Most travelers book resorts after reading reviews on the best hotel review sites; if the reviews are positive, they are quickly shortlisted for booking.
Here’s some data highlighting that validates the facts
- 98% of customers trust reviews on TripAdvisor.
- Reviews from other travelers online make your hotel 77.9% more likely to be chosen.
- If your hotel doesn’t have reviews, you might miss out on 53% of potential customers.
- Good reviews can increase your hotel revenues by 56%.
- Hotels that answer customer questions online are 68% more likely to get long-term customers than those that don’t.
The data points clarify that, being a resort owner, you should list your properties on leading review websites and encourage customers to share their reviews. Doing so enhances the property’s ranking on different platforms, attracting more customers.
In this article, we are going to discuss the top 8 best hotel & resort review websites for 2024 where you can list your property.
Before moving to the list, let’s explore the crucial points that emphasize the importance of hotel reviews for growth.
Why Do Hotel Reviews Matter
A. Building Trust & Attracts More Customers
Positive reviews are like gold stars that build trust, which is more crucial in the hospitality industry. When a traveler recommends a resort, it’s almost like a friend saying, “Hey, you’ll love this place!”
Studies also found that 68% of people are likelier to trust a business with good reviews.
B. Customer Insights
Customer reviews are more than just compliments.
You can use the customer review as an insight to improve your services and provide a better experience to your customers.
You can find insights about customers, like what they loved, what they didn’t, and even their wishes. For resorts, it’s not just about meeting expectations but going beyond by understanding and giving guests what they want.
C. Management Reputation
The resort’s online image is influenced a lot by what people say in reviews and can either pull in guests like a magnet or make them go away.
Even the Negative reviews aren’t roadblocks if handled carefully. You can use the negative reviews to make things even better. It’s a way to show how much you care about making guests happy. Consider it an opportunity to turn things around and prove that the resort is always ready to make things even more awesome!
8 Best Hotel & Resorts Review Websites For 2024
1. TripAdvisor
TripAdvisor is the most preferred online review sites for hotels and resorts worldwide and their business is built on the top of reviews that are being submitted by customers. As per the data, TripAdvisor hotel reviews are trusted by 98% of the readers.
It features millions of hotels along with their guest reviews, expressing their positive and negative feedback, opinions, and comments.
Considering its high traffic, registering your resort on TripAdvisor guarantees increased visibility on your resort website.
As per the Similarweb data, TripAdvisor received more than 134.5M traffic for November.
The inclusion of guest reviews on TripAdvisor not only enhances your online presence but also boosts reservations.
While listing your resort on TripAdvisor, ensure you mention all the amenities and facilities and engage with guest reviews promptly.
You should respond to both positive and negative feedback. Take the opportunity to address concerns, demonstrate commitment to improvement, and assure guests that their feedback is valued.
Observing these interactions, prospective travelers will find valuable insights to aid their decision-making process.
2. Booking.com
Booking.com is one of the most popular online review sites for resorts. Many travelers use Booking.com to book resorts by looking at the lists and reading what others have said.
As per data, 38% of guest leave their review after their stays on Booking.com, which is commendable.
The great thing about putting your resort on booking.com is that more people will find your resort website, bringing in more visitors online. Booking.com takes a small percentage as commission, but it’s worth it because many travelers use it to find a place to stay.
You need to highlight your property’s good qualities and unique attractions to grab your prospective customers’ attention.
You must respond to both good and not-so-good reviews with kindness and patience. This will make guests happy and might even get you more visitors. If someone mentions your friendly staff, give them a shout-out and say thanks. Also, ask your guests to provide star ratings, which can boost your online reputation and make you show up higher in search results.
3. Expedia
Expedia has gained quite a popularity as one of the significant online review sites for resorts.
It has several sister travel platforms like Ebookers, Orbitz, Travelocity, and Wotif, which have several listings of resorts and hotels and attract millions of monthly visitors.
When you register your property on Expedia, your hotel will be promoted to over 200 other websites owned by Expedia, like Ebookers, Orbitz, Travelocity, and Wotif.
Orbitz has a rewards program wherein guests can earn points each time they book properties using the website. From a user experience perspective, Travelocity is better compared to many websites. Its review section is easy to access, hence convenient for the users.
The best part is that registering your property on Expedia is entirely free. The reviews on this site can help you get more customers. You must ensure that you respond to the reviews promptly and with kindness and care while not compromising professionalism.
4. Hotels.com
Even though hotels.com is part of the big Expedia Group family, it’s become so popular that it deserves its separate shout-out.
Hotels.com has become popular and has a good reputation among other hotel review sites. It has been significantly influential in attracting customers and travelers due to its immense listing and efficient mechanism of capturing guest reviews.
So, if you want more people to visit your resort website, make sure to have good reviews on Hotels.com. You will earn a lot of traffic to your property website and gain potential consumers.
