TripAdvisor Holiday Party at the Liberty Hotel

Last night was TripAdvisor’s annual holiday party. Don’t worry, we all made it to work today. Your reviews will be processed, the forums will be moderated, and new listings will be added. Phew.

Guests at the party this year included staff from TripAdvisor, FlipKey, and Smarter Travel, plus guests all around. With hundreds of employees across these companies, it was a huge and energetic crowd! The holiday party is always a highly anticipated event. Weeks in advance, food and drinks are tasted, entertainment is selected, and outfits are chosen. (“What are you wearing?” was a popular topic in the TripAdvisor lunch line yesterday.) Because we’re all so busy and the three companies are located in separate offices, we don’t get to hang out as much as we’d like. Each year, the party is a welcome chance for everyone to mix, mingle, and meet each other’s “others.”

The Liberty Hotel was the perfect setting for our event. Ironically named “liberty,” it used to be the Charles Street Jail. A listing in the National Register of Historic Places, it was in use as recently as 1990, when it was closed due to overcrowding. The setting gave us a great chance to enjoy some real Boston history while celebrating a special occasion. The exposed brick and warm lighting throughout the four-story lobby made a perfect glow for our evening event, but I’m sure those brick walls had quite a different meaning for inmates back in the day. Kinda spooky.

Photo courtesy of Flick member Digital Shotgun

TripAdvisor’s party spanned the top two floors of the lobby balconies, plus rooms off the lobby for dining (on sliders and pasta), karaoke, and dancing. There were several memorable karaoke performances and countless memorable dance moves. Note that memorable doesn’t necessarily mean good, but we love them all for trying.

The open balconies and small tables provided a great venue for meeting new people, which we don’t get to do very often in our busy work lives. We can’t thank the Liberty Hotel enough for treating us like rock stars. The next time you’re in Boston, you must check it out. With a few great dining options and a historical exhibit and tour on the premises, it has something for everyone.

Introducing the all-new, totally redesigned Local Picks app

Sure, it sounds like a new car ad, but “all-new, totally redesigned” is the only way to describe it. Plus, we’re just as excited about our new Local Picks app for as Chevy is about their new truck. We couldn’t find a celebrity to narrate this post for us, but don’t let that take away from the cool factor of Local Picks on the iPhone.

Local Picks started as a restaurant application on Facebook. As soon as we heard whispers of the iPhone, we knew we wanted to launch Local Picks in the iTunes store. Good news: when the app store opened its doors, we were among the first in line. Bad news: in order to build the app quickly, we had to leave out some of the bells and whistles in version 1. It was a useful app, for sure, but we knew there was so much more we could do…if only we had the time (and available engineers).

A few months ago, we finally got the go-ahead to take Local Picks to the next level. First, we did some usability testing. We watched people use the app, asked them how they liked it, and noted trends. From there, we mapped out a plan for enhancements and new features to add. The engineers took that map and made it a reality.

As an iPhone user who can’t pick a restaurant to save my life, I love the new app because it takes me through every phase of the restaurant experience. In the search phase, I can apply filters for cuisine type and location, plus read full TripAdvisor reviews directly from the app. In the booking phase, I can call a restaurant directly and get directions, both at the press of a thumb. In the post-dining phase, I can write a restaurant review and upload a photo directly from the app.

Even better than a new car, which will set you back a chunk of change and guzzles gas, the Local Picks app for iPhones is 100% free and powered by TA users like you. Check it out in the iTunes app store!

Did we miss something in health class?

From a Traveler Article:

The Pubic Transportation network in the Veneto Region is good, but it does leave many interesting areas un-accessed.

Halloween at TripAdvisor

85 children in attendance

 

On Thursday, October 29, TripAdvisor hosted our annual Halloween Party. The party is for all of our employees and their families to come and enjoy. This year, we had a record breaking 85 children in attendance!

For the kids, the afternoon consists of decorating their own goodie bags, having their picture taken, eating spooky ice cream made from liquid nitrogen, arts and crafts, venturing through our festively decorated office to the notorious “Spooky Alley” and our other fun themed rooms, and last but not least, CANDY.

Ice cream made with liquid nitrogen

The adults didn’t have it so bad either.  The day of the party typically starts off with a silent, understood battle for which brave soul will be the first to put on their costume.  Before you know it, everyone’s dressed up, frantically promoting themselves for the TripAdvisor costume contest. This year, we had categories for best group costume, funniest, scariest, most original costume, and best celebrity look alike. Bribing with prizes may seem a little unethical, but it’s shamefully impressive how many more people participate once that tiny element came into play.

