ANALYSIS OF COMMUNITY WEBSITES

Pauline CRASTGabrielle DESROCHES

Anne-Sophie RIVEREAU

Vs.

CONTENT• IGOUGO

– Community profile 3– Interactive services 4– Hotel Booking Sources 6– Hotels best suited for the site 7

• GUSTO– Community profile 8– Interactive services 10– Hotel Booking Sources 14– Hotels best suited for the site 16

• SUMMARY 17• MORE ABOUT COMMUNITY WEBSITES 18• CONCLUSION 20

COMMUNITY PROFILE

Facts found in the section « About Us » of the IgoUgo website:

1/2 million members in the world

The community contributes and builds the database : « members share their trip stories and pictures, building a library of honest opinions, tips, and experiences that you won’t find in any guidebook”

INTERACTIVE SERVICES Members may add their personal touch to the community, and even create a travel journalMembers can

find information on a special location with a search engine within the site

Other interactive sections are the community blog that can followed by RSS, a personal user page and the « Create a Trip Plan » section

Members or visitors can search for flights, hotels, packages and car rentals.

They must tick the OTAs and portals that interest them to conduct the search and they are redirected to these sites

HOTEL BOOKING SOURCES

HOTELS BEST SUITED FOR THIS COMMUNITY WEBSITE

Hotels which are already well placed on OTA websites (first in the list) usually hotel chains

Boutique hotels / independant hotels: members and users are looking for new experiences that they share between them

COMMUNITY PROFILE

Not so many facts can be found in the section « About Us » of the Gusto! website:

It has been created in 2005

The site is still waiting for the patent and being developed

• The site offers worldwide destinations, though with a strong emphasis on the USA

• As a community it makes it possible for travellers to share their experiences and recommendations

INTERACTIVE SERVICES

Clients also have access to special rates by phoning a USA phone line

Gusto has its own search engine for hotels, cars, restaurants etc. Results are listed according to the members’ favourites, price, location etc.

With the Gusto  grabber, members can save  travel  information that they found on Gusto or somewhere else on the net…

You simply have to create an account. Members are then able to find back their favorite destinations etc.

INTERACTIVE SERVICES

To make it as easy as possible, the use of the Gusto Grabber is explained with many details and as clearly as possible, step by step

Some other interactive services include a newsletter…

and a Gusto News section, redirecting the users onto USAToday.com:

HOTEL BOOKING SOURCES:

Users can book either thanks to a phone call or via the internet.They have to select a destination, date, and the number of guests and rooms.

HOTEL BOOKING SOURCES:

Users can book directly through this website.

Average member rating helps the clients in making their decision (but they can also browse by value, location etc.)

They still have the option to phone.

HOTELS BEST SUITED FOR THIS COMMUNITY WEBSITE

Hotels with good quality of services: users first see the members’ picks

Independant / design hotels: way to be visible + build reputation (reviews)

Hotel chains: suitable for members who seek standards through well -known brands

SUMMARYIGOUGO.COM GUSTO.COM

Community Status

Well-established, globally spread community website (1/2 million

members)

Website still in development (patent pending, design of the site)

Destinations concerned

Worldwide destinations, frequent-changing « destination spotlight » on

the landing page

Worldwide destinations although the landing page focuses on USA

destinations

Main focus of the site

Emphasis on users’ profiles, reviews and tips, rather than rates and

packages

Emphasis on hotel and package deals, may then be completed by members’ reviews (last reviews:

2008)

Hotels comparison

Possibility to compare hotel rates depending on the different OTAs and

hotel portals

Possibility to compare hotels by selecting up to 4 hotels on Gusto

regarding rates, amenities, location…

Hotels selection

Choice of hotels found is great: numerous booking portals => international hotel chains are

represented as well as smaller ones

Wide range of hotels, mainly independent ones, but also hotels that belong to international chains

MORE ABOUT COMMUNITY WEBSITES …

• High number of community websites for travellers

• Most of them (not all) feature search engines for hotels, flight tickets etc. but actual bookings are usually made on OTAs or hotel portals

• Some only display reviews + info for these hotels

…VARIOUS VERSIONS

LOW-BUDGET

•www.travelersfortravelers.com

LUXURY

•community.luxurylink.com

GREEN

•www.ecotrotters.com

TO CONCLUDE…

COMMUNITY WEBSITES FOR TRAVELLERS

USEFUL TOOL FOR USERS TO FIND REAL

INFORMATION ( ≠ BROCHURES,

CATALOGUES ETC.)

PERSONAL CONTRIBUTION IS REWARDING FOR THE

MEMBERS + AUTHENTIC FEELING

MEMBERS HAVE THE SAME

INTERESTS AT HEART

COMMUNITY WEBSITES FOR HOTELIERS

IGOUGO VS. GUSTO: BETTER TO APPEAR ON IGOUGO: RATES DISPLAYED = RATES ON OTAS, NO EXTRA WORK FOR HOTELIERS TO CHECK

THE RATE PARITY 

OPPORTUNITY TO ACQUIRE CREDIBILITY: AUTHENTIC

REVIEWS FROM TRAVELLERS

GUSTO: WE DO NOT KNOW HOW THE PRICES ARE

NEGOTIATED AND FEELING OF INCOMPLETE WEBSITE

EASY, POWERFUL PUBLICITY & VISIBILITY ON THE NET:

MEMBERS RECOMMEND HOTELS (WORD OF MOUTH)