THE line has been crossed. Last week’s announcement by Visit London could be the start of something big.
Take your typical tourism board promotional website. Glossy pictures, florid copy, everything’s fantastic. Why aren’t we all living there?
Even the least-traveled know that these are the last sources one should rely on for objective critiques and reviews from people who have already been.
No more. At least not in the case of London. Last week, Visit London, which promotes the metropolitan area as a tourist destination, announced a partnership with ratings site TripAdvisor.com.
The two sites are joining up to provide candid reviews from travelers on the Visit London Web site. This marks the first time that a destination has invited no-holds-barred discussion on its own doorstep.
Now, when you search hotels and attractions on the site, you’ll not only see the come-ons, you’ll also get the dirt (or, in many cases, the raves).
“TripAdvisor is a trusted brand which provides consumers with the most up-to-date and unbiased reviews based on personal experience.
“User reviews guide consumer decision making and we are pleased to be the first official visitor organization to respond to the requirements of visitors by teaming up with TripAdvisor,” said Visit London Chief Executive James Bidwell.