TA is Dying... and They Haven't Noticed

Wow... it's been so long since I have had a review that I started to wonder if it's TA or my guests... it's TA. Apparently some have, they don't get posted.

But it's nothing new, the number of reviews are WAY down, especially for B&Bs, which seem to be leaving TA in droves. Have you noticed that the number of reviews are way down too?

I notice it's hard to find the reviews. The emphasis has changed from reviews to 'great deals!' They are more about selling rooms "deals" than reporting on reviews.

I had a guest call me to ask what was the magic to post - he was frustrated in his attempt to review us.

Reviews for us this year are about normal, but most guests find us through TA. Many guests still comment that they found us through TA as well, and reviews from previous guests is what encouraged them to book with us. I've noticed that B&B's that have moved to allow OTA bookings have seen a decrease in the number of reviews on TA. I assume those OTAs send messages out to guests that have stayed with them for a reveiw on their platform, and guests don't see any reason to leave a review on multiple sites.
I've read that Google is testing a new review system that will aggregate reviews from multiple sites (Google reviews, TA, FB, Yelp, OTAs, etc) and give a red/yellow/green score for when searching for businesses. I've been encouraging guests that ask where to leave a review to post to google. Seems to me that google is where people may be looking for reviews to help making planning decisions in the near future.

We got our first ta review of the year yesterday. 6 full months, not a single review. I think that was 7 months since the last time.
And that person gave us a review on ta and on Facebook. But she really likes writing reviews. It's possible everyone is bored.

I've noticed for a while that the number of reviews we're getting is down.

I agree. Only a handful in the last few years. I have had a great deal of Google reviews start in the last few months. I agree, I think people are getting tired of TA. That said, I think they will be around for awhile.

This fits with what I've been seeing, and the thread I started last week on people being turned off of reviewing by the relentless requests for reviews we get from every quarter. I've quit asking for reviews, because people don't appreciate the requests. Enough! Too much!
I disagree about TA dying. That's premature. But they have to change, or they'll eventually go the way of Sears.

Well, I know for a fact that they haven't posted all my reviews. Had a guest email me to let me know how much she enjoyed her stay and to watch for her review on TA. That was weeks ago. Nada. And yes, my reviews are down this year too.

2cat_lady said:

Well, I know for a fact that they haven't posted all my reviews. Had a guest email me to let me know how much she enjoyed her stay and to watch for her review on TA. That was weeks ago. Nada. And yes, my reviews are down this year too..

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If she wrote the review while at your house that may be why it never showed up.

Well I do think that air has taken a lot of guests from the normal B+B market in our area. When I browse through the air listings near us and see that every visitor has left a glowing review for what I know is a less-than-stellar accommodation I figure that something is changing.
It will be interesting to see if the TA complex of OTAs tries to gobble up air too!

Silverspoon said:

Well I do think that air has taken a lot of guests from the normal B+B market in our area. When I browse through the air listings near us and see that every visitor has left a glowing review for what I know is a less-than-stellar accommodation I figure that something is changing.
It will be interesting to see if the TA complex of OTAs tries to gobble up air too!.

Click to expand...

Around here, Air is chasing the last dollar. Constantly, I see the prices going lower and lower and lower. Of course most of these people haven't had the taxes catch up to them and they don't realize that they are renting below costs.
I laughed a few weeks ago. One guy finally got his city commercial tax bill for all the apartments and he was up in arms that he shouldn't be charged commercial property tax.... hoping that others would chime in.. nope, silence... he's not residential! His property tax bill just went up by 4X. So, now that he's paying all the taxes, let's see him compete for that very last dollar.
Meanwhile, I'm full and I haven't lowered my rate. Now I'm hoping to work on getting the other B&B operators around here to help in the fight to make them pay their taxes... cause it drives them out of business. They were all tax cheats!

I've been encouraging my guests to post reviews on Google and avoid TA & Yelp at all costs. I hate those sites, plus Google's reviews have a much bigger impact on a business's SEO

I howled the other day when a neighbor who has been using Air for four years complained about not having anyone book her extra suite. When I showed her how many other people in the area now are renting out rooms and houses and severely undercutting her, she was incensed. I just smiled and enjoyed the schadenfreude.

