TripAdvisor Changes Rating System to Ensure Quantity, Consistency

In efforts to improve the accuracy of ratings and the overall online experience, TripAdvisor, one of the world’s largest user-generated travel sites, announced the change of its Popularity Ranking algorithm.

The goal is to ensure a more accurate representation of a business’ performance over time. TripAdvisor cites the speed and volume of reviews and opinions posted in the last 10 years — from six million in 2006 to over 350 million in 2016 — for its decision, adding that this often led to inaccurate ratings for destinations due to so-called fast-rising entries.

After the analysis of hundreds of millions of reviews posted in the past 15 years and their relevant impact, the company proceeded initially in January with an enhanced Popularity Ranking algorithm for restaurants and attractions to value the quantity and consistency of reviews and then rolled it out for hotels in February and April.

The enhanced algorithm is now being used on the vast majority of the site, with travelers adding 200 new contributions to the site every minute.