Best Group Costume – Pirates

Funniest Costume - Chick Magnet

Most Original Costume - The Birds

Scariest Costume - Chucky

Best Celebrity Look-a-Like Costume – Michael Jackson

Honorable Mention

The afternoon moves along with a happy hour down in our café, consisting of food, drinks, and some more entertaining contests!  This year, we had both a mummy wrapping and pie eating contest for the employees.  Separate contests, however, I think I just exposed a ridiculous twist for next year.  Truth be told, these contest can get fairly competitive when protecting your reigning championship is threatened.  Even the risk of slicing your lips open on the foil of pie crust doesn’t get in the way of our “Speed Wins” aficionado employees.

Pie-eating Contest

This year, as always, we had some really incredible, enthusiastic volunteers who made the party the success that it was.  Thanks to everyone who put their time in to help out and also for attending. Looking forward to next year!

Two of our many volunteers

Kicking Germs to the Curb During Your Travels

Washing your hands is a simple and effective way to fight germs while traveling - Photo from Flickr user photo terren

Okay, I admit it. I’m not the biggest fan of germs. I wash my hands constantly, avoid sneezers like the plague, and keep a bottle of Purell within arms reach at all times. All of the recent news about H1N1 hasn’t helped the case either.

At TripAdvisor, we’ve been curious about how the flu has been weighing on the minds of our fellow travelers. What would you do if you came down with the flu right before your trip? Would you tell a flight attendant if another passenger was sick on your flight? In recent weeks we’ve run a few polls on the topic, and the findings have been really interesting.

First, we asked if travelers would fly while they’re sick with the flu in order to avoid paying a booking change fee. Surprisingly, 51% of our 2,327 respondents said that they would. Would those flu fliers be safe from their fellow passengers ratting them out, though?

Perhaps not. In another recent poll, 57% of our 4,459 respondents said they would alert flight staff to an airline passenger displaying flu-like symptoms.

So what should you do if you come down with the flu before you travel? For starters, we highly recommend that you don’t fly, both as a courtesy to yourself and your fellow travelers. You may want to consider purchasing trip insurance for your flu season flights in advance, but be sure to read the fine print as some plans don’t cover more common illnesses like a cold or the flu. Some airlines are also waiving booking change fees for passengers with H1N1, but it varies between carriers so you’ll want to contact your airline directly.

In any case, you can take the following precautions to prevent yourself from getting sick during your travels if you find yourself on the road or in the air this flu season:

1) Wash Your Hands – This is the oldest tip in the book, and there’s good reason: it works. Holiday crowds, combined with flu season, can be a recipe for disaster. Always wash your hands after using the restroom and before you eat. If water and soap aren’t available, hand sanitizer can be another great way to combat germs.

2) Stay Hydrated – Dehydration can make you feel fatigued and cranky. It can also weaken your immune system. Try to stay away from soda and load up on water. Exercising caution with alcohol will also go a long way to prevent dehydration, fatigue and potentially embarrassing actions.

3) Proactively Pack Medicine – While there’s probably a pharmacy where you’re going, wouldn’t it be nice to be armed with your own prescription and over the counter medications the second you need them? Pack enough to last you your entire trip. If flying, make sure to have these in your carry-on where you can easily access them.

4) Remember to Catch Some Shut Eye – Traveling for the holidays involves a lot of visiting, parties, and time in transit. It’s easy to run yourself ragged and increase your chances of getting sick. Try to get 8 hours of sleep when possible, especially if you’re embarking on a long road trip the next day.

5) Pack Healthy Snacks – While the holidays are synonymous with rich food, your transit shouldn’t be. You’re likely to encounter traffic delays and waits at the airport, so pack a few healthy favorites, plus one indulgence to help you to stay on track. Load up on fruit, vegetables, nuts and protein bars, which are easy to pack and portion.

It’s like raaaaaaain on your wedding day…

A message to our support team:

Our hotel is a new hotel and we are not wooden hotel. We do not have any bedbugs in our hotel. Our hotel is irony.

Steve Kaufer on…Why the ads? And why not Twitter?

Why is there so much advertising on the site? I was looking for a hotel in Portland, Maine recently and I got a lot of ads “above the fold.” I don’t care about the ads – I just want to find a hotel. 

