TripAdvisor Logo. (PRNewsFoto/TripAdvisor)

NEWTON, Mass., Feb. 25, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --TripAdvisor, the world's largest travel site*, today announced it has reached a new user-generated content milestone making it the first travel site to offer consumers 150 million reviews and opinions a 50 percent increase year-over-year.

TripAdvisor collects more than 90 user contributions a minute that allow travelers worldwide to make informed decisions based on the personal experiences of other travelers. More than two billion unique worldwide visitors a year** visit TripAdvisor to research, plan, and book their travel at more than 3.7 million accommodations, restaurants, and attractions.

More than 500 million people worldwide are also able to find TripAdvisor ratings, reviews, and opinions on the websites of almost 1,000 brands every month. Partners include hotel groups such as Wyndham and other leading online travel suppliers.

The review celebrated as the 150 millionth piece of content posted on TripAdvisor was written by TripAdvisor member Erin S. after a Valentine's Day weekend retreat with her husband. It's the first review she has written on TripAdvisor. The review titled "A warm and inviting retreat...you'll want to return!" is of the Cameron House Inn, a bed and breakfast in the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

"Fourteen years ago, TripAdvisor saw an opportunity to help travelers help each other make informed travel decisions by sharing their first-hand experiences, reviews, and photos," said Steve Kaufer, co-founder and CEO of TripAdvisor. "Now, the internet and user-generated content have completely changed the way we plan, book, and share our trips."

The power of a review According to a recently commissioned report conducted by PhoCusWright*** on behalf of TripAdvisor, more than half of global respondents do not want to make a booking commitment until they read reviews and find out what other travelers think about a property.

More than 80 percent say the site's reviews help them feel more confident in their travel decisions, and help them to have a better trip.

The survey also reveals some interesting findings about why travelers write reviews and how they use them when planning a trip.

Why do travelers write reviews? The majority of respondents write reviews for positive reasons, with 74 percent of travelers stating that they 'feel good about sharing useful information with other travelers' and 70 percent of respondents stating that they wanted to share a good experience with others.

Original post:

TripAdvisor Now Offers 150 Million Reviews And Opinions With 50 Million Pieces Of Content Posted In The Past Year