You can see Tripadvisor's priorities crystal clear in where its restructuring occurred. The Tripadvisor Core segment took the heaviest hit, and Viator was impacted the least.
Boosting tour visibility can yield profits for Viator, but the benefit to operators may lessen if most operators join in. It's a bit like when people in the front row of a concert stand up and everyone else has to stand up.
Until now, Tripadvisor has emphasized growth for Viator, backed by ample marketing, at the expense of profitability. It appears as though the company will moderate that strategy for 2024.
The online travel scene in Asia characterized by fierce competition and high stakes. Booking.com knows that it needs to sort the payment issue and make sure any lingering concerns are put to rest if it wants to stay ahead in the game in the region.
The lack of digital connectivity in the tours and activities sector concerns more than racing to get more tour operators online. It is about adding the right digital approach for that particular tour operator's business.
Some experiences can take place in a day. Others need at least a week. It requires complex travel planning, but the adventure far outweighs these challenges, which is why TourRadar wants to extend its travel product reach to more travel companies, especially online travel agencies.
Will the experiences sector ever be fully online? Industry analysis paints a doubtful picture, but there's considerable room to scale and grow, with the current volume at some 30% and key industry players owning marginal stakes.
Tripadvisor sees itself increasingly relying on a fast-growing but profit-challenged Viator, and a hotel metasearch business that big advertisers are less committed to than in the past. Tough stuff.
Viator's growth as a tours and activities platform both lifts and exhausts Tripadvisor's revenue, in a seemingly relentless pursuit of brand strength through performance marketing spend.