TA's latest Mobile App for iPhone Marginalizes B&Bs

[GoodScout]

This may have been mentioned in another thread, but TA just updated their iPhone app and it's new navigation totally marginalizes B&B's and emphasizes only hotels. To find a B&B you have to apply several filters, which no one will do.
I tried 3 days ago to explain the problem to my TA BL rep, with little success.
So I made a video explaining it.
...And then posted it publicly.
...On YouTube.
...And sent her the link.
Will see if it changes anything. If any of you are still paying TA for a listing, you need to light them up this morning, and demand a reduction in your rate since you're now getting half of what you were promised (based on their stats that 50% of their customers book via mobile). I sure have.
Enjoy: https://youtu.be/RXeA92eNYGA

 

[TheBeachHouse]

I tried it and you are right. Only those who classify themselves as 'hotels' come up in the search.
There are 6 'hotels' in town. 26 B&Bs.

 

[Lee2014]

I already saw that earlier. We don't have a listing with them to begin with and now I have a reason to say why I don't besides its too much money when they call trying to get us to sign up….again.

 

[Generic]

We cancelled. They called a few times to see if they could get us to reup. We dodged their calls.

 

[Hillbilly]

This was before the update.
You can see at the bottom of the screen it gives you choices.
I just updated the app and you are correct. It really messed it up.
Thank you for pointing this out. I placed a call to our rep.

 

[Hillbilly]

Here is my update. They said they have received a lot of calls about it and there is nothing they can really do. He told me most of my traffic came from desktops and not phones so it wont effect me. (really?!?!?!) I told them I would like to see it fixed or I would have to drop them. The guys reply was this. "You know you're under contract for the year right. You can't drop us!" Has anyone been in this same boat before? When you dropped them did you have to wait until your year was up?

 

[OnTheShore]

It's always been almost impossible to find us, as we are considered "Specialty Lodging..."

 

[Arks]

Very well done and effective video. I hope it helps!

 

[GoodScout]

Keep the phones ringing! They're now at the point where the mosquito bites are starting to hurt....

 

[Anon Inn]

Keep the phones ringing! They're now at the point where the mosquito bites are starting to hurt.....

Excellent video. To the point.
I wonder if we can switch our category to hotel?
A local actual hotel is listed under B&B, so why not the other way around?

 

[Alaska's Capital Inn]

Here is my update. They said they have received a lot of calls about it and there is nothing they can really do. He told me most of my traffic came from desktops and not phones so it wont effect me. (really?!?!?!) I told them I would like to see it fixed or I would have to drop them. The guys reply was this. "You know you're under contract for the year right. You can't drop us!" Has anyone been in this same boat before? When you dropped them did you have to wait until your year was up?.

I wonder if you cancel, will they refund some portion of your payment

 

[Morticia]

It works OK on Android. The tabs are right at the top.

 

[GoodScout]

It works OK on Android. The tabs are right at the top..

It works OK on Android. The tabs are right at the top.

Yeah, that's the problem. It works fine on Android, but the iPhone version is totally crap. It took us a while to convince a TA rep that the problem was real because they were looking at it on their Android device.

 

[Hillbilly]

Here is my update. They said they have received a lot of calls about it and there is nothing they can really do. He told me most of my traffic came from desktops and not phones so it wont effect me. (really?!?!?!) I told them I would like to see it fixed or I would have to drop them. The guys reply was this. "You know you're under contract for the year right. You can't drop us!" Has anyone been in this same boat before? When you dropped them did you have to wait until your year was up?.

I wonder if you cancel, will they refund some portion of your payment
.

I pay monthly. I can stop payment but they said they would hire an attorney and come after me for payment. They aski said they would send it to a collection agent. All this because I question the app! Good grief!!!!

 

[Morticia]

Here is my update. They said they have received a lot of calls about it and there is nothing they can really do. He told me most of my traffic came from desktops and not phones so it wont effect me. (really?!?!?!) I told them I would like to see it fixed or I would have to drop them. The guys reply was this. "You know you're under contract for the year right. You can't drop us!" Has anyone been in this same boat before? When you dropped them did you have to wait until your year was up?.

