"Secret is Out - TripAdvisor is changing into a Booking Engine"

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JBloggs

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"Secret is Out - TripAdvisor is changing into a Booking Engine."
Don't lose out get in the know - freetobook blog spills the beans.
8 Things You Need to Know about the changes at TripAdvisor
http://www.freetobook.com/blog/2013/05/tripadvisor-is-becoming-a-booking-website/
JB- I am inviting Ian and Craig who wrote this article to this post to comment if they wish. Edited to add: This is a blog article, not an INN THE NEWS. Please note.
 
One. More. Thing.
I guess it had to happen, right? They just started in reverse...get the ratings first, then get the bookings.
 
I had noticed this change a few weeks ago, asking for your destination on the home page, but didn't realize it as a real move to become a booking engine.
Yes, I guess it had to happen, and as some people, including me, won't like it changing to more than a ratings site, it may open a window for someone to start a pure ratings site like TA used to be. Maybe a biggie like Google or Facebook.
Did you notice that the myallocator site ResKey now works with is also run by two Scottish lads? Scots are taking over the travel and booking business!
 
One. More. Thing.
I guess it had to happen, right? They just started in reverse...get the ratings first, then get the bookings..
Or they saw they had been in a lot of trouble just being an review place. So decided to change feet, and go in an other direction . Being the booking engine of all times plus where people go to check out places to visit.
Thee big gorilla. So now thee only business reviews would be Yelp ,Google and a few others.
Now what will the cost be? Now and in the future? Will belonging to t rip will all cost go up in 6 months? Will you find it easy to rebut what people say about you ? At first I imagine they will try bookings as they saw the light of how they could make it even bigger.and bigger business. More money in their pockets Smart move. Wonder how other booking engines are feeling about this move. What will fall? there are so many booking engines out there.
Time will tell what all T A will add to this booking engine.!! this maybe very interesting.??
 
Is this a way to force those of us who refuse to pay for the link to pay up? Or can we just stay as is. I have no interest in dealing with them for bookings for my measly four rooms.
Riki
 
One. More. Thing.
I guess it had to happen, right? They just started in reverse...get the ratings first, then get the bookings..
Or they saw they had been in a lot of trouble just being an review place. So decided to change feet, and go in an other direction . Being the booking engine of all times plus where people go to check out places to visit.
Thee big gorilla. So now thee only business reviews would be Yelp ,Google and a few others.
Now what will the cost be? Now and in the future? Will belonging to t rip will all cost go up in 6 months? Will you find it easy to rebut what people say about you ? At first I imagine they will try bookings as they saw the light of how they could make it even bigger.and bigger business. More money in their pockets Smart move. Wonder how other booking engines are feeling about this move. What will fall? there are so many booking engines out there.
Time will tell what all T A will add to this booking engine.!! this maybe very interesting.??
.
If all the B+B's refuse to sign up maybe they will stick to just the big hotels. No way, with 3 rooms, am I going to get in bed with them!
 
One. More. Thing.
I guess it had to happen, right? They just started in reverse...get the ratings first, then get the bookings..
Or they saw they had been in a lot of trouble just being an review place. So decided to change feet, and go in an other direction . Being the booking engine of all times plus where people go to check out places to visit.
Thee big gorilla. So now thee only business reviews would be Yelp ,Google and a few others.
Now what will the cost be? Now and in the future? Will belonging to t rip will all cost go up in 6 months? Will you find it easy to rebut what people say about you ? At first I imagine they will try bookings as they saw the light of how they could make it even bigger.and bigger business. More money in their pockets Smart move. Wonder how other booking engines are feeling about this move. What will fall? there are so many booking engines out there.
Time will tell what all T A will add to this booking engine.!! this maybe very interesting.??
.
If all the B+B's refuse to sign up maybe they will stick to just the big hotels. No way, with 3 rooms, am I going to get in bed with them!
.
Silverspoon said:
If all the B+B's refuse to sign up maybe they will stick to just the big hotels. No way, with 3 rooms, am I going to get in bed with them!
Said as only an innkeeper can say it!
thumbs_up.gif

