TripAdvisor is among the best travel research tools online for determining a person’s vacation spot and vacation itinerary. Because the site does so well at giving feedback on places to visit, hotels and resorts to live at and places to see in vacation spots, it is wise to research their awards and reviews to separate the great spots from the not so great.
Right now, TripAdvisor awards resorts and regional attractions according to how they are reviewed (and how many people review them). The most prestigious awards are: TripAdvisor’s badges, Green Leader’s Program, TripAdvisor’s Traveler’s Choice and Certificate of Excellence.
TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence
In 2010, the TripAdvisor’s Certificate of Excellence award was given to those hotels and other establishments that had consistently high ranking reviews. This award is reserved for only 10% of the best accommodations reviewed on TripAdvisor. The following conditions must be met to be considered:
- Popularity rank (determined by number of hotel reviews) is high.
- Minimum hotel review quantity is satisfied.
- A 4/5 minimum consistent ranking.
- A history of at least 12 months’ worth of consistent TripAdvisor hotel reviews.
Green Leaders Program
The prestige of being a part of TripAdvisor’s Greenleaders Program means the establishment has services categorized as environmentally friendly. Several factors are considered for this honor, including places that provide environmental educational tools, water treatment programs, light bulbs that save energy, and recycling. There are four levels of GreenLeader status: bronze, silver, gold and platinum. There is a minimum score to qualify as an environmentally friendly accommodation.
TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice
TripAdvisor’s Traveler’s Choice Award, the highest TripAdvisor honor, was created in 2002 to reward—every year—those sites (tours, local tourist places of interest, hotels and restaurants) that have the highest number of great reviews. Each year, millions of destinations are considered for this prestigious honor. Unlike some travel industry reviews, this award is based solely on the reviews of real customers and is not based on any hired evaluators.