I wonder if you cancel, will they refund some portion of your payment
.

I wonder if you cancel, will they refund some portion of your payment

No.

 

[Flower]

Yes this is stupid for sure. But they have met your requirements by listing you under B&Bs. Buyer beware!!! Post this every where in Linkedln and face book the more places in list the more it may work to have change made. Buyer play with the devil you get burnt sooner or later.

 

[gillumhouse]

I took the liberty of posting it on the UK Forum. TA is always after them for business listings too.

 

[Alaska's Capital Inn]

I emailed them yesterday and their response.
TA's new app for the Apple phone does NOT have a tab for B&Bs, only hotels. This puts us at a huge disadvantage. People cannot find us! Why would we advertise if we don't show up? This is unacceptable in today's marketplace. When will this get fixed? Otherwise we request a refund and please cancel our listing immediately.
Customer Support (Kurt) (TripAdvisor Support)
Jul 12, 21:55 BST
Hello Linda,
Thank you for contacting TripAdvisor about the app.
Upon checking on the app(apple) you just need to use the filter on the upper right of the screen. Please do see screenshot.
Thank you for being part of TripAdvisor Community!
Kurt D
Customer Support
Attachment(s)
alaska1.PNG
alaska2.PNG
alaska3.PNG
So basically, click three times on the filter....reminds me of a Tony Orlando & Dawn tune....

 

[gillumhouse]

I emailed them yesterday and their response.
TA's new app for the Apple phone does NOT have a tab for B&Bs, only hotels. This puts us at a huge disadvantage. People cannot find us! Why would we advertise if we don't show up? This is unacceptable in today's marketplace. When will this get fixed? Otherwise we request a refund and please cancel our listing immediately.
Customer Support (Kurt) (TripAdvisor Support)
Jul 12, 21:55 BST
Hello Linda,
Thank you for contacting TripAdvisor about the app.
Upon checking on the app(apple) you just need to use the filter on the upper right of the screen. Please do see screenshot.
Thank you for being part of TripAdvisor Community!
Kurt D
Customer Support
Attachment(s)
alaska1.PNG
alaska2.PNG
alaska3.PNG
So basically, click three times on the filter....reminds me of a Tony Orlando & Dawn tune.....

In other words, YOU who know you exist can do the filter to get it rather than TA do a fix so the people you are trying to inform you are there (and PAYING TA to inform them) will easily know you are there. The people you are trying to inform, of course, have no clue they need to do filters to actually find a B & B when they have no idea a B & B even exists there.
GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

 

[Anon Inn]

Keep the phones ringing! They're now at the point where the mosquito bites are starting to hurt.....

Excellent video. To the point.
I wonder if we can switch our category to hotel?
A local actual hotel is listed under B&B, so why not the other way around?
.

I checked out TA business listing info and think I found why our local hotel is listed under B&B
You can indicate your property type, hotel, B&B or specialty lodging.
The sticking point for being listed in Hotels is 24 hour front desk, which our local folks don't have.
Here's TA's requirement for hotel:
- A 24-hour front desk*
- Daily housekeeping included in the room rate
- Private bathroom for each unit
- If there is a minimum-stay requirement, it must be no more than 3 nights
* "To qualify as a 24-hour front desk, there must be someone on duty at the desk/reception area 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This person must be awake and available to guests and walk-ins, and capable of answering telephone calls from outside the hotel. Having a manager on-call or offering 24-hour security, concierge or room service does not satisfy this requirement."
Some of us may be meeting those requirements. I can think of several fairly local motels where the office is closed for part of the night. There is a number to call for help however. Motels are listed in the hotels category. I'm thinking of making the switch. TA is very important for us. A lovely guest just left saying that is where she found us. She also said that although she normally doesn't review, in our case she will. We're so close to 100, which in our area, is significant.