 
One. More. Thing.
I guess it had to happen, right? They just started in reverse...get the ratings first, then get the bookings..
Or they saw they had been in a lot of trouble just being an review place. So decided to change feet, and go in an other direction . Being the booking engine of all times plus where people go to check out places to visit.
Thee big gorilla. So now thee only business reviews would be Yelp ,Google and a few others.
Now what will the cost be? Now and in the future? Will belonging to t rip will all cost go up in 6 months? Will you find it easy to rebut what people say about you ? At first I imagine they will try bookings as they saw the light of how they could make it even bigger.and bigger business. More money in their pockets Smart move. Wonder how other booking engines are feeling about this move. What will fall? there are so many booking engines out there.
Time will tell what all T A will add to this booking engine.!! this maybe very interesting.??
.
If all the B+B's refuse to sign up maybe they will stick to just the big hotels. No way, with 3 rooms, am I going to get in bed with them!
.
Silverspoon said:
If all the B+B's refuse to sign up maybe they will stick to just the big hotels. No way, with 3 rooms, am I going to get in bed with them!
Said as only an innkeeper can say it!
thumbs_up.gif

.
Joey Bloggs said:
Silverspoon said:
If all the B+B's refuse to sign up maybe they will stick to just the big hotels. No way, with 3 rooms, am I going to get in bed with them!
Said as only an innkeeper can say it!
thumbs_up.gif
And this is true!!!
 
Sorry, but I think you jumped the gun on this one at least that is how I interpret it. It is NOT TA book...it is this company free to book dot com deal.
As I looked at the video it appears that they have has some sort of widget thing you get from them...that can be installed into TA then you pay when someone clicks and makes a reservation.
It looks like this is just in Europe and not the US. Though I may be totally wrong...I have been before
wink_smile.gif
 
Sorry, but I think you jumped the gun on this one at least that is how I interpret it. It is NOT TA book...it is this company free to book dot com deal.
As I looked at the video it appears that they have has some sort of widget thing you get from them...that can be installed into TA then you pay when someone clicks and makes a reservation.
It looks like this is just in Europe and not the US. Though I may be totally wrong...I have been before
wink_smile.gif
.
EmptyNest said:
Sorry, but I think you jumped the gun on this one at least that is how I interpret it. It is NOT TA book...it is this company free to book dot com deal.
As I looked at the video it appears that they have has some sort of widget thing you get from them...that can be installed into TA then you pay when someone clicks and makes a reservation.
It looks like this is just in Europe and not the US. Though I may be totally wrong...I have been before
wink_smile.gif
I have invited those who said "The secret it out" to comment here. So we should find out soon, aye.
 
Sorry, but I think you jumped the gun on this one at least that is how I interpret it. It is NOT TA book...it is this company free to book dot com deal.
As I looked at the video it appears that they have has some sort of widget thing you get from them...that can be installed into TA then you pay when someone clicks and makes a reservation.
It looks like this is just in Europe and not the US. Though I may be totally wrong...I have been before
wink_smile.gif
.
EmptyNest said:
Sorry, but I think you jumped the gun on this one at least that is how I interpret it. It is NOT TA book...it is this company free to book dot com deal.
As I looked at the video it appears that they have has some sort of widget thing you get from them...that can be installed into TA then you pay when someone clicks and makes a reservation.
It looks like this is just in Europe and not the US. Though I may be totally wrong...I have been before
wink_smile.gif
I have invited those who said "The secret it out" to comment here. So we should find out soon, aye.
.
There is a LOT of Freetobookdotcom talk on another couple of forums - UK and Europe mostly.
 
Sorry, but I think you jumped the gun on this one at least that is how I interpret it. It is NOT TA book...it is this company free to book dot com deal.
As I looked at the video it appears that they have has some sort of widget thing you get from them...that can be installed into TA then you pay when someone clicks and makes a reservation.
It looks like this is just in Europe and not the US. Though I may be totally wrong...I have been before
wink_smile.gif
.
EmptyNest said:
Sorry, but I think you jumped the gun on this one at least that is how I interpret it. It is NOT TA book...it is this company free to book dot com deal.
As I looked at the video it appears that they have has some sort of widget thing you get from them...that can be installed into TA then you pay when someone clicks and makes a reservation.
It looks like this is just in Europe and not the US. Though I may be totally wrong...I have been before
wink_smile.gif
I have invited those who said "The secret it out" to comment here. So we should find out soon, aye.
.
They are a booking company in EU...like REs Key is here for us. So they are doing something similar like the new feature on RK...though John doesn't have set up for pay to click to TA. Though watch out....he just might come up with a similar thing.
 
