travel community websites
DESCRIPTION
TRANSCRIPT
ANALYSIS OF COMMUNITY WEBSITES
Pauline CRASTGabrielle DESROCHES
Anne-Sophie RIVEREAU
Vs.
CONTENT• IGOUGO
– Community profile 3– Interactive services 4– Hotel Booking Sources 6– Hotels best suited for the site 7
• GUSTO– Community profile 8– Interactive services 10– Hotel Booking Sources 14– Hotels best suited for the site 16
• SUMMARY 17• MORE ABOUT COMMUNITY WEBSITES 18• CONCLUSION 20
COMMUNITY PROFILE
Facts found in the section « About Us » of the IgoUgo website:
1/2 million members in the world
The community contributes and builds the database : « members share their trip stories and pictures, building a library of honest opinions, tips, and experiences that you won’t find in any guidebook”
INTERACTIVE SERVICES Members may add their personal touch to the community, and even create a travel journalMembers can
find information on a special location with a search engine within the site
Other interactive sections are the community blog that can followed by RSS, a personal user page and the « Create a Trip Plan » section
Members or visitors can search for flights, hotels, packages and car rentals.
They must tick the OTAs and portals that interest them to conduct the search and they are redirected to these sites
HOTEL BOOKING SOURCES
HOTELS BEST SUITED FOR THIS COMMUNITY WEBSITE
Hotels which are already well placed on OTA websites (first in the list) usually hotel chains
Boutique hotels / independant hotels: members and users are looking for new experiences that they share between them
COMMUNITY PROFILE
Not so many facts can be found in the section « About Us » of the Gusto! website:
It has been created in 2005
The site is still waiting for the patent and being developed
• The site offers worldwide destinations, though with a strong emphasis on the USA
• As a community it makes it possible for travellers to share their experiences and recommendations
INTERACTIVE SERVICES
Clients also have access to special rates by phoning a USA phone line
Gusto has its own search engine for hotels, cars, restaurants etc. Results are listed according to the members’ favourites, price, location etc.
With the Gusto grabber, members can save travel information that they found on Gusto or somewhere else on the net…
You simply have to create an account. Members are then able to find back their favorite destinations etc.
INTERACTIVE SERVICES
To make it as easy as possible, the use of the Gusto Grabber is explained with many details and as clearly as possible, step by step
Some other interactive services include a newsletter…
and a Gusto News section, redirecting the users onto USAToday.com:
HOTEL BOOKING SOURCES:
Users can book either thanks to a phone call or via the internet.They have to select a destination, date, and the number of guests and rooms.
HOTEL BOOKING SOURCES:
Users can book directly through this website.
Average member rating helps the clients in making their decision (but they can also browse by value, location etc.)
They still have the option to phone.
HOTELS BEST SUITED FOR THIS COMMUNITY WEBSITE
Hotels with good quality of services: users first see the members’ picks
Independant / design hotels: way to be visible + build reputation (reviews)
Hotel chains: suitable for members who seek standards through well -known brands
SUMMARYIGOUGO.COM GUSTO.COM
Community Status
Well-established, globally spread community website (1/2 million
members)
Website still in development (patent pending, design of the site)
Destinations concerned
Worldwide destinations, frequent-changing « destination spotlight » on
the landing page
Worldwide destinations although the landing page focuses on USA
destinations
Main focus of the site
Emphasis on users’ profiles, reviews and tips, rather than rates and
packages
Emphasis on hotel and package deals, may then be completed by members’ reviews (last reviews:
2008)
Hotels comparison
Possibility to compare hotel rates depending on the different OTAs and
hotel portals
Possibility to compare hotels by selecting up to 4 hotels on Gusto
regarding rates, amenities, location…
Hotels selection
Choice of hotels found is great: numerous booking portals => international hotel chains are
represented as well as smaller ones
Wide range of hotels, mainly independent ones, but also hotels that belong to international chains
MORE ABOUT COMMUNITY WEBSITES …
• High number of community websites for travellers
• Most of them (not all) feature search engines for hotels, flight tickets etc. but actual bookings are usually made on OTAs or hotel portals
• Some only display reviews + info for these hotels
…VARIOUS VERSIONS
LOW-BUDGET
•www.travelersfortravelers.com
LUXURY
•community.luxurylink.com
GREEN
•www.ecotrotters.com
TO CONCLUDE…
COMMUNITY WEBSITES FOR TRAVELLERS
USEFUL TOOL FOR USERS TO FIND REAL
INFORMATION ( ≠ BROCHURES,
CATALOGUES ETC.)
PERSONAL CONTRIBUTION IS REWARDING FOR THE
MEMBERS + AUTHENTIC FEELING
MEMBERS HAVE THE SAME
INTERESTS AT HEART
COMMUNITY WEBSITES FOR HOTELIERS
IGOUGO VS. GUSTO: BETTER TO APPEAR ON IGOUGO: RATES DISPLAYED = RATES ON OTAS, NO EXTRA WORK FOR HOTELIERS TO CHECK
THE RATE PARITY
OPPORTUNITY TO ACQUIRE CREDIBILITY: AUTHENTIC
REVIEWS FROM TRAVELLERS
GUSTO: WE DO NOT KNOW HOW THE PRICES ARE
NEGOTIATED AND FEELING OF INCOMPLETE WEBSITE
EASY, POWERFUL PUBLICITY & VISIBILITY ON THE NET:
MEMBERS RECOMMEND HOTELS (WORD OF MOUTH)