How to Claim Your Hotel on TripAdvisor (Step-by-Step Guide)

TripAdvisor is the world's largest travel platform. If your hotel isn't claimed and optimized, you're missing out on bookings. Here's everything you need to know.

Why TripAdvisor Still Matters in 2026

• 463 million monthly visitors
• 860 million+ reviews and opinions
• Travelers trust peer reviews over marketing
• Strong SEO (TripAdvisor pages rank high on Google)
• Influences both direct and OTA bookings

Step 1: Find Your Hotel on TripAdvisor

1. Go to tripadvisor.com
2. Search for your hotel name + city
3. Check if a listing exists

Three scenarios:

• ✅ Listing exists, unclaimed → Claim it
• ✅ Listing exists, claimed by someone else → Request access
• ❌ No listing → Create one

Step 2: Claim Your Listing (Free)

If your hotel has an unclaimed listing:

1. Click on your hotel's page
2. Look for "Claim Your Business" or "Own this property?"
3. Click through to TripAdvisor Management Center
4. Create an account (or sign in)
5. Verify your association with the property

Verification methods:

• Credit card on file - If you have a card linked to the property
• Phone verification - Call to the hotel's listed number
• Document upload - Business license, utility bill, etc.

[!TIP] Verification usually takes 24-72 hours.

Step 3: Access Management Center

Once verified, you'll have access to TripAdvisor Management Center - your free dashboard for:

• Responding to reviews
• Updating property information
• Uploading photos
• Viewing analytics
• Managing special offers

URL: tripadvisor.com/Owners

Step 4: Complete Your Profile

Property Details

• Accurate name and address
• Star rating
• Property type (hotel, resort, B&B, etc.)
• Price range

Amenities (Check all that apply)

TripAdvisor has hundreds of amenities - be thorough:

• Pool, Spa, Fitness center
• Restaurant, Bar, Room service
• WiFi, Parking, Airport shuttle
• Business center, Meeting rooms
• Accessibility features

Description

Write for travelers, not search engines:

• What makes your hotel special?
• Location highlights
• Recent renovations
• Awards or recognition

Photos (Minimum 10, aim for 30+)

• Professional exterior shots
• All room types
• Bathrooms (yes, people look at these!)
• Dining areas
• Common areas
• Pool and amenities
• Local area/views

[!NOTE] Properties with 30+ photos get 41% more engagement.

Step 5: Respond to Reviews

This is where your ranking is made or broken.

TripAdvisor Response Best Practices:

1. Respond to every review - Yes, even the 5-stars
2. Respond quickly - Within 24-48 hours
3. Be personal - Use the guest's name
4. Thank them - Even for criticism
5. Address specifics - Show you read the whole review
6. Take it offline - For serious complaints, provide contact info
7. Keep it professional - Never argue or get defensive

Example Response (Negative Review):

Dear [Name],

Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We're sorry your stay didn't meet expectations, particularly regarding [specific issue mentioned].

We take these concerns seriously and have [action taken or planned]. We'd appreciate the opportunity to discuss this further and make things right.

Please contact our General Manager at [email] at your convenience.

Warm regards, [Your Name], [Hotel Name]

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Step 6: Use TripAdvisor Tools

Review Express (Free)

Automatically request reviews from guests:

1. Go to Management Center → Marketing Tools
2. Enable Review Express
3. Upload guest email list or connect to your PMS
4. Guests receive email prompts to review

Stickers and Widgets

Get physical "Review us on TripAdvisor" stickers for your front desk, and widgets for your website.

Management Center App

Respond to reviews on the go with the mobile app.

Step 7: Understand TripAdvisor Ranking

TripAdvisor's Popularity Ranking is based on:

1. Quality of reviews - Star ratings
2. Quantity of reviews - More is better
3. Recency of reviews - Fresh reviews matter most
4. Consistency - Steady stream beats sporadic bursts

How to improve your ranking:

• Ask for reviews consistently (not in batches)
• Respond to all reviews
• Fix issues guests mention
• Keep profile updated

Step 8: Consider Paid Options (Optional)

TripAdvisor offers paid tools:

• Business Advantage - Enhanced listing, competitive insights
• Sponsored Placements - Ads in search results
• TripAdvisor Plus - Commission-based booking integration

These are optional. Focus on the free tools first.

Common TripAdvisor Issues

"I can't find my hotel"

List your property: tripadvisor.com/GetListedNew

"Someone else has access to my listing"

Contact TripAdvisor support with proof of ownership.

"A review is fake/unfair"

Report it through Management Center. TripAdvisor investigates but doesn't remove reviews easily.

"My competitor has suspicious reviews"

Report through the platform. Don't engage publicly.

TripAdvisor vs Google Reviews: Both Matter

| Aspect | TripAdvisor | Google | |--------|-------------|--------| | Audience | Travel planners | Everyone | | Trust level | Very high for travel | High overall | | Response tools | Good | Good | | SEO impact | Strong for travel searches | Very strong | | Time to manage | Medium | Medium |

Bottom line: You need both. Different travelers use different platforms.

Your TripAdvisor Checklist

• [ ] Listing claimed and verified
• [ ] Profile 100% complete
• [ ] 30+ high-quality photos uploaded
• [ ] All amenities checked
• [ ] Description optimized
• [ ] Responding to reviews within 48 hours
• [ ] Review Express enabled
• [ ] Management Center app installed

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Last updated: January 2026