Any deal to force that will essentially dilute the value of the reviews and become just one more OTA. There are plenty of OTAs out there. The trick is NOT to become one because if you are, you have no reason for the businesses to send people your way.
 
Any deal to force that will essentially dilute the value of the reviews and become just one more OTA. There are plenty of OTAs out there. The trick is NOT to become one because if you are, you have no reason for the businesses to send people your way..
THIS is not I repeat NOT a TA initiated OTA. This is a company doing their own thing via TA. in Europe.
 
Any deal to force that will essentially dilute the value of the reviews and become just one more OTA. There are plenty of OTAs out there. The trick is NOT to become one because if you are, you have no reason for the businesses to send people your way..
THIS is not I repeat NOT a TA initiated OTA. This is a company doing their own thing via TA. in Europe.
.
EmptyNest said:
THIS is not I repeat NOT a TA initiated OTA. This is a company doing their own thing via TA. in Europe.
Well I kind of disagree. When I go to the TA homepage now, the whole top half of the screen is a box asking me to enter the hotel or city I want, and my checkin/checkout dates.
I entered Capital Hotel, Little Rock and put in a couple of dates. It took me to the Capital TA page, with a big blue button telling me I can get the "featured rate" for $220. I clicked the blue button and it took me to a page to select the room I want, and to book it.
If that's not an online travel booking site, I don't know what is!
I entered my own place's name and it brought up my own TA page, but no way to book because I haven't joined the club. I can see where an owner would like people who find them on TA to be able to book right from the TA page, while they're in the mood.
 
All I see is a different format to what they have been doing for a long time. They have had a search a date for a while for properties that use Expedia, hotels, booking, and now several others. I did see how 1 chain hotel's page had a way to also book direct - via the main hotel chain's website. I am sure TA gets a kickback from these booking companies. But again, nothing new except the format which is far more visible than before.
Edited this to correct myself: I have found that one of the new booking companies in the list is TINGO - after looking at MY listing in TA, and seeing that TINGO was offering a 'FREE UPGRADE" at my B&B I was of course curious as to how that was going to be managed since they would have to contact me to do this! Clicking on the booking button I see that TINGO is a TA company. So there is that answer!
btw, once I was on that page the free upgrade offer was not offered. Not a good way to get business for them OR for me for that matter. So as a potential guest, would you think that it was an error by TINGO or by my business? As that is false advertising in my book.... I sure don't want people thinking I am doing such!
 
I wonder why they are bothering? They are the biggest site in their space and a booking site they are what 4th or 5th?
 
Any deal to force that will essentially dilute the value of the reviews and become just one more OTA. There are plenty of OTAs out there. The trick is NOT to become one because if you are, you have no reason for the businesses to send people your way..
THIS is not I repeat NOT a TA initiated OTA. This is a company doing their own thing via TA. in Europe.
.
EmptyNest said:
THIS is not I repeat NOT a TA initiated OTA. This is a company doing their own thing via TA. in Europe.
Well I kind of disagree. When I go to the TA homepage now, the whole top half of the screen is a box asking me to enter the hotel or city I want, and my checkin/checkout dates.
I entered Capital Hotel, Little Rock and put in a couple of dates. It took me to the Capital TA page, with a big blue button telling me I can get the "featured rate" for $220. I clicked the blue button and it took me to a page to select the room I want, and to book it.
If that's not an online travel booking site, I don't know what is!
I entered my own place's name and it brought up my own TA page, but no way to book because I haven't joined the club. I can see where an owner would like people who find them on TA to be able to book right from the TA page, while they're in the mood.
.
They have had that for a while. Yes you can type in a name. but if that place doesn't have one of the online booking sites to book it...All you get is the reviews from that site. So for those who have it..yes they can book..but it is not done through TA, it is being done by the listed booking sites. A difference...from the "pay to click" that started this thread.
 
