Tripadvisor

The business model combines travel media publishing, performance-based advertising and online marketplace transactions. Tripadvisor operates high-traffic travel and dining information sites that attract users researching trips, restaurants and experiences. This attention and intent are monetised through pay-per-click and display advertising sold largely to online travel agencies, hotels, travel brands and other partners, as well as referral fees when users click through to booking partners. In parallel, the company operates marketplaces for tours, activities and restaurant reservations, where it earns commissions and fees on transactions, and it provides SaaS and subscription tools for restaurants to manage reservations and yield. Vacation-rental listings, specialist category sites (cruises, airline seats) and data products extend its reach and provide additional inventory for advertisers. Value is created by aggregating trusted user reviews and content, simplifying discovery and comparison for travellers, and delivering high-intent demand and operational tools to travel and restaurant suppliers.

Tripadvisor, Inc. is a United States–based online travel media and commerce company that operates a portfolio of consumer-facing travel and dining discovery sites. Its flagship platform aggregates large volumes of user-generated reviews, ratings and photos for hotels, restaurants, attractions, cruises and other travel services, and combines this content with metasearch and referral links to third-party booking partners. Through acquired businesses, it also runs an online marketplace for tours and activities, a restaurant reservation and management platform, a vacation-rental listing service, and specialist vertical sites for cruises and airline seat information. The company primarily earns revenue from advertising and referral fees paid by online travel agencies, hotels, travel brands and other partners, as well as commissions and fees on bookable inventory such as tours, activities and restaurant reservations. It also monetises restaurateur-facing SaaS tools and subscriptions, listing fees for accommodation and rentals, and data and self-serve advertising products for marketers seeking access to its high-intent travel audience. End travellers and diners use most consumer services for free, while business customers are the main direct payers.