TripAdvisor Study Charts Big Improvement in UK Accommodation Standards
Jennifer Billock June 28, 2016
Accommodation standards in the UK are on the rise, according to a recent TripAdvisor study.
Back in 2005, Britain ranked lowest for TripAdvisor ratings, clocking in at 3.57 out of 5 for its hotels and guest houses. But according to a new study by the company, the UK has risen from the ashes of its former performance to be the second top rated country for highly reviewed accommodations.
The study, completed last year, ranked 15 markets in order of highest to lowest performance. Italy took the top spot, followed by the UK in second place, with the US, France, Spain and Thailand trailing behind. Britain has seen the biggest improvement, rising from its former rating score to now hitting an average of 4.16 out of 5.
TripAdvisor’s study showed that the biggest booster to the UK’s ratings came from small, independent accommodations like bed and breakfasts, and hotels with less than 25 rooms.
“These figures are excellent news, and show that the UK has moved in 10 years from the lowest-rated country to the second highest, driven by the success of independent accommodation,” David Weston, chief executive of the Bed & Breakfast Association, told Hospitality and Catering News. “The innovation and quality of small owner-managed properties have raised standards across Britain’s tourism accommodation sector over the decade. Guests clearly love the individuality, character, home-cooked breakfasts and personal service that they get in British B&Bs, which is why – in millions of reviews on TripAdvisor – they consistently score higher ratings than hotels.”
[Photo: Crowne Plaza Resort Colchester]
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Is this a function of improved accommodation or ratings inflation on tripadvisor? I've found that as Tripadvisor has grown in popularity, that the quality of the reviews has diminished. 10 years ago, Tripadvisor reviews tended to be longer, more informative, and done by more experienced travellers with a particular interest in accommodation. Today, reviews are usually less than 100 words with few details, and done more by casual travellers who default to 5/5 ratings so long as the property was satisfactory. The fact that the majority of hotels on Tripadvisor seem to be rated 4 or 4.5/5 has watered down the value of these ratings.