kevin May, editor, Travolution

Travo weekly round-up #3

Here are the top stories by visits on the Travolution website for the week ending Friday 1 February 2008.

• Opodo profits to trigger investment in site.
• Sky picks Expedia-TripAdvisor for white label deal.
• Telegraph reviews travel search business.
• Cheapflights will not be rushed into float decision.
• WAYN approach over sale - but not by AOL.

Best of the blogs:

• Google Suggest, from Les Exploers.
• 10 questions for tour operators, from Musings.
• Microsoft-Yahoo dino deal, from Buzzmachine.
• Facebook apps on any site, from TechCrunch.
• SEO millionaire, from SearchEngineWatch.

Please post and further recommendations in the comments section.

Kevin May, editor, Travolution

++Big Story Alert - TripAdvisor and Expedia work together++

UK media giant Sky has persuaded Expedia and TripAdvisor to put into practice what many have seen as one of the most valuable ways to utilise two market leading brands.

Combine the two to provide a very good white label deal for a third party.

Sky's travel channel will have flights, hotels, car hire and city breaks search and booking functionality provided by Expedia and user reviews from TripAdvisor.

Makes sense really...

Full story.

Kevin May, editor, Travolution

Travo weekly round-up #2

Here are the top five stories by visits on the Travolution website for the week ending Friday 25 January 2007:

• WAYN approached over sale - but no by AOL
• TripAdvisor reveals results for Hayes & Jarvis deal
• Thomson jumps ahead of Expedia in post-Christmas booking
• Expedia UK founder eyes British travel tech companies
• Hotels4u.com enters mobile booking arena

Best of the blogs:

• Who markets products better, from Musings.
• Google at Davos, from BuzzMachine.
• Google in a recession, from Search Engine Land.
• Tripit goes social, from TechCrunch US.
• The Crunchies, from Drama 2.0.

Please post any further recommendations in the comments section.

Kevin May, editor, Travolution

TripAdvisor and other giants triumph at Globes

User review site TripAdvisor picked up the Innovation Award at the Globes Travel Awards last night, hosted by Travolution sister title Travel Weekly.

Other onliners winning on the night included - in the consumer awards, sponsored by Associated Newspapers - Lastminute.com (favourite European short break provider) and Expedia (best online booking website).

In the trade awards, Galileo (best technology provider) and Holiday Extras (best travel trade website) also left the Grosvenor House happier than when they arrived.

Full list of winners.

Kevin May, editor, Travolution

27,000 people prefer Lastminute.com

According to a BT consumer survey the pink'un is the nation's favourite travel website.

Lastminute.com pipped TripAdvisor, First Choice, Rough Guides and Ryanair to the top spot.

The great thing about these kind of surveys is that they very rarely reflect traffic or usage. Let's face it, Rough Guides is a bit leftfield on this list.

And pity poor Expedia.

Kevin May, editor, Travolution

Wonder if they will post a review on TripAdvisor

Staff mutiny at Scottish hotel.

HotelStaffAdvisor perhaps?

Kevin May, editor, Travolution