PhineasSwann said:

I howled the other day when a neighbor who has been using Air for four years complained about not having anyone book her extra suite. When I showed her how many other people in the area now are renting out rooms and houses and severely undercutting her, she was incensed. I just smiled and enjoyed the schadenfreude..

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Generic said:

Silverspoon said:

Well I do think that air has taken a lot of guests from the normal B+B market in our area. When I browse through the air listings near us and see that every visitor has left a glowing review for what I know is a less-than-stellar accommodation I figure that something is changing.
It will be interesting to see if the TA complex of OTAs tries to gobble up air too!.

Click to expand...

Around here, Air is chasing the last dollar. Constantly, I see the prices going lower and lower and lower. Of course most of these people haven't had the taxes catch up to them and they don't realize that they are renting below costs.
I laughed a few weeks ago. One guy finally got his city commercial tax bill for all the apartments and he was up in arms that he shouldn't be charged commercial property tax.... hoping that others would chime in.. nope, silence... he's not residential! His property tax bill just went up by 4X. So, now that he's paying all the taxes, let's see him compete for that very last dollar.
Meanwhile, I'm full and I haven't lowered my rate. Now I'm hoping to work on getting the other B&B operators around here to help in the fight to make them pay their taxes... cause it drives them out of business. They were all tax cheats!
.

Click to expand...

We're listed on air, most often their system of recommending prices is laughable. There's hardly a room to be had in the whole of the Highlands at the moment, yet air says I should be charging £75ish for July. Yeah, right, that's lower than my winter rate. Ever heard of supply and demand.
I can imaging though that people not used to B&B would be fooled by air into thinking that's the sort of prices they should be charging.

Arks said:

This fits with what I've been seeing, and the thread I started last week on people being turned off of reviewing by the relentless requests for reviews we get from every quarter. I've quit asking for reviews, because people don't appreciate the requests. Enough! Too much!
I disagree about TA dying. That's premature. But they have to change, or they'll eventually go the way of Sears..

Click to expand...

To my knowledge, Google doesn't restrict users with business listings from offering its customers an incentive to leave a review. After my first visit to a spa, they sent me a follow-up email requesting a review in exchange for a $25 gift certificate to use towards my next visit. Seems worthwhile to offer our guests a similar incentive, plus it encourages folks to be repeat guests!

Highlands John said:

Generic said:

Silverspoon said:

Well I do think that air has taken a lot of guests from the normal B+B market in our area. When I browse through the air listings near us and see that every visitor has left a glowing review for what I know is a less-than-stellar accommodation I figure that something is changing.
It will be interesting to see if the TA complex of OTAs tries to gobble up air too!.

Click to expand...

Around here, Air is chasing the last dollar. Constantly, I see the prices going lower and lower and lower. Of course most of these people haven't had the taxes catch up to them and they don't realize that they are renting below costs.
I laughed a few weeks ago. One guy finally got his city commercial tax bill for all the apartments and he was up in arms that he shouldn't be charged commercial property tax.... hoping that others would chime in.. nope, silence... he's not residential! His property tax bill just went up by 4X. So, now that he's paying all the taxes, let's see him compete for that very last dollar.
Meanwhile, I'm full and I haven't lowered my rate. Now I'm hoping to work on getting the other B&B operators around here to help in the fight to make them pay their taxes... cause it drives them out of business. They were all tax cheats!
.

Click to expand...

We're listed on air, most often their system of recommending prices is laughable. There's hardly a room to be had in the whole of the Highlands at the moment, yet air says I should be charging £75ish for July. Yeah, right, that's lower than my winter rate. Ever heard of supply and demand.
I can imaging though that people not used to B&B would be fooled by air into thinking that's the sort of prices they should be charging.
.

Click to expand...

Highlands John said:

I can imaging though that people not used to B&B would be fooled by air into thinking that's the sort of prices they should be charging.

Click to expand...

