To get more Tripadvisor reviews, ask every guest at the end of their stay or meal, give them a quick way to reach your Tripadvisor review page, and use Tripadvisor's own free tools to follow up by email. Tripadvisor matters most for hotels, B&Bs, restaurants and attractions in places that draw visitors, because travellers often use it to choose where to stay and eat. The basics are the same as for Google reviews, with a few Tripadvisor-specific details.
Ask at the right moment
- Hotels and B&Bs: at check-out, when the guest is settling the bill and saying goodbye.
- Restaurants: when the bill arrives.
- Attractions and tours: at the end of the visit, before people head off.
Keep it to one sentence, for example: "If you enjoyed your stay, we'd be really grateful for a review on Tripadvisor. You can just tap your phone on this card."
Make it quick
Finding a business on Tripadvisor and getting to the review form takes several steps on a phone, and guests on their way out don't have long. A direct route helps:
- A Tripadvisor review card that opens your review page when the guest taps their phone on it.
- A QR code linking to your Tripadvisor review page, printed on the bill, a room card or a table card.
- Your review link in the confirmation or thank-you email.
Use Tripadvisor's free tools
Tripadvisor offers businesses free tools through its Management Center, including a way to email review requests to recent guests and printable stickers and certificates. If you've claimed your listing, it's worth setting these up. Requests sent by email work best when they arrive within a day or two of the visit.
Tripadvisor's rules
Tripadvisor's rules are similar to Google's:
- You can ask all guests for reviews.
- You can't offer a discount, upgrade, gift or prize draw entry in exchange for a review.
- You can't ask only the guests you expect to be happy, or steer unhappy guests away from reviewing.
- Owners, staff and their families shouldn't review the business.
Tripadvisor penalises businesses it catches breaking these rules, which can include lowering their ranking and showing a warning on their listing. Fake reviews are also illegal in the UK under consumer law.
Google or Tripadvisor?
Asking a guest to review you on two sites is usually too much. Many hotels and restaurants ask most guests for a Google review, because that's what local searchers see first, and ask for Tripadvisor where visitors make up a large share of customers. A multiple-platform card or stand lets guests choose which site they'd rather use, which takes the decision off staff.
Reply to every review
Travellers read management replies on Tripadvisor closely. A short, personal thank you for good reviews and a calm, helpful reply to bad ones both help. Mention something specific from the review so the reply doesn't read as copied.
Common questions
Can I give guests a discount for a Tripadvisor review?
No. Tripadvisor doesn't allow incentives of any kind for reviews.
How do I find my Tripadvisor review link?
Open your listing on Tripadvisor and choose the option to write a review. The address of that page is your review link. Tripadvisor's Management Center also gives you links and widgets for collecting reviews.
Do Tripadvisor review cards work on all phones?
They work on most smartphones, including iPhone XS and later and most Android phones with NFC switched on. A QR code is a good backup for older phones.