Did TripAdvisor just launch sponsored placements?

Jerusalem, Israel - March 25, 2015: A trip advisor sticker on a restaurant window in Jerusalem, Israel. TripAdvisor is the most trusted travel website provide with over 200 million traveler reviews on destinations and business.

There’s a new way to get a top listing on TripAdvisor, and it’s causing a stir in the hotel world.

Earlier this week, the travel review site rolled out Sponsored Placements, which allows hotels to buy a spot at the top of TripAdvisor’s page for that city, reports Hotel Management.

Previously, the only way to climb to the top was to have stellar reviews, available rooms and competitive rates.

A similar system was introduced for restaurants last year and the review site has hinted the sponsored places will expand beyond hotels and restaurants soon.

According to Skift, more than 10,000 property owners in 5,500 markets have run campaigns since TripAdvisor began its sponsored ads in beta around three months ago.

“I think this is going to be really good financially for the company as another revenue stream over the next several years in restaurants and hotels, and hopefully some other categories, too,” CEO Stephen Kaufer told Skift.

Kaufer acknowledged the previous way to get to the top was through “your service, and have happy guests, which is still the backbone of the company now”

“But someone who has an amazing property on page two — maybe they’re number 25 in Paris — can now be discovered on that first page, nice and visible,” he told Skift. 

Hotels can choose from three monthly cost-per-click budget options, which allows owners to set their max spend threshold and they will only be charged for the clicks their ad receives.

Latest News

  • Destinations
  • News

APT Launches 2025 Asia Adventures

APT has launched its Asia Adventures for 2025, including new luxury holidays in India, Sri Lanka and Japan. Five new tours lead guests to the highlights of India, including a seven-night cruise along the rarely travelled Lower Ganges aboard the Ganges Voyager. Further south, Sri Lanka’s greatest destinations are revealed on a new 15-day Land […]

  • Cruise
  • Luxury
  • News

Seabourn announces Western Kimberley Traditional Owners as Godparents of Seabourn Pursuit

Seabourn has named Western Kimberley Traditional Owners, the Wunambal Gaambera, as Godparents of the ultra-luxury purpose-built Seabourn Pursuit. It is the first cruise line to appoint Traditional Owners as godparents of a ship. Seabourn Pursuit embarks on its inaugural season in the Kimberley region this June. The naming ceremony will take place on Seabourn Pursuit’s […]

  • Luxury

Malolo Island Resort opens brand new Spa

Fiji’s Malolo Island has added another string to its bow – opening its $1.3 million day spa on Thursday, 18th April 2024. (Lead Image: matriarch Rosie Whitton with spa staff) Located at the edge of the resort’s luscious patch of tropical rainforest, the new “Leilani’s Spa” adds another level of elevated experiences to Malolo’s already […]