TripAdvisor began in 2000 above a pizza shop in Massachusetts and quickly became one of the world’s most visited travel websites. Known for user-generated reviews, price comparison tools, and booking services, the platform reached 1 billion reviews in 2021. That number has continued to grow, covering over 9 million listings across hotels, restaurants, experiences, airlines, and cruises. Its massive reach makes it a critical tool for hotels attracting new guests and competing in the travel market.
If you want your hotel to rank well and attract more guests, your listing must be complete, clear, and compelling. A good listing builds trust and puts your property before travellers, making quick booking decisions. In this guide, I’ll show you exactly how to list your hotel on TripAdvisor and attract the visibility your business deserves.
What is a TripAdvisor listing?
A TripAdvisor listing works as your hotel’s business page on one of the world’s most visited travel platforms. It includes key information like your property’s location, traveller ratings, popularity rankings, and reviews from real guests. It also displays content you upload, including photos and management responses to reviews, which gives your listing more depth. Millions of travellers browse TripAdvisor each month, and a strong presence helps you attract attention and drive bookings.
TripAdvisor helped small accommodation providers build credibility in a market once dominated by large hotel chains. Travellers across the globe now rely on it as a trusted source for reviews, insights, and recommendations. The platform focuses entirely on sharing user-driven travel content and supports listings for hotels, B&Bs, and boutique properties. With nearly 131 million unique monthly visitors, it lets you reach untapped markets and gives travellers the transparency they seek before making a decision.
How to get listed on TripAdvisor
Listing your hotel and B&B on TripAdvisor opens doors to a global audience looking for trusted accommodations. With the right approach, even smaller properties can gain traction and build credibility in a crowded market. TripAdvisor offers one of the most accessible paths to being discovered and chosen by travellers across the world.
Follow this step-by-step guide to list your property and build a strong, high-performing presence on the platform.
1. Submit your business information
Start by visiting TripAdvisor’s official ‘Create Listing’ form and filling out the required details about your B&B. Include your business name, address, website, and contact information, such as phone number and email. These fields help travellers find you quickly and give them options to contact you directly with questions.
Once you submit the form, TripAdvisor creates your listing. But just creating it won’t attract attention or bookings. You need to optimise the profile to gain visibility and stand out among competitors.
2. Upload high-quality photos
Most travellers browse the photo gallery before reading reviews, so the quality of your visuals matters. TripAdvisor allows guests to upload their own photos, but you should add high-quality images of your rooms, facilities, and outdoor spaces. Use this space to highlight your strengths and give guests a clear picture of what to expect.
Professional-looking photos help you make a solid first impression. Use angles that show space, lighting, cleanliness, and unique touches that make your property special.
3. Add TripAdvisor widgets to your website
Use TripAdvisor’s widgets to display reviews, awards, and ratings on your website and social media pages. These tools help visitors see your credibility instantly and build trust without needing to search elsewhere. You can also add widgets that prompt visitors to leave a review after their stay.
Match each widget to the relevant section of your site, like placing review widgets on your homepage and call-to-action widgets on your booking page. Add them to your Facebook Business Page and other platforms where your audience connects with you regularly.
4. Add real reviews
TripAdvisor ranks listings based on the volume, quality, and recency of reviews. Ask your guests to leave feedback after check-out and follow up with a polite email a few days later. Most travellers respond well to this timing and take a few minutes to share their thoughts.
High-quality service naturally attracts positive reviews, and those reviews drive more bookings. For smaller properties, positive word of mouth through real guest experiences plays a major role in long-term success.
5. Respond to every review
Monitor reviews daily and reply to each one, especially the negative ones. Thank guests who leave positive feedback and acknowledge their comments in detail. When responding to complaints, summarise the issue, apologise for the inconvenience, and explain the reason behind it.
If you spot repeated concerns in reviews, fix them quickly and communicate those updates clearly in your responses. Travellers want to see that you listen, care, and act on feedback.
6. Keep your listing active and updated
TripAdvisor rewards active management. Update your listing details three to four times a year to reflect seasonal changes, new features, or updated pricing. Stay consistent with content refreshes to keep your listing accurate and appealing.
Managing your TripAdvisor listing should be part of your routine. Don’t treat it as a set-it-and-forget-it task. Keep engaging with guests, request new reviews often, and maintain strong visuals to keep bookings steady. A well-managed listing earns traveller trust and brings more guests through your doors.
How much does TripAdvisor charge?
TripAdvisor offers two types of listings: free and annual. Both options come with their own payment structure.
With a free listing, all guest bookings happen directly on the TripAdvisor website. You pay a 3% processing fee on every booking, and TripAdvisor calculates this fee based on your total rent, including any mandatory or optional charges you set, such as cleaning or service fees. After TripAdvisor processes the payment, the amount reaches your bank or PayPal account without extra charges.
If you choose an annual listing, you pay a fixed yearly fee for each property you list. You also get to decide how you want to receive payments—either directly from the guest or through TripAdvisor’s system. When guests pay through the website, you still pay a 3% processing fee, calculated like the free plan, using your total rent and all additional fees.
TripAdvisor sends your earnings to your preferred bank or PayPal account, and like the free listing, you won’t face any extra PayPal deductions.
Manage your TripAdvisor property listing easily
Double bookings cause damage you can’t undo. When TripAdvisor sells a room already sold elsewhere, the fallout hits hard. Guests arrive and either get moved at a discount or leave completely dissatisfied. That moment doesn’t just cost money, but it invites harsh reviews that sit on your listing for everyone to see.
The roomMaster channel manager cuts that risk entirely. It connects directly with TripAdvisor and 300+ other OTAs and updates your availability in real time. The second a guest books a room on one platform, roomMaster blocks it off across all others. You never need to worry about overselling the same room again.
You also gain complete control over your inventory, rates, and restrictions from a single dashboard. The system pulls all your listings into one view so you don’t waste time switching between multiple tabs. With automatic updates and live syncing, you avoid pricing errors, availability mismatches, and last-minute corrections.
Ready to take control of your TripAdvisor listings? Book a demo with roomMaster today and see how it works.
FAQs
How can I publish multiple listings on TripAdvisor?
You can list up to five properties under the same account. To add more listings, log in to your TripAdvisor owner account, click “My listings,” and click “Add an additional listing.”
How can I activate or deactivate a TripAdvisor ad?
To activate or deactivate an ad, log in to your TripAdvisor owner account, open “My listings,” and click the “Activate” or “Deactivate” button, depending on your preference.
How do I respond to guest reviews?
Open your TripAdvisor owner account, go to “Reviews,” select the review, and click on “Respond” to write and post a public reply.
What does a channel manager do for my TripAdvisor listing?
A channel manager connects your TripAdvisor listing with your property management system and other booking platforms. It updates rates, availability, and reservations across all channels instantly to avoid double bookings.
Can a channel manager update my TripAdvisor calendar automatically?
Yes. A channel manager pushes real-time updates to your TripAdvisor calendar whenever a guest books a room or you make a change.
Do I need a separate tool to manage rates on TripAdvisor if I use a channel manager?
No. A channel manager lets you control your rates directly from one platform, so any changes will be reflected immediately on TripAdvisor and other connected sites.
Mayela Lozano is a content strategist with a passion for hospitality and technology. She collaborates with InnQuest on content creation, highlighting how technology can streamline hotel operations and enhance guest satisfaction. When she’s not creating content, Mayela loves to travel and spend time with her two little ones, discovering new adventures and making memories along the way.
