Webs TripAdvisor Launches Paid Hotel Listings

It hard to remember a time when you didn't go out and check comments on the mega user content travel site TripAdvisor when booking a hotel. As of January 2010 hotel owners and operators will be able to take out one year paid subscriptions including internet URL's, email and telephone numbers. Surely the site remains a key SEO (search engine optimization) driver and with the new listings will now be targeting itself as an even more relevant travel portal.
Given it's ability to play an increasingly important role in consumer selection of hotel accommodation TripAdvisor is patterning diversifying it's long tail business model into a number of different directions now unless the evolution of Amazon.com.
While it's been thought that increasing internet access allows a level playing field for independent hotels, there has remained a solid trend in branding preference during the economic downturn given the free flow discounting of room rates. It will be interesting to see how the new TripAdvisor services play out for the smaller operators and if they can cash into the larger distribution marketplace.