New Live View Augmented Reality Feature Added to TripAdvisor App

TripAdvisor, the world's largest travel site, today announced the launch of its new "Live View" feature for the TripAdvisor App for the iPad 2, iPhone and iPod touch, available now in the App Store. The new augmented reality functionality allows travellers to view TripAdvisor's more than 45 million traveller reviews and opinions of hotels, restaurants and attractions superimposed over what they see through the camera of their mobile device. For instance, if a traveller is standing outside a restaurant, they can simply point their mobile device camera at it and TripAdvisor ratings and reviews of that establishment will automatically be displayed on the screen.

"With the launch of the new Live View feature for the TripAdvisor App, travellers can simply point their iPad 2, iPhone or iPod touch at establishments to easily access TripAdvisor's wealth of trusted reviews and opinions on hotels, restaurants and attractions with augmented reality in real-time while they're out and about in their travel destination" said Mike Putnam, director of mobile product for TripAdvisor.

In addition to Live View, TripAdvisor has added its Virtual Tours feature to its App for the iPhone and iPod touch. The functionality allows travellers to take a virtual walk through their travel destination with TripAdvisor reviews and opinions superimposed over Street View from Google.

The TripAdvisor App also has a wealth of other helpful travel planning features, including:

·         TripAdvisor's more than 45 million reviews and opinions for hotels, restaurants and attractions. Travellers can even add their own reviews while their experiences are fresh.

·         "Near Me Now" functionality, so travellers can determine what hotels, restaurants and attractions are nearby.

·         Unique map-based browsing on the iPad, giving travellers the lay of the land in their travel destination.

·         The ability to find cheap flights using the award-winning TripAdvisor Flights search engine, and compare airline fees using its Fees Estimator.

·         Access to the TripAdvisor forums, where users can ask questions of their fellow travellers and receive helpful feedback.

·         Traveler photos of hotels, restaurants, attractions and destinations.

The TripAdvisor App is available for free from the App Store on the iPad:

http://itunes.apple.com/uk/app/tripadvisor-hotels-flights/id284876795?mt=8

Soaring petrol prices bad news for domestic tourism

As petrol prices continue to rise, a brand new TripAdvisor poll reveals that soaring fuel costs could have a negative impact on UK domestic holidays. Over a third (35%) of British travellers admit that the cost of petrol means they are now more likely to book a holiday abroad.

The survey of over 2,000* British travellers also reveals that 19% are less likely to holiday in Britain this year because driving will be “too expensive”.  A further 29% claim the rising petrol prices won’t affect their domestic holiday plans and 3% say they are now more likely to use the train for domestic travel. These results come just weeks after the government released its new tourism strategy, aimed at growing domestic travel.     

“British drivers are clearly frustrated with the ever-rising cost of petrol,” commented Emma O’Boyle, TripAdvisor spokesperson.  “It makes British road trips less feasible and low-cost flights to other countries more appealing, which is a real shame because the UK has some of the best holiday spots and beaches in Europe.” 

*Survey carried out on 2,113 users on TripAdvisor.co.uk between 25^th March and 30^th March 2011

TripAdvisor Crowned Best Travel App at Appy Awards

TripAdvisor’s mobile app has been voted ‘best travel app’ at the inaugural Carphone Warehouse Appy Awards. More than 30,000 people voted for 50 applications across 10 categories and the awards were hosted by Richard Hammond and Amanda Bryam in a star-studded ceremony in London last night.

Nathan Clapton, TripAdvisor VP Mobile Partnerships, comments, “We’re thrilled to be crowned best travel app - this is well deserved recognition to the mobile product and engineering teams who have launched 50 enhancements to our app over the last year. TripAdvisor is the world’s largest travel site with over 45 millions reviews and opinions and our app means travellers can tap into this while they’re on the move.

“We are going to see more and more travellers taking mobile devices -  phones and tablets -  with them on their trips and using them actively as part of their travel experience, so to be voted the best travel app in the Appy Awards is a great honour.”

As well as allowing travellers to search for hotels, restaurants, attractions, and the cheapest airfares, the TripAdvisor mobile app also features the ability to see what’s “near me now” and use TripAdvisor ratings to pick the best of what’s around you. The app also means travellers can send in reviews while they’re on the road while their experiences are still fresh.

The Carphone Warehouse Appys is the UK’s first major app awards ceremony designed to recognise innovation and development in app technology.

For more information please contact:
Emma O’Boyle

Office: +44 203 320 3210

Mobile: +44 777 926 2423

Email: eoboyle@tripadvisor.com

TripAdvisor Reveals the Top 10 British Hen Party Destinations

Newcastle Favourite for British Brides-to-be

TripAdvisor, the world’s largest travel website, can now exclusively reveal the UK’s most popular hen party destinations.  If you are a bridesmaid or maid of honour in need of inspiration for where to send the bride-to-be off in style, then look no further.

