JOURNAL OF TRAVEL RESEARCH

Responsive and responsible: Customizing management responses to online traveler reviews

Zhang, Xiaowei; Yang, Yang; Qiao, Shuchen; Zhang, Ziqiong

Abstract

The helpfulness of online reviews greatly facilitates travelers’ information searches, and helpful reviews can popularize travel service providers within a virtual environment. This study examines how the helpfulness of travel reviews is influenced by customized management responses from a linguistic perspective. Based on TripAdvisor data for 946 hotels in the state of Texas, we apply an econometric model to understand which management response style most effectively promotes customers’ perceived helpfulness of the corresponding review. Empirical results show that a matched linguistic style and low similarity in management responses can motivate consumers to leave a helpfulness vote to the corresponding review; the review rating, hotel class, and respondent’s job title are found to significantly moderate these effects. Lastly, pertinent managerial implications are provided.

Keywords

management responses; review helpfulness; linguistic style matching; content similarity; online reviews

Research topic

AI and Big Data, Digital Platform and Pricing

Research method

Econometrics, Big Data

Geographic area

US

Additional links for this paper

ResearchGate

Publisher Website

Web of Science

HOW TO CITE

Zhang, X., Yang, Y., Qiao, S., and Zhang, Z. (2022). Responsive and responsible: Customizing management responses to online traveler reviews. Journal of Travel Research, 61(1): 120-135

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