HOTELMARKETING.COM

IHG launches own online guest reviews and ratings system

October 26, 2012 | Hotel Marketing

By verifying all reviewers against a database of actual bookings, Intercontinental Hotels can confirm "Real Reviews from Real Guests," a claim which many third party travel websites, including TripAdvisor, cannot make.

IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) one of the world's largest hotel companies, today announced the global launch of Guest Reviews and Ratings for each of its seven existing hotel brand websites, giving online customers the convenience of reading authentic customer feedback while booking their stays.

By verifying all reviewers against a database of actual bookings, IHG can confirm "Real Reviews from Real Guests," a claim which many third party travel websites cannot make. IHG is able to ensure a traveler booking via its brand websites can read an unbiased review of a recent guest's experience. This new feature empowers guests to make an informed decision and book their travel all on the same website.

"We know that reviews play an important role in a guest's decision when booking a hotel" says Michael Menis, IHG's Vice President of Web and Interactive Marketing. "With more than 70% of our guests reading reviews before making a booking decision, we think it is extremely important that these reviews are authentic from verified guests of the hotel so that our customers can make an accurate and informed decision."

IHG has been at the forefront of online booking in the hospitality industry, and was the first hotel company to introduce an online reservation system in 1995. Then, in 2002, IHG pioneered pricing guarantees for the lodging industry with its Lowest Internet Rate Guaranteed. Over the past 18 months, IHG has continued its leadership position and accelerated innovation in the area of driving customer satisfaction, loyalty and purchase behavior through web and mobile technology. Last year alone, the Best Price Guarantee was launched and, another first for the industry, booking applications across all major mobile platforms in multiple languages were introduced. IHG is also a founding partner of Roomkey.com, the hotel search engine, alongside five other top hotel companies.

IHG's Guest Reviews and Ratings are currently available to all properties worldwide in Chinese, English, German and Spanish.

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