This list, indentifying the UK’s most popular hen-do destinations, is based on TripAdvisor site data, calculating the number of times that travellers reference hen parties in their candid TripAdvisor reviews*. Without a doubt, the top choices for British hen party weekends are the popular party destinations of Newcastle, Blackpool and Bournemouth.

“This list reveals the destinations of choice for hens and their friends flock to,” commented Emma O’Boyle, TripAdvisor spokesperson. “They’re all tried-and-tested favourites for a reason. Whether you’re looking for a traditional wild night out or a more sophisticated girly weekend away TripAdvisor travellers have tried them all.”

The Top Ten Spot Taken By Newcastle

Newcastle takes the top spot, with the Jurys Inn Newcastle crowned the city’s hen party headquarters – the hotel has more references to hen parties than any other in Newcastle. As one TripAdvisor reviewer remarked “this hotel is ideal for stags and hens”

1.    Newcastle

2.    Blackpool

3.    Bournemouth

4.    Liverpool

5.    Leeds

6.    Edinburgh

7.    Manchester

8.    Belfast

9.    Nottingham

10. Bristol

*List determined according to number of references to ‘hen parties’ in TripAdvisor reviews between March 2010 and March 2011

TripAdvisor Reaches 5 Million Unique Monthly Visitors Through Mobile Devices

Just one short year ago, TripAdvisor was in the testing phases of its mobile website. Now, one year and several app launches later, TripAdvisor has more than five million unique monthly visitors accessing its travel advice and content through their mobile devices. This includes traffic to our mobile website, as well as our free apps for the iPhone, Android, Nokia, and Palm smartphones, and the iPad.

Although the TripAdvisor iPad app was the latest to launch in December, it has already reached #1 in free travel apps for the iPad in 50 countries. It also features a cool map-based browsing experience, so you can really get the lay of the land in a destination before you leave for your trip.

For more information about TripAdvisor's mobile offerings, check out tripadvisor.com/mobile. Be sure to try them out when planning and taking your next vacation!

Tunisia sees significant lift in TripAdvisor traffic

Confidence Restored Following Foreign Office Advice

TripAdvisor, the world’s largest travel website, today reveals that in the four days immediately following the Foreign Office’s travel advice change for Tunisia, the country saw a 19%* uplift in traffic compared to the four days before.

The Foreign Office lifted its warning against all non-essential travel to country last Friday 4^th February which has stimulated traveller interest in the region. This will come as welcome news to the Tunisian hospitality industry following a turbulent few months. Some tour operators, who have cancelled package holidays to Tunisia, are said to be reconsidering their stance with some flights expected to resume in early March.

“It is always important to check with the Foreign Office before travelling, but this is encouraging news for British travellers and tour operators, as well as the Tunisian travel industry,” comments Emma O’Boyle, TripAdvisor spokesperson.  “Tunisia is a popular holiday destination for Brits and UK visitors are clearly starting to consider Tunisia as a viable destination once again.”

*Data obtained by comparing Tunisia page views on www.TripAdvisor.co.uk from 30^th January-3^rd February 2011  against 4^th-8^th February 2011. Data identifies a 19% increase in share of page views on TripAdvisor.co.uk

For the full FCO travel advice on Tunisia see: ** http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/middle-east-north-africa/tunisia

Smoke-free Spain brings in the Brits

A new poll of over 3,000 travellers has revealed Spain could soon see a surge in British tourists. The country instituted a strict smoking ban on 2^nd January which caused nearly half* of Brits to say they are now more likely to consider Spain as a holiday destination this year.  The ban is one of the strictest in Europe and prohibits smoking in all bars and restaurants, in television broadcasts, in playgrounds and near hospitals.

The TripAdvisor poll revealed the smoking ban has made 33% of Brits “much more likely” to consider a holiday in Spain this year, while another 10% are “a little more likely”.  While many Brits welcome the change, a smoke-loving 15% are now “much less likely” to consider Spain this year.

This news, combined with the pound’s strength against the Euro, could be good news for Spain’s tourism industry.  “Spain, a traditional favourite for British travellers, has taken a hit in recent years due to the Euro’s climb against the pound. Now that the smoking ban has been so well received by Brits and the exchange rate is at its most favourable for years, Spain may see UK travellers visiting en masse again,” comments Emma O’Boyle, TripAdvisor spokesperson.

*Poll carried out on 3,201 TripAdvisor.co.uk users between 20^th and 27^th January 2011