I am often asked why I decided to leave Tripadvisor where I had more than 500 only 5* reviews…..

In the early days, TripAdvisor felt like a revolution—a place where feedback was king, and the best experiences rose to the top purely through customer satisfaction and word of mouth. I was there from the beginning, embracing the platform as a valuable tool for sharing and discovering genuine travel experiences. However, as the years have passed, my relationship with TripAdvisor has changed, leading me to the difficult decision to part ways. Here's why.

From Feedback to Sales

Initially, TripAdvisor was purely a feedback website, a space where honest reviews could guide travelers to make informed decisions. Your ranking on the site was a direct reflection of the quality of your service as perceived by your clients. It was a system that felt fair and transparent, rewarding those who went the extra mile to ensure a memorable experience for their guests.

The Shift Towards Selling Experiences

The turning point came when TripAdvisor began selling experiences, transforming from a review platform into a marketplace. This shift marked a significant departure from its original ethos. The criteria for ranking started to blur, increasingly influenced by where the site could make more money, especially if you were selling your tour through Viator, their affiliated booking platform.

The Introduction of the Accelerate Plan

The introduction of the Accelerate plan further compounded my concerns. This scheme allows operators to decide what percentage of their earnings they want to pay to Viator, with the option to go as high as 51%. This means that regardless of the quality of your service or the number of positive reviews you have, your visibility on TripAdvisor is now heavily influenced by how much you're willing to pay. In essence, it has become a bidding war, where those with deeper pockets—or willingness to sacrifice their margins—can dominate visibility, overshadowing smaller, quality-focused operators.

A War Against Authenticity

This pay-to-play model feels like a war against the very authenticity and quality that platforms like TripAdvisor were supposed to champion. As an award-winning photographer and workshop leader, I base the prices of my tours on the value of my time, the depth of my expertise, and my commitment to transferring knowledge to my guests. This includes countless hours dedicated to improving my skills and expanding my knowledge to ensure the highest quality experience possible. My pricing strategy is not, and should not be, determined by the demands or commission structures of a third-party platform.

Moving Forward

The decision to leave TripAdvisor was not made lightly. It stems from a desire to stay true to the values that have always guided my work: authenticity, quality, and a deep respect for the experiences I share with my guests. In an era where the digital landscape is increasingly commercialized, I believe it's more important than ever to stand firm in our commitment to these principles.

For those who have followed and supported me through TripAdvisor in the past, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks. Your feedback and engagement have been invaluable. As I move forward, I remain committed to offering unique, high-quality photography workshops and masterclasses in Venice, Ljubljana, and Budapest. I invite you to join me directly on my journey, away from the noise and competition of platforms that no longer serve our best interests.

Together, we'll continue to explore the beauty of photography and the world around us, unencumbered by the constraints of algorithms and bidding wars.

Thank you for your continued support and understanding.