Online reviews & hospitality: EU Smart Tourism Podcast
Trust in online reviews matters – for consumers and for Europe’s hospitality SMEs.
HOTREC took part in the latest episode of the EU Smart Tourism Podcast on online reviews in tourism. We discussed why online reviews are now central to the viability of hospitality businesses across Europe and why tackling fake reviews is essential.
Key takeaways from the discussion include:
• Over 90% of travellers consult online reviews before booking
• 80% of consumers say a single positive or negative review can change their choice
• Fake reviews can cause real harm, from revenue losses to reputations built over decades
• Hospitality businesses must be able to flag suspicious reviews easily and quickly
• Negative reviews, when genuine, are also valuable tools to improve service quality
The episode highlights the importance of the EU Code of Conduct for online reviews and ratings for tourism accommodation, co-created with the European Commisison by HOTREC, platforms and consumer organisations, to strengthen transparency, authenticity and trust in the digital tourism ecosystem.
Listen to the podcast here:
- Linktree: https://tr.ee/qee2ad5O2-
- Website: https://smart-tourism-capital.ec.europa.eu/press/podcasts_en
Read about the Code of Conduct here: https://transport.ec.europa.eu/tourism/code-conduct-online-reviews-and-ratings-tourism-accommodation_en