We try to be really sensitive to how much, and what kind, of advertising we put next to our content.  We’re very selective about what kinds of ad partners we work with; the vast majority of them are in a travel or travel-related business.  Why do we have advertising at all?  That’s how we make money to maintain and grow the site.  We don’t want to charge travelers to use TripAdvisor, but we do want to continue to develop a vital resource.  In that sense, paid advertising is a win for everyone. 

You’re on Twitter but you don’t Tweet very much– what’s up w/ that?

I joined Twitter to see what it’s all about but you’re right, I’m not an active user.  I think I’m up to 5 tweets on my personal account!  Either I can’t fully express myself in 140 characters, or I have nothing interesting to say.  Or both

While I don’t think it’s vital for me as an individual, I do feel strongly that TripAdvisor has a presence on Twitter.  We want to be anywhere that people are having conversations about travel, or about us, so that we can participate.  It’s been a great way for travelers and owners to reach us with questions, and for us to share our wealth of data and travel tips with both our members and a newly found audience.  It also allows us to gauge what travelers are really interested in – information we can use on Twitter, but also for the continual development of our core site.

TripAdvisor’s CEO on the popularity index & UGC

Can you explain how the popularity index works? I can’t figure out why my property is ranked like it is.

Our popularity index works on a proprietary algorithm.  We don’t disclose the specifics – no doubt our competitors would be interested, also! — but I can tell you that the quantity, quality, and timeliness of reviews play a key role in ranking properties.  If you have a high number of recent reviews, and the majority of those reviews are favorable, you will likely rank higher than a competitor with fewer, older, but just as positive reviews.  So what can you do to improve your ranking?  Give your guests a great experience, and ask them all to write reviews.  Offering incentives for reviews is against our rules, but there’s nothing wrong with encouragement.  If you’re not already registered with our Owners’ Center, check it out – there’s a great tool for emailing guests after their stay and reminding them to rate their stay on TripAdvisor. 

How have easily accessible reviews changed the travel industry?

Reviews written by everyday people have revolutionized the trip planning process.  That may sound biased coming from me, but industry research delivers the same message over and over again: travelers trust the opinion of other consumers more than any other source when researching their trips. 

The idea for TripAdvisor was born from my own attempt to plan a family vacation based on more information than I could get from resort brochures and web sites.  I wanted to know what people who had been there – people like me, not the marketing folks – thought about the place.  Travelers may still consult brochures, guidebooks, and travel agents, but user-generated reviews help complete the picture, and offer more data points on which to base a decision.  And when millions of people are engaged in reviewing properties across the world, the scope of what they can cover is huge.  TripAdvisor members have written nearly 30 million reviews and opinions on over 1 million hotels, restaurants, and accommodations.  A traveler can come to TripAdvisor and search for the best hotel in Cincinnati for a family, or the best property for a business traveler, all based on what others like him have said.  That kind of personalization increases the odds that your choices will be a good match for you, and that your trip will be successful. 

I think we have also helped the hospitality industry as a whole.  Suppliers who offer a sub standard product (e.g. a dirty hotel room) are reviewed in public, and the spotlight helps ‘encourage’ them to clean up their act… or lose business because their shoddy product isn’t a secret anymore.  On the flip side, hoteliers who offer a great product/service love the fact that their good reputation can spread on the internet without a fancy marketing budget for TV.  The good guys get more business, the bad guys lose business, and the traveler is happier.

What would Steve Kaufer say? Well, since you asked…

Last week, we invited people to submit questions through Twitter for TripAdvisor CEO Steve Kaufer.  This week, we’ll post two questions and answers each day on the blog.  Thanks for all of your submissions!

Why doesn’t TripAdvisor have a mobile option? I love your site and am really surprised that you haven’t come out with anything yet.  What are you waiting for? 

We get that question a lot.  There are two answers, really.  First of all, our popular Facebook restaurant application Local Picks is available on the iPhone.  It came out about a year and a half ago and, in all honesty, got pretty mediocre reviews.  Travelers liked the idea of being able to research restaurants on the fly, but we were missing some key functionality.  We’ve worked hard on the app since then, and will be releasing version 3 next month.  We’re really excited about it – users will be able to sort listings by popularity or proximity, filter by cuisine, and get feedback on price range.  Most recent review data will be pulled to the top, and we’ve added the functionality to read full reviews, write a review, and upload photos from your phone.  Maps and the overall user interface are greatly improved, as well.

