30-05-2025
How Hoteliers Can Get More Five-Star Reviews on Tripadvisor and Google
Getting guests to leave you a five-star review should be simple: deliver a great stay, earn a great rating. But in reality, even stellar experiences often go unmentioned, while minor hiccups are sure to show up. So, how can hotels consistently earn more five-star reviews on Tripadvisor and Google?
It starts with delivering standout stays. Then, it's about automating the collection of guest feedback and making the most of your good reviews. In this guide, we're sharing:
How to set your third-party review profiles up for success
Strategies for engaging guests at key moments
Insights for automating the ask for reviews
How Important Are Third-Party Reviews for Hotels?
Reviews are more than just a feel-good metric! Reviews directly impact your hotel's visibility and revenue. According to Hospitality Net:
Travelers are 3.9x more likely to choose a hotel with higher review scores.
76% are willing to pay more for properties with better ratings
So, better reviews feed directly into better rankings, and better rankings mean more bookings. And of course, more bookings mean more revenue. It's that simple!
6 Steps to Get More Tripadvisor and Google Reviews for Your Hotel
Step 1: Optimize Your Review Profiles
Before prompting guests to leave reviews, ensure your profiles are in great shape. Both Google and Tripadvisor boost visibility for hotels that have accurate, up-to-date information. So by maximizing your profile information, you're maximizing your exposure, too!
Best Practices for Your Hotel's Google and Tripadvisor Profiles
Make sure your listings are optimized for algorithms and travelers searching for their next stay in one fell swoop. Here are the best practices to follow:
Use keywords (e.g., 'pet-friendly' or 'pool') in your description
Regularly update photos to reflect current amenities
Fill in essential information like parking or check-in time
Keep all contact and business info accurate
Answer traveler questions promptly
Respond to every review, even older ones
Avoid the temptation to copy-paste generic replies
Don't get defensive with negative feedback
Step 2: Engage Guests During Their Stay
If you only talk to guests at check-in and checkout, you're missing opportunities to impress (and intervene!). Proactive, in-stay guest messaging creates a direct line to travelers and gives you the chance to address issues.
How to Use Messaging During the Guest Journey
Creating regular touchpoints with guests fosters a relationship that goes beyond being "just" a place to stay. Here are some suggestions for how to keep communication going:
Pre-stay : Share check-in times, parking info and Wi-Fi details
: Share check-in times, parking info and Wi-Fi details Mid-stay : Ask how the stay is going and solve problems early
: Ask how the stay is going and solve problems early Post-stay: Thank the guest and ask for a review
Step 3: Address Issues Before Guests Depart
Imagine this: A guest leaves without voicing a concern. A day later, you're blindsided by a one-star review. They experienced an air conditioner issue you could've easily fixed…if you'd known about it, that is. But when your guest journey follows the Four Rs of great service, that type of review can be a distant memory.
The Four R's of Great Guest Service
A problem solved in real-time means a five-star review earned. Here's how to make it happen:
Recognize : Send an automated message after the first night to ask about the stay
: Send an automated message after the first night to ask about the stay Respond : Be aware when a guest writes back in case they mention an issue
: Be aware when a guest writes back in case they mention an issue Repair : If they are having a problem, AI automatically suggests a service ticket
: If they are having a problem, AI automatically suggests a service ticket Recover: Staff delivers prompt service and a drink voucher for the inconvenience
Step 4: Empower Your Team to Deliver 5-Star Service
Staffing shortages are all too common in hospitality. It's likely your team's time is already stretched thin, but the good news? Great service isn't about working harder—you can work smarter instead.
Ways to Set Your Team Up for Success
A well-equipped team offers consistent service—and consistent five-star reviews. Here's how to make it happen:
Celebrate wins : Highlight standout service moments with recognition or rewards
: Highlight standout service moments with recognition or rewards Digitize tipping : Make it easy for guests to show appreciation (even without cash)
: Make it easy for guests to show appreciation (even without cash) Automate admin: Use hotel technology to reduce manual tasks and give your staff more time
Your team is the driving force behind everything you do, including five-star reviews!
Step 5: Deliver 5-Star Experiences at Scale
Delivering standout service shouldn't depend entirely on lucky timing or superstar employees. With the right guest management system, one-off magic moments turn into a repeatable, scalable system.
A Tech-Powered Example of an Exceptional Stay
When you rely on technology for automation, you create experiences that wow every time—without adding extra work for your team. This is an example:
Pre-arrival : A guest notes it's their anniversary at booking and it's added to their profile
: A guest notes it's their anniversary at booking and it's added to their profile Check-in : The front desk greets them with a happy anniversary and a surprise upgrade
: The front desk greets them with a happy anniversary and a surprise upgrade Mid-stay : Guests receive a quick text to see how things are going, and get an offer for a discounted spa package
: Guests receive a quick text to see how things are going, and get an offer for a discounted spa package Checkout: The checkout process triggers a review request (and the couple is happy to oblige!)
Step 6: Automate the Request for Reviews
Manually asking guests for reviews often gets forgotten, especially when guests skip the front desk at checkout. But with technology, you can prompt reviews at scale—no script required.
How to Automate Asking for Reviews
Take the guesswork out of asking guests for reviews. Here are a few ways you can work the request for feedback into the guest journey:
Checkout prompts : Send review requests immediately after mobile checkout
: Send review requests immediately after mobile checkout Tipping triggers : Include review links when guests leave a digital tip
: Include review links when guests leave a digital tip Post-stay messaging: Send personalized 'thank you' texts with Tripadvisor or Google links
Ready to Create More 5-Star Moments?
Earning more five-star reviews isn't about crossing your fingers. It's about being intentional with your operations to improve the guest experience at every touchpoint. This creates a system that makes it easy to wow every guest, every time—and get those coveted five-star reviews!
When it's time to modernize your guest journey, Canary has solutions to create consistent, memorable experiences that guests rave about. Trusted by 20,000+ hotels, Canary eliminates friction at every stage so your team can focus on what matters most: exceeding expectations. Book a demo today and turn every stay into a five-star story.
About Canary Technologies
Canary Technologies is modernizing the hotel tech stack with its award-winning AI-powered Guest Management Platform. Digitizing guest touchpoints from booking to checkout, Canary's cutting-edge solutions simplify hotel operations, boost revenue, and elevate the guest experience. Enabling these innovations is Canary AI, the most advanced AI model built specifically for hotels. Trusted by 20,000+ hotels in 100+ countries, Canary powers top brands like Marriott, Four Seasons, and Wyndham. Recognized as an industry innovator by Fast Company, Deloitte, and Business Insider. Learn more at
About Canary Technologies
Canary Technologies is revolutionizing the hotel tech stack with its award-winning Guest Management Platform, digitizing everything from post-booking to checkout. Trusted by 20,000+ hoteliers in 90+ countries, including Marriott, Four Seasons and Wyndham, Canary is the top-rated solution on HotelTechReport. Canary's solutions include Canary AI, Mobile Check-In, Smart Checkout, Dynamic Upsells, Guest Messaging, Digital Tipping, AI Voice and more. Canary eliminates paper processes, boosts revenue, increases staff efficiency, enhances the guest experience, and reduces chargebacks and payment fraud.
Amanda McDowell
Content Marketing Manager
Canary Technologies
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