TripAdvisor’s Latest Redesign Puts the Spotlight on Tours and Activities. What Does that Mean for Tour Operators?
TripAdvisor – the world’s largest Online Travel Agent (OTA) – recently launched a redesigned version of its website, which puts tours and activities front and centre and makes booking every part of a trip more convenient for travellers.
But what does this change mean for tour operators?
Keep reading to learn what new features you can expect to find on TripAdvisor’s revamped website and how you can make the most of them:
Why Is TripAdvisor Refocusing Its Tour and Activity Strategy?
As TripAdvisor sees it, the activity market is booming. Tour bookings have increased 150% year-to-date for TripAdvisor, and it has increased its attractions listings by 63%.
“The tours and attractions industry has been making amazing progress in recent years, moving towards adopting the digital and mobile ways consumers book travel,” said Jeff Chow, Vice President of Product and Attractions at TripAdvisor. “Giving travelers easy access to an authentic Italian cooking class in Rome, a thrilling helicopter flight over the Grand Canyon and a guided tour of Sydney’s iconic Opera House is just as important as helping them book their lodging or a flight. These are the elements of our travels that turn a good trip into a lifelong memory.”
How can the right tour operator software help integrate your tour with leading OTAs like TripAdvisor? Read our blog to find out!
What Do the Changes Look Like?
Built-In “Things to Do” Widget on the Homepage
The focus on tours and activities becomes clear the moment travellers land on TripAdvisors’ homepage, as attractions are featured prominently alongside hotels, vacation rentals, flights, and restaurants. The “Things to Do” widget lets customers type in their destination to find local experiences they can book independently or as part of their overall travel package – helping them unlock the full potential of their trip.
Dedicated Attraction Pages
This resource gives travellers a summary of all bookable attractions and tours for their destination. It incorporates filters that let customers narrow their search to find their ideal activity.
Videos to Inspire Travellers
These are designed to give travellers an engaging sneak-peek of the tour or activity they’re interested in.
More Powerful Point-of-Interest Searches
This change enables location-based searches, which help travellers learn about nearby things to do like finding a tour close to their hotel, airport, or another major landmark.
Easy Redemption of Viator Promo Codes
After purchasing Viator in 2014, TripAdvisor will now accept Viator discount codes on its site.
What Can Tour Operators Do to Make the Most of the Changes?
The most important thing for tour operators is to ensure your activity is prominently featured on TripAdvisor’s website, helping travellers envision your tour as part of their larger travel experience!
Before partnering with an OTA like TripAdvisor, make sure you’re ready to:
- Defend Your Value: Instead of engaging in price wars with competitors, emphasise the value-added perks your tour or attraction offers!
- Capture Attention: You need to make it easy for TripAdvisor to build a profile for your company featuring dynamic descriptions, enticing photos, and attention-grabbing videos.
- Straightforward Booking: Choosing the best, easy-to-use booking software makes it easy for TripAdvisor and customers to book tickets and avoid frustrating complications like overbooking.
Relying on the right tour operator software will simplify and streamline the process for your partners, making it easy to boost exposure and grow sales.
DataTrax’s tour operator software is designed by tour operators for tour operators. Our solutions make it easier for customers across the world to run and grow their businesses. Contact us to learn more about our products and services!
Try our ROI calculator to see how much your business could save with DataTrax!
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