We’re working on a mobile version of TripAdvisor, also.  What took so long?  Great question, with no good answer.   Suffice it to say that you should look for TripAdvisor to come to your mobile device within the next few months. 

Do you think the “Home Exchange” trend is the new way for #budget #travelers to experience the world outside of a hotel?

Home exchange is certainly an interesting lodging option, especially for travelers on tight budgets. After all… how can you beat the cost (free) and the chance to stay in a real house/apartment!   There are risks, though – how can you trust that you’ll get exactly what was advertised?  Who do you call if something goes wrong? Most exchanges rely on both parties being able to make the swap at the same time, also, so there are some real scheduling constrictions. 

We think vacation rentals offer many of the same benefits – they’re a great alternative to hotels, and often offer substantial cost-savings — but they come with a level of trust and predictability that home exchange typically doesn’t.  Our vacation rental section offers property verification and a robust volume of reviews.  With this setup, travelers can get the same feedback from other real travelers for vacation rentals that they find with our hotel listings.  We’ve also created a calculator to help people determine the cost savings between a hotel and rental home in any given destination. 

It comes down to personal choice, and what works for you.  When you’re looking at home exchange vs. vacation rentals, a key question is how much risk you’re willing to take.  For travelers who have a lot at stake in their annual vacation – savings, time with family, relaxation – a vacation rental usually offers more of a sure bet.  On the other hand, if you know someone who had a great time with a home exchange, and you can arrange something similar with the same owner… it’s a great way to save big bucks and have lots of room for the entire family.

It’s a Go! (Or a No Go) – Holiday Hotel Hideouts

Ah, the holidays. Joyful, no doubt, but also…stressful. And overwhelming. Just in the nick of time, TripAdvisor’s second installment of the Go/No Go Index has dug up “holiday hotel hideouts” in ten major U.S. cities. – hidden gem properties that are among the most popular on TripAdvisor, but have been viewed an average of 70% less in the past 30 days than their popular but larger and busier counterparts.

You may want to avoid the larger “No Go” hotels for a break from the stressful holiday crowds, and head straight for the intimate “Go” hotels for more obscure but still highly-rated hotel escapes…hopefully with nary a nagging mother-in-law in sight.

Green Turtle Floating Bed and Breakfast, Boston

1. Holiday Hotel Hideout in New York City

GO: Nicolena’s Bed and Breakfast – Average Nightly Rate: $234

NO GO: Casablanca Hotel – Average Nightly Rate: $316

2. Holiday Hotel Hideout in Los Angeles

GO: Venice Admiral Suites – Average Nightly Rate: $227

NO GO: Holiday Inn Express Hotel and Suites Walk of Fame – Average Nightly Rate: $162

3. Holiday Hotel Hideout in Chicago

GO: University Quarters Bed & Breakfast – Average Nightly Rate: $202

NO GO: Affinia Chicago – Average Nightly Rate: $229

4. Holiday Hotel Hideout in Philadelphia

GO: Lippincott House – Average Nightly Rate: $200

NO GO: Alexander Inn – Average Nightly Rate: $117

5. Holiday Hotel Hideout in San Francisco

GO: Golden Gate Hotel – Average Nightly Rate: $130

NO GO: Omni San Francisco Hotel – Average Nightly Rate: $238

6. Holiday Hotel Hideout in Dallas

GO: Corinthian Bed & Breakfast – Average Nightly Rate: $180

NO GO: Hotel Palomar Dallas – a Kimpton Hotel – Average Nightly Rate: $260

7. Holiday Hotel Hideout in Boston

GO: Green Turtle Floating Bed and Breakfast – Average Nightly Rate: $195

NO GO: Hotel Commonwealth – Average Nightly Rate: $253

8. Holiday Hotel Hideout in Washington, D.C.

GO: Akwaaba DC – Average Nightly Rate: $200

NO GO: Sofitel Washington DC – Average Nightly Rate: $321

9. Holiday Hotel Hideout in Miami

GO: Sadigo Court – Average Nightly Rate: $226

NO GO: EPIC Hotel – a Kimpton Hotel – Average Nightly Rate: $395

10. Holiday Hotel Hideout in Phoenix

GO: Maricopa Manor Bed and Breakfast Inn – Average Nightly Rate: $216

NO GO: Arizona Grand Resort – Average Nightly Rate: $244