Comments on: Lack of hotel details on holiday booking sites http://www.travel-rants.com/2008/04/07/lack-of-hotel-details-on-holiday-booking-sites/ Sun, 29 Jan 2012 01:52:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Michelle http://www.travel-rants.com/2008/04/07/lack-of-hotel-details-on-holiday-booking-sites/#comment-93240 Michelle Wed, 09 Apr 2008 18:59:24 +0000 http://www.travel-rants.com/2008/04/07/lack-of-hotel-details-on-holiday-booking-sites/#comment-93240 I've definitely had some bad hotel surprises in the past. However, for my past few trips, I used Tripadvisor before I booked. The user photos are extremely helpful and can often be very different from the hotel's official photos. Also, there are 2 relatively new sites, TVtrip and Trivop, which post video of hotel rooms and the surrounding neighborhood. I’ve definitely had some bad hotel surprises in the past. However, for my past few trips, I used Tripadvisor before I booked. The user photos are extremely helpful and can often be very different from the hotel’s official photos. Also, there are 2 relatively new sites, TVtrip and Trivop, which post video of hotel rooms and the surrounding neighborhood.

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]]> By: Nathan Midgley http://www.travel-rants.com/2008/04/07/lack-of-hotel-details-on-holiday-booking-sites/#comment-93181 Nathan Midgley Wed, 09 Apr 2008 12:35:45 +0000 http://www.travel-rants.com/2008/04/07/lack-of-hotel-details-on-holiday-booking-sites/#comment-93181 Hi Darren - sorry I haven't been round these parts in a while... "I realise companies can only provide the information received from the hotel..." Yes, if they produce all their content in-house - but in we're already seeing operators/retailers add user reviews, or license reviews from e.g. tripadvisor (which is in some ways preferable as it guarantees a decent volume of content). Hayes and Jarvis told Travel Weekly its sales increased after it integrated tripadvisor reviews, and First Choice has plans to add them this year. Ultimately I think most people who travel online have already learned to going to several different places to build up a complete picture of what they're booking - in a way that is as it should be. But it is in travel websites' interests to do some of that aggregation work for their users, if only because it encourages them not to break the research > sale momentum. Of course, then you have to worry about how detailed and accurate user review are... ;) Hi Darren – sorry I haven’t been round these parts in a while…

“I realise companies can only provide the information received from the hotel…”

Yes, if they produce all their content in-house – but in we’re already seeing operators/retailers add user reviews, or license reviews from e.g. tripadvisor (which is in some ways preferable as it guarantees a decent volume of content).

Hayes and Jarvis told Travel Weekly its sales increased after it integrated tripadvisor reviews, and First Choice has plans to add them this year.

Ultimately I think most people who travel online have already learned to going to several different places to build up a complete picture of what they’re booking – in a way that is as it should be. But it is in travel websites’ interests to do some of that aggregation work for their users, if only because it encourages them not to break the research > sale momentum.

Of course, then you have to worry about how detailed and accurate user review are… ;)

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]]> By: Darren Cronian http://www.travel-rants.com/2008/04/07/lack-of-hotel-details-on-holiday-booking-sites/#comment-93178 Darren Cronian Wed, 09 Apr 2008 12:29:27 +0000 http://www.travel-rants.com/2008/04/07/lack-of-hotel-details-on-holiday-booking-sites/#comment-93178 @ Simon I can imagine it to be a massive task for any sized travel company. What would install a bit of confidence for me would be a stamp on the hotel listing saying when it was last updated. @ Nozio It does indeed! I was reading an article the other week which said that user generated content is dead and people are relying more on experts. I completely disagreed with that statement. @ Mark Good points. Laws in one country is different than an other. Look at the horrible incident with Thomas Cook and the young children who died due to carbon monoxide poisoning - was that in Cyprus or a Greek Island, can't remember. Great discussion :) @ Simon

I can imagine it to be a massive task for any sized travel company. What would install a bit of confidence for me would be a stamp on the hotel listing saying when it was last updated.

@ Nozio

It does indeed! I was reading an article the other week which said that user generated content is dead and people are relying more on experts.

I completely disagreed with that statement.

@ Mark

Good points.

Laws in one country is different than an other. Look at the horrible incident with Thomas Cook and the young children who died due to carbon monoxide poisoning – was that in Cyprus or a Greek Island, can’t remember.

Great discussion :)

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]]> By: Mark Sukhija http://www.travel-rants.com/2008/04/07/lack-of-hotel-details-on-holiday-booking-sites/#comment-93134 Mark Sukhija Wed, 09 Apr 2008 08:49:08 +0000 http://www.travel-rants.com/2008/04/07/lack-of-hotel-details-on-holiday-booking-sites/#comment-93134 Part of the problem isn't just whether legislation exists or not but what jurisdiction it is applicable in. The internet being what it is, it is possible to book online with firms on the other side of the Atlantic/world and alternative laws/jurisdictions may apply to your agreement with the firm. This adds a degree of complexity which most can't/can't be bothered to deal with. Part of the problem isn’t just whether legislation exists or not but what jurisdiction it is applicable in.

The internet being what it is, it is possible to book online with firms on the other side of the Atlantic/world and alternative laws/jurisdictions may apply to your agreement with the firm.

This adds a degree of complexity which most can’t/can’t be bothered to deal with.

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]]> By: nozio.com http://www.travel-rants.com/2008/04/07/lack-of-hotel-details-on-holiday-booking-sites/#comment-93129 nozio.com Wed, 09 Apr 2008 08:38:38 +0000 http://www.travel-rants.com/2008/04/07/lack-of-hotel-details-on-holiday-booking-sites/#comment-93129 Confirms the fact that user generated feedback is important, to verify that the photos published online are a real representation of the hotel. Confirms the fact that user generated feedback is important, to verify that the photos published online are a real representation of the hotel.

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