5. Google
Google is one of the top online sites for checking resort reviews. Even hotel owners nowadays prefer capturing reviews on Google since it is the most visited platform among travelers.
The best part is that many people visit Google daily—way more than other websites. You can even compare prices and read reviews easily.
Listing your property on Google is easy, convenient, and free. You can quickly respond to reviews and thank people for their ratings.
Every hotel owner should keep their information updated on Google, and it’s not just about using its review tools. Google is a top search engine where many people look for general location-based searches. If your hotel pops up during their trip planning, they might book your place for their next travel.
6. Facebook
Facebook is the go-to social platform for people of all ages and genders. You can record ratings and reviews by creating a page for your property. Make sure to share all the important details about your place, including amenities and facilities and high-quality photographs.
Encourage your guests to check out your property’s Facebook page and provide star ratings and feedback/ comments about the property. The ratings, reviews, and recommendations are publicly visible and, hence, a powerful mechanism to attract prospective customers.
7. Trivago
Trivago is commonly used to compare prices across different hotel or resort booking websites.
It facilitates property searches by displaying a list of websites with their offered prices, deals, and discounts. Guests can enter their preferred dates and locations to refine their search and review feedback collected via Trivago.
While it’s not a dedicated online review site for resorts, being visible on Trivago is beneficial. Even though it directs users to booking websites for reservations, it’s a valuable platform to ensure your property is easily discoverable in their search engine.
8. Yelp
Registering your business on Yelp can significantly boost traffic to your property website. You can capture reviews from your property guests by sharing the business link on Yelp. Though it is slowly gaining prominence, it’s better to leverage its potential for attracting prospective customers.
When registering your business, make sure to mention the right keywords and category, as search engines, including Yelp, operate through SEO, where keywords play a crucial role.
Visitors can check the ratings and reviews of your property and may go for accommodation reservations at your property. Respond promptly to reviews and express gratitude for feedback and comments.
Top Hotel Review Sites
Here is the list of the best hotel review sites tailored to various categories, ensuring you find the perfect platform for your particular needs. Explore our curated list to enhance your hotel’s online presence and engage with a diverse audience of travelers.
Biggest hotel review sites
- Tripadvisor
- Booking.com
- Expedia
- Hotels.com
Luxury hotel review sites
- Forbes Travel Guide
Budget hotel review sites
- Hostelworld
- NomadicMatt
- TheBrokeBackpacker
Business hotel travel review sites
- Corporate Traveller
Frequently Asked Question
Q: What are the best hotel review sites online?
A: Here is a list of top websites for hotel guest reviews:
- Tripadvisor
- Booking.com
- Expedia
- Hotels.com
Q: Why should I bother with online review sites for my hotel?
A: Online review sites significantly influence travelers’ decisions. Positive reviews build trust and attract more guests to your hotel.
Q: Are all online review sites the same, or do they serve different purposes?
A: Review sites vary in their focus and audience. Some are general, while others cater to specific niches. Choose platforms that align with your hotel’s target audience.
Q: How can I encourage guests to leave positive reviews?
A: Provide exceptional service, actively request feedback, and consider offering incentives for leaving reviews. You can check our guide on 20 ways to get free reviews from your customers.
Q: What do I do if I receive a negative review?
A: Respond promptly, address the concerns professionally, and demonstrate a commitment to resolving issues. It shows potential guests that you value feedback. You can read our article on how to respond to 1-star rating for more details.
Q: Is it necessary to respond to positive reviews as well?
A: Yes, responding to positive reviews shows appreciation and engagement, reinforcing a positive relationship with guests.
Q: How do I manage my hotel’s reputation on multiple review sites?
A: Use online reputation management tools, regularly monitor review sites, and respond promptly to maintain a positive image.
Q: Are there specific strategies for optimizing my hotel’s presence on review sites?
A: Claim your business on each platform, provide accurate information, and actively engage with reviews to enhance your hotel’s visibility.
Q: How do I handle fake reviews on online platforms?
A: Report them to the respective platforms and focus on building a consistent record of genuine positive reviews to outweigh any misleading ones.
Q: Is managing online reviews for a small hotel worth investing time and resources?
A: Managing online reviews is crucial for hotels of all sizes. Positive reviews contribute to a positive online image and attract more guests, impacting your business positively.
Conclusion
You need to understand which sites you must focus on for your property. It is recommended to go for the most popular websites, which are user-friendly and straightforward.
Your guests won’t spend time writing reviews if the review section is too complex and huddled with too many queries. Create your property’s online presence by encouraging reviews and responding to them.
Many times, customers forget or ignore writing reviews. You can send gentle reminders, requesting them to fill out the feedback forms and reviews. The focus must be on continuous improvement and higher growth of your business.
Get in touch with us to learn more.