Before a guest books, they read what other guests said. Reviews are the most influential page on the internet about your business — and the one you don't get to write. The good news: you can shape how many you get, how recent they are, and how you respond.
Why recency and volume win
A wall of warm reviews from three years ago reassures no one. Travellers — and the platforms ranking you — favour businesses with a steady stream of recent feedback. Fresh reviews signal that the experience is still good today. They also feed the AI assistants now summarising "what people say" about a place.
Earn more reviews without nagging
- Ask at the peak. The best moment is right after a great experience — checkout, the end of a meal, a thank-you message — not a week later.
- Make it one tap. A direct link or QR code to the review form. Every extra step loses people.
- Automate the ask, keep it human. A simple, well-timed message after each stay does the work consistently, in your voice.
Respond to all of them
- Positive: a short, specific thank-you shows future readers you're attentive — and keeps the reviewer loyal.
- Critical: reply calmly, own what's fair, explain what's changed. Prospective guests judge you far more on how you handle a complaint than on the complaint itself.
From reputation to bookings
Surface your best, most recent reviews where they decide — near your booking button, not buried on a separate page. A guest reading genuine, current praise at the moment of decision is a guest who books. Reputation isn't a vanity metric; managed well, it's one of your most reliable sources of revenue.