Can't speak for the UK, but we have people here in Vermont listing nights at $50.
The stupid, it burns.

PhineasSwann said:

Highlands John said:

Generic said:

Silverspoon said:

Well I do think that air has taken a lot of guests from the normal B+B market in our area. When I browse through the air listings near us and see that every visitor has left a glowing review for what I know is a less-than-stellar accommodation I figure that something is changing.
It will be interesting to see if the TA complex of OTAs tries to gobble up air too!.

Click to expand...

Around here, Air is chasing the last dollar. Constantly, I see the prices going lower and lower and lower. Of course most of these people haven't had the taxes catch up to them and they don't realize that they are renting below costs.
I laughed a few weeks ago. One guy finally got his city commercial tax bill for all the apartments and he was up in arms that he shouldn't be charged commercial property tax.... hoping that others would chime in.. nope, silence... he's not residential! His property tax bill just went up by 4X. So, now that he's paying all the taxes, let's see him compete for that very last dollar.
Meanwhile, I'm full and I haven't lowered my rate. Now I'm hoping to work on getting the other B&B operators around here to help in the fight to make them pay their taxes... cause it drives them out of business. They were all tax cheats!
.

Click to expand...

We're listed on air, most often their system of recommending prices is laughable. There's hardly a room to be had in the whole of the Highlands at the moment, yet air says I should be charging £75ish for July. Yeah, right, that's lower than my winter rate. Ever heard of supply and demand.
I can imaging though that people not used to B&B would be fooled by air into thinking that's the sort of prices they should be charging.
.

Click to expand...

Highlands John said:

I can imaging though that people not used to B&B would be fooled by air into thinking that's the sort of prices they should be charging.

Click to expand...

Can't speak for the UK, but we have people here in Vermont listing nights at $50.
The stupid, it burns.
.

Click to expand...

Probably seems like big money for those not "in business" who rent a spare room and put the money direct in their pocket without having any rules to follow. I wonder, does the IRS require that air provide copies of a 1099 showing that funds changed hands?

JimBoone said:

PhineasSwann said:

Highlands John said:

Generic said:

Silverspoon said:

Well I do think that air has taken a lot of guests from the normal B+B market in our area. When I browse through the air listings near us and see that every visitor has left a glowing review for what I know is a less-than-stellar accommodation I figure that something is changing.
It will be interesting to see if the TA complex of OTAs tries to gobble up air too!.

Click to expand...

Around here, Air is chasing the last dollar. Constantly, I see the prices going lower and lower and lower. Of course most of these people haven't had the taxes catch up to them and they don't realize that they are renting below costs.
I laughed a few weeks ago. One guy finally got his city commercial tax bill for all the apartments and he was up in arms that he shouldn't be charged commercial property tax.... hoping that others would chime in.. nope, silence... he's not residential! His property tax bill just went up by 4X. So, now that he's paying all the taxes, let's see him compete for that very last dollar.
Meanwhile, I'm full and I haven't lowered my rate. Now I'm hoping to work on getting the other B&B operators around here to help in the fight to make them pay their taxes... cause it drives them out of business. They were all tax cheats!
.

Click to expand...

We're listed on air, most often their system of recommending prices is laughable. There's hardly a room to be had in the whole of the Highlands at the moment, yet air says I should be charging £75ish for July. Yeah, right, that's lower than my winter rate. Ever heard of supply and demand.
I can imaging though that people not used to B&B would be fooled by air into thinking that's the sort of prices they should be charging.
.

Click to expand...

Highlands John said:

I can imaging though that people not used to B&B would be fooled by air into thinking that's the sort of prices they should be charging.

Click to expand...

Can't speak for the UK, but we have people here in Vermont listing nights at $50.
The stupid, it burns.
.

Click to expand...

Probably seems like big money for those not "in business" who rent a spare room and put the money direct in their pocket without having any rules to follow. I wonder, does the IRS require that air provide copies of a 1099 showing that funds changed hands?
.

Click to expand...

In the US, yes, they send them the 1099. Most of these people are just idiots.