Lay My Hat

We have 1 review (5/5) on one rental and none on the others and have no problem getting all booked out 30 to 40 weeks pa. So are reviews necessary?

I voted no, though I have them on my own website, not many people go to view them. I don't have them on my paid sites and I don't seem to have a problem renting with out them...

I must admit I like reading them though about places I'm going to stay, but won't not stay someplace if they don't have them.

Wendy

I voted no - 8 years trading and no 'official' reviews. Always fully booked.

It may change - but for now, no one seems to care, or if they do it's at the tail end of a long list of requirements that our property already ticks for them.

Mouse
x

Like the others, I've voted "No". We've been renting out the house for nearly 10 years now, and we have no official reviews at all.
We average 38-42 weeks booked p.a.

However, I do worry a little that it may get to the point where people will not countenance staying somewhere that is not on TripAdvisor, so I am a little nervous. We are about to launch our new website and I am trying to make more of a feature of our Guest Book. http://legaillon.weebly.com/reviews.html

I voted yes, but it is because I am one of hundreds of gite complexes (I hate that term!) and having good reviews helps make your property stand out from the others.
I must say that in the last month many people are saying that they found me on Trip Advisor which I'm not sure I believe as I am not listed with them. But reviews are definitely more important now than a couple of years ago.

I'm a yes: our own website analytics show the reviews page is viewed only second to the home page. I see them as essential...but then I'm only a beginner at this game. Having said that I run a business and know that prospective customers almost always want the reassurance of 'someone who's been there before.

I have voted yes. Guests have told me that our positive reviews helped them choose our apartment. I also think it helps prospective guests feel more sure that we are genuine owners but have no proof of that! Declan

and know that prospective customers almost always want the reassurance of 'someone who's been there before

but clearly there's many that don't when you have people posting on the thread saying they get bookings without reviews.

Mouse
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I often have people tell me that they read my guest comments on my website and that they swung it in our favour, so I always try to get current reviews

Sandra

Sandra,
I think the reviews being referred to here mean TripAdvisor or similar. I voted No, but like you, I have many guest comments and yes, I feel those types of review are absolutely very important.

I voted yes because as a traveller myself I find reviews extremely useful.
I have had discussions with our guests and they told me that the good reviews they read on the listing sites were very important in choosing us.
So trying to get guests to write a review for their stay is an integral part of our guest handling.

In a increasingly competitive environment unless you are extremely cheap, you will need the good reviews to be able to attract higher paying guests and stay ahead of the competition.

Theoharis

It's a yes from me
Always when we are travelling we check the reviews on TA and Booking.com and we have had guests who asked during the booking process (and before we had TA reviews) if there was any reviews anywhere.
But it is obvious that sometimes reviews are not essential, our first few bookings were without the benefit of reviews.Maybe if your site looks professional, there are plenty of images and you are a little bit unique then there are still enough potential guests.