Interview with Carlo Alvarez from TripAdvisor

In conversations with friends and clients from the Travel Industry, one of the most frequent subjects we talk about is the online reputation.

We all know about the importance of the users’ opinions (our clients), and how they can affect us, but I continue to find opinions quite negative about the subject.  I can understand that every situation is unique, but I also understand that there is still much to be done to educate people on the value of managing our reputation, as well as the tools available to do so.  Tools such as TripAdvisor.com

During the Travel Fair ITB in Berlin, I had the opportunity to chat with Marc Charron (Director of TripAdvisor Europe), and he told me that they were working hard to launch a number of tools that would facilitate the management of the users comments on TripAdvisor.  Tools that would help marketers and hotel owners to identify and respond more easily to the comments left on the site.  But most of all, I left that conversation feeling that Marc and his team were working hard to bring the hotels and its clients closer together in communication.

Months have passed since and I still ocasionally find mixed opinions on TripAdvisor, and for this reason  have asked Carlo Alvarez (Senior Account Manager of TripAdvisor), for a few minutes of his time, in order to share with us his opinions, as well as give us a few words of advice on how we can benefit from managing our reputation. Note: video in Spanish.

To find out more information about Carlo Alvarez and TripAdvisor, you can consult the following links:

Web TripAdvisor.com
Personal Blog of Carlo Alvarez
@Cortomaltese (user on Twitter of Carlo Alvarez)

I also suggest you read this post from Josiah Mackenzie, regarding a conversation with Michele Perry, Vice Presidente of TripAdvisor, about how marketers and hotel owners can interact with TripAdvisor to manage their reputation.

Thanks to Carlo Alvarez for his time and for sharing with us his opinions and advice.

Thanks for the ear time!

-Franklin
@franklintello