TripAdvisor has just launched its first-ever mobile Check-Index revealing travelers’ and locals’ most frequented hotels, restaurants and attractions in major world tourism destinations.
The study was based TripAdvisor’s “massive trove” of mobile location data.
“Our mobile Check-Index shows the points of interest where consumers are voting with their feet and actually spending their time,” said Jeff Chow, vice president of product, consumer experience, TripAdvisor. “It’s interesting to see how in some cities travelers and locals are drawn to the same things to do or places to eat, while in others you see distinct differences in their preferences.”
To glean these insights, TripAdvisor studied check-ins via smartphone GPS and motion sensors to predict when and where anonymous users are visiting a spot or if they are just passing by.
Analysis of foot traffic in the following cities reveals the following interesting trends:
- Travelers and locals both tend to have good taste, generally choosing highly rated points of interest
- Many travelers and locals are drawn to the same tasty eateries, with crossover is several cities studied
- The most frequented chain restaurants in these select cities are Starbucks, McDonald’s and Hard Rock Café
- Travelers are drawn to major tourist attractions, whereas locals often find alternative things to do
For more insight, check out TripAdvisor here.
