TripAdvisor Survey Reveals British Traveller Mobile Device Habits

LONDON, June 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

- One in five British Respondents now Plans Travel Using a Mobile Device

TripAdvisor(R), the world's largest travel website*, announced today the results of its mobile device travel survey. A survey of over 1,200* British TripAdvisor users reveals that that a significant 22% of respondents have incorporated a mobile device into their travel-planning process.

"As mobile, tablet and smartphone use increases at breakneck speed, the way travellers plan their trips is fundamentally changing," commented Emma O'Boyle, TripAdvisor spokesperson. "We're seeing phenomenal growth in the number of travellers planning their holidays - both before they leave and during their trip - on mobile devices."

Travel on the go

Of those using their mobile devices to plan holidays, researching and booking accommodation is the most common activity. Of those who plan travel on their mobile device:

- 29% have booked or researched accommodation

- 27% have researched destinations

- 26% have read traveller reviews

- 23% have researched restaurants

- 18% have booked or researched flights

Nearly half of British respondents (45%) have used their mobile devices to plan and research their trip once they've arrived at their destination. For those respondents who use their mobile device while travelling, restaurant research takes priority:

- 29% researched restaurants

- 28% checked their flight status

- 21% researched attractions

- 18% researched accommodation

- 16% researched tours

"Whether travellers are looking for the nearest attractions or top-rated restaurants, these findings show that smartphones and tablets are an increasingly important travel companion," continued Emma O'Boyle.

Roam Rage

Roaming charges remain the biggest barrier to using mobile devices on international holiday. The following comprise the "greatest frustrations" for British respondents when using a mobile device while travelling:

- 47% said roaming fees

- 18% said sporadic connectivity

- 7% said small screen

Mobile Hypocrisy

Despite 75% of Brits admitting to using a mobile device when travelling, a substantial 79% of respondents claim to get annoyed by fellow travellers using their mobile devices while travelling.

British travellers playing mobile catch up

Although a large proportion of British respondents are already planning holidays on their mobile devices, it seems our European neighbours have adapted faster:

- 22% of Brits have planned a trip on their mobile device compared to 27% of Europeans

- 20% of Brits have booked accommodation using a mobile device, compared to 28% of European respondents, and 32% of French respondents

- 45% of Brits have used a mobile device to research their trip while in-destination, compared to 53% of European respondents

More mobile findings

- 39% of British respondents have a travel app installed on their mobile device

- 14% of British respondents have reviewed a hotel, restaurant or attraction using their mobile device while on a trip

- 15% of British respondents have "checked in" to a place using their mobile device while on a trip

TripAdvisor recently launched a new "My Saves" feature for its mobile website and apps that allows travellers to save hotel, restaurant, and attraction pages so they can easily find them again for future reference. TripAdvisor has free mobile apps available for the iPhone, Android, Windows Phone 7, Nokia, and Palm smartphones, the iPad, and a mobile website available for all major mobile devices.

More information about TripAdvisor Mobile can be found at http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/mobile

*Survey carried out on 5,013 respondents across Europe, including 1,313 British respondents, from 23 to 31 May 2011. Other countries surveyed were France, Italy and Spain.

About TripAdvisor

TripAdvisor(R) is the world's largest travel site, enabling travelers to plan and have the perfect trip. TripAdvisor offers trusted advice from real travelers and a wide variety of travel choices and planning features (including Flights search, TripAdvisor Mobile and TripAdvisor Trip Friends) with seamless links to booking tools.

TripAdvisor(R) Media Group, operated by TripAdvisor LLC, attracts more than 50 million unique monthly visitors* across 18 popular travel brands**. TripAdvisor-branded sites make up the largest travel community in the world, with more than 40 million unique monthly visitors***, 20 million members, and over 45 million reviews and opinions. The sites operate in 29 countries worldwide****, including China under daodao.com. TripAdvisor also operates TripAdvisor for Business, a dedicated division that provides the tourism industry access to TripAdvisor's millions of monthly visitors. The division includes Business Listings, which allows hoteliers to connect directly to millions of researching travelers, and Vacation Rentals, which helps property managers and individual home owners list their properties and showcase hotel alternatives.

TripAdvisor Media Group websites have been recognized as top travel resources in 2010 by Condé Nast Traveller, Good Housekeeping, TIME magazine and Travel + Leisure.

TripAdvisor Media Group generated $486 million in revenue in 2010. TripAdvisor and the sites comprising the TripAdvisor Media Group are operating companies of Expedia, Inc. (NASDAQ: EXPE).

TripAdvisor and The TripAdvisor logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of TripAdvisor LLC in the U.S. and/or other countries. Other logos or product and company names mentioned herein may be the property of their respective owners.

(c)2011 TripAdvisor LLC. All rights reserved.

*Source: comScore Media Metrix for TripAdvisor Media Group Sites, Worldwide, August 2010

** In addition to TripAdvisor, The TripAdvisor Media Group of websites includes: http://www.airfarewatchdog.com, http://www.bookingbuddy.com, http://www.cruisecritic.com, http://www.everytrail.com, http://www.familyvacationcritic.com, http://www.flipkey.com, http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk, http://www.holidaywatchdog.com, http://www.independenttraveler.com, http://www.onetime.com, http://www.seatguru.com, http://www.sniqueaway.com, http://www.smartertravel.com, http://www.travel-library.com, http://www.travelpod.com, http://www.virtualtourist.com and http://www.kuxun.cn.

***Source: comScore Media Metrix for TripAdvisor Sites, Worldwide, August 2010

**** TripAdvisor sites operate in 29 countries worldwide: http://www.tripadvisor.com, http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk, http://www.tripadvisor.ca, http://www.tripadvisor.it, http://www.tripadvisor.es, http://www.tripadvisor.de, http://www.tripadvisor.fr, http://www.tripadvisor.jp, http://www.daodao.com, http://www.tripadvisor.in, http://www.tripadvisor.se, http://www.tripadvisor.nl, http://www.tripadvisor.com.br, http://www.tripadvisor.com.tr, http://www.tripadvisor.dk, http://www.tripadvisor.com.mx, http://www.tripadvisor.ie, http://www.tripadvisor.com.au, http://www.tripadvisor.com.sg, http://www.tripadvisor.co.kr, no.tripadvisor.com, pl.tripadvisor.com, th.tripadvisor.com, http://www.tripadvisor.ru, http://www.tripadvisor.com.gr, http://www.tripadvisor.co.id, http://www.tripadvisor.com.ar, http://www.tripadvisor.tw and http://www.tripadvisor.com.my.

SOURCE TripAdvisor