TripAdvisor

• Travel Safe Program
• Travel Accommodations
• Capabilities
• Mobile App
• Review Aspect

Travel Safe Program

TravelAdvisor has created a new search filter that allows customers to see travel accommodations with plans for COVID-19 prevention. The new feature will filter by businesses that have shared their health and safety protocols, like wearing masks and enhanced cleaning measures. When travelers search for a hotel or desination, they can click the filter for "properties taking safety measures" and find all accommodations that are participating in the Travel Safe program. Businesses that want to participate in the program will check a list of precautions that they are putting in place, as well as write a personalized approach if applicable. Travelers will also see reviews from recent guests that will confirm or deny that the property is following these guidelines. 

Travel Accommodations

TripAdvisor can help travelers to find flights, hotels, and cruises. Its platform pulls pricing information from thousands of airline and travel sites in order to provide users with the most up-to-date information.

Capabilities

Travel websites are always looking for ways to appeal to consumers interested in booking a trip. In addition to giving customers the ability to book flights, hotels, and cruises, TripAdvisor also provides its users with the following capabilities not typically found on other sites:

• Read reviews - Travelers who have stayed in a hotel, eaten at a local restaurant, or visited a destination attraction can write reviews to inform other travelers and help alleviate the guessing game associated with booking accommodations
• Compare prices - Compare fares and rates of thousands of accommodations with one search
• Access travel community - Through the travel forum, prospective travelers are able to ask questions to those who have already visited their desired destination and receive tips and advice

Mobile App

TripAdvisor's mobile app is a helpful tool for travelers, especially when they are on the go and need some additional travel help. The app is available for mobile devices and tablets and comes with a number of services that can benefit almost any traveler, including:

• SeatGuru: Includes seat maps, flight search, and flight status updates
• GateGuru: Includes airport maps, stores, tips, weather reports, and flight statuses
• TheFork: Allows travelers to book reservations at top-rated restaurants

Review Aspect

The review aspect of TripAdvisor's business model is one of the most intriguing features the company has to offer because it is not a common feature provided by travel booking sites. As of right now, TripAdvisor has over 350 million traveler reviews covering more than 6.5 million accommodations ranging from hotels to restaurants to attractions. Traveler's Choice is another resource that is unique to TripAdvisor. Using this feature, travelers can browse the year's top-rated hotels and destinations based on user reviews. This list is updated each year, but travelers can look at past winners as well.

• Booking with Third-Parties
• Quality Assurance Problems
• Undisclosed Information

Booking with Third-Parties

Unfortunately, TripAdvisor does not provide its own booking service for clients who are looking for deals on travel sites. Instead, the company allows users to search for accommodations on its platform and then directly links them to other respected sites such as Expedia and Priceline for booking.

Quality Assurance Problems

TripAdvisor has some quality assurance issues with its user-generated content because accommodation reviews are not always verified. In addition, trip taxes are occasionally not posted or are inaccurate.

Undisclosed Information

It is unclear whether or not TripAdvisor provides a rewards program for frequent customers to participate in. Further, the company has not disclosed whether or not it offers travel protection.