Any deal to force that will essentially dilute the value of the reviews and become just one more OTA. There are plenty of OTAs out there. The trick is NOT to become one because if you are, you have no reason for the businesses to send people your way..
THIS is not I repeat NOT a TA initiated OTA. This is a company doing their own thing via TA. in Europe.
.
EmptyNest said:
THIS is not I repeat NOT a TA initiated OTA. This is a company doing their own thing via TA. in Europe.
Well I kind of disagree. When I go to the TA homepage now, the whole top half of the screen is a box asking me to enter the hotel or city I want, and my checkin/checkout dates.
I entered Capital Hotel, Little Rock and put in a couple of dates. It took me to the Capital TA page, with a big blue button telling me I can get the "featured rate" for $220. I clicked the blue button and it took me to a page to select the room I want, and to book it.
If that's not an online travel booking site, I don't know what is!
I entered my own place's name and it brought up my own TA page, but no way to book because I haven't joined the club. I can see where an owner would like people who find them on TA to be able to book right from the TA page, while they're in the mood.
.
They have had that for a while. Yes you can type in a name. but if that place doesn't have one of the online booking sites to book it...All you get is the reviews from that site. So for those who have it..yes they can book..but it is not done through TA, it is being done by the listed booking sites. A difference...from the "pay to click" that started this thread.
.
EmptyNest said:
They have had that for a while. Yes you can type in a name. but if that place doesn't have one of the online booking sites to book it...All you get is the reviews from that site. So for those who have it..yes they can book..but it is not done through TA, it is being done by the listed booking sites. A difference...from the "pay to click" that started this thread.
As mentioned one of the major chains has that on their listings, only it is listed as one of the options along with Expedia and the like instead of the separate listing embedded as the article shows. Check out this city for example: Hampton, HI, etc. show their OWN website rates right along with the likes of expedia et al.
Different from the pay to click option - but I am sure that TA is getting some compensation just as they are from the other booking sources.
TA is out there to make money folks, their intent from day 1.
 
Any deal to force that will essentially dilute the value of the reviews and become just one more OTA. There are plenty of OTAs out there. The trick is NOT to become one because if you are, you have no reason for the businesses to send people your way..
THIS is not I repeat NOT a TA initiated OTA. This is a company doing their own thing via TA. in Europe.
.
EmptyNest said:
THIS is not I repeat NOT a TA initiated OTA. This is a company doing their own thing via TA. in Europe.
Well I kind of disagree. When I go to the TA homepage now, the whole top half of the screen is a box asking me to enter the hotel or city I want, and my checkin/checkout dates.
I entered Capital Hotel, Little Rock and put in a couple of dates. It took me to the Capital TA page, with a big blue button telling me I can get the "featured rate" for $220. I clicked the blue button and it took me to a page to select the room I want, and to book it.
If that's not an online travel booking site, I don't know what is!
I entered my own place's name and it brought up my own TA page, but no way to book because I haven't joined the club. I can see where an owner would like people who find them on TA to be able to book right from the TA page, while they're in the mood.
.
They have had that for a while. Yes you can type in a name. but if that place doesn't have one of the online booking sites to book it...All you get is the reviews from that site. So for those who have it..yes they can book..but it is not done through TA, it is being done by the listed booking sites. A difference...from the "pay to click" that started this thread.
.
EmptyNest said:
They have had that for a while. Yes you can type in a name. but if that place doesn't have one of the online booking sites to book it...All you get is the reviews from that site. So for those who have it..yes they can book..but it is not done through TA, it is being done by the listed booking sites. A difference...from the "pay to click" that started this thread.
As mentioned one of the major chains has that on their listings, only it is listed as one of the options along with Expedia and the like instead of the separate listing embedded as the article shows. Check out this city for example: Hampton, HI, etc. show their OWN website rates right along with the likes of expedia et al.
Different from the pay to click option - but I am sure that TA is getting some compensation just as they are from the other booking sources.
TA is out there to make money folks, their intent from day 1.
.
copperhead said:
TA is out there to make money folks, their intent from day 1.
Mine too!
 
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