While this Article is about Hotel reviews found on line by guests, the same philosophy and tactics apply to the Spa Industry.
Traveler reviews have become part of the daily dialogue of web travel shoppers. Millions of travelers log on daily and may experience a property through hotel generated photos and written text, but they find reviews and candid photography much more believable.
Many in the industry feel review sites are not objective and may be manipulated. They feel the content is not controllable or actionable and reject the opportunity to manage these sites by saying the comments might be inaccurate. However, what matters in the issue of web 2.0 sites is whether guests perceive them to be accurate. So far, customer research indicates they do. Furthermore, the research shows increasing numbers of possible clients are researching on third party sites, even if they are booking on brand sites.
The combination of increasing numbers of web-savvy consumers, the web 2.0 frenzy focusing on social media, and increased travel site volume, have created a ‘wild-west’ environment where hotels’ traditional comment card programs and advertising dollars are being trumped at the point of decision by dialogue in the public square.
The trend of traveler reviews is not going away. Given the juggernaut, it is important to know what to do internally when customer comments become the issue.
10 Things You Can Do In Response to Traveler Reviews:
10. READ THEM! It is recommended sites be visited at least weekly for new reviews and photos.
9. AUDIT THEM! A friend at a major brand hotel recently told me he found 6 unflattering photos posted by a guest on a site. Fortunately, they were not of his hotel. It seems there was an error in posting the photos. He was able to work it out with the website involved.
8. STUDY THEM! Any hotel might have a poor review, but patterns of poor reviews are of particular concern. If you see the same issues arise on a site, or across several sites, one might identify operational deficiencies. These comments should be treated the same as customer comment cards or letters. They may be more anonymous, but an hotelier recently told me that internal public discussion of web commentary usually yields someone that knows the situation and the guest. This enables the hotel to take action by contacting that customer for follow up.
7. CELEBRATE THEM! As with any feedback system, the positives must also be rewarded. Posting these comments, offering employee incentives for improvements, and reading positive comments in meetings allows one to focus and enhance strengths, not just see vulnerabilities.
6. CORRELATE THEM! Public comments should be married to existing internal comment card scores and not taken as isolated
5. DISTRIBUTE THEM! Website comments should be shared at all levels, from housekeeper to regional manager.
4. COMPARE THEM! A smart hotel analyzes their scores and those of their competitors. Likewise, sales teams should use public forum commentary as competitor intelligence.
3. ANALYZE THEM! It is critical to know that rate is just one factor in a buying decision.
2. TRACK THEM! Trends are more valuable when viewed over longer periods of time. As such, traveler review scores, rankings, and rate strategies should be viewed retrospectively for patterns. Comparing these critical factors will allow an hotelier to see tactical changes by competitors and gauge the effectiveness of hotel specific changes.
1. RESPOND TO THEM! TripAdvisor.com allows posted responses from hotels and studies show those who respond are viewed favorably. Other sites will soon follow, but internal discussion of problems will yield the names of disgruntled guests, which, in turn, will allow a hotel to respond
The big picture of a hotel’s reputation includes traveler reviews because there is no insulation from the trend. While brand may yield recognition for an individual property, it may not be enough to overcome negative reviews or photos of a run down room. Consumers understand individual property experiences vary and are eager to learn if reputation is reality.
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