We have now started our 10hr train ride South from Denang towards Nha Trang, and the headache is starting to lift. The kids are trying to avoid doing some school of mum and dad, and Steph is sleeping off her headache. We gave the train lunch a go which was chicken leg and rice with boiled cabbage, it was actually pretty good!
As we have now stayed at several hotels and chatted to a number of our fellow travellers along the way, I am starting to develop a theory about the impact of Trip Advisor on global travel. When I researched and booked the various hotels for this trip, my main source of information was tripadvisor, and as we look to choose restaurants or things to do as we continue our travels, I still look to tripadvisor for information on where to go. This method of research is shared by nearly all the people we have met to date, and all coming to the same conclusions on which hotel is right for each spot. Hence why we are all in the same hotel!
Consequently the hotels that we have stayed at all share the same qualities, the predominant feature being exceptional customer service. These hotels are basic and certainly do not have marketing budgets that can reach an international market, and there are not a wide range of amenities to rave about, yet they are all full. The star rating system which is the traditional mark of a hotels quality is a basic reflection on size and amenities, but beyond the star rating, up until tripadvisor came along, we really had to trust the slick copy of the hotels marketing department to assure us of the level of customer service. A personal recommendation aside.
Anyway, that's all obvious really, so what's my point? Well if the hotels we are staying at are trading purely off their very high rating on tripadvisor, and well beyond their local competition, which I strongly believe they are, and the only true method of getting their hotels or restaurants up the ratings list on tripadvisor is exceptional customer service, then 'we' the punters can be extremely thankful to tripadviosr for a major global improvement in customer service.
In the hotel we stayed at in Hoi An, the Betel Garden Homestay, they proudly display their certificate of excellence from tripadvisor in their reception area, as have all the hotels we have stayed at. It is free for a hotel to list themselves on tripadvisor, and this free listing represents the only marketing that the hotel do, so that is a zero marketing budget, and zero sales people, quite an advantage over old traditional methods!
Last night the hotel treated every guest to an extremely good 4 course meal and as much drink as you could take. The guests mingled with the staff in a very friendly and open atmosphere and a great time was had by all. So if the money being saved on marketing is now going towards this weekly party, then Great! Thank you tripadvisor and may your impact continue to redefine the relationship between guest and hotelier. They will certainly be getting an awesome review from me.
So if this continues, then I believe that the impact on hotels and restaurants could be far more significant than google has been for other business sectors. Google helped companies reach their market far more effectively yet didn't really demand an improvement in service. Tripadvisor is helping hotels and restaurants reach their audience effectively but needs to back this up with a superior offering.
This sort of rambling waffle I'm coming out with is certainly helping the hours slip past on this slow train, with a mild hangover, I may have just put myself to sleep!
It was actually pretty good. The Tripadvisor is helping hotels and restaurants reach their audience effectively.
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