Software Lets Starwood Monitor Consumer-Generated Content

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. -- Hotels, 4/22/2008 9:34:00 AM

Dallas-based Standing Dog Interactive has signed an agreement with Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide to provide the hospitality company with ReviewAnalyst, an online dashboard for tracking consumer-generated hotel reviews, videos and images on popular travel and social sites.

According to a hospitality industry study, online hotel reviews are estimated to affect as many as 87 percent of travel site visitors' buying decisions, with 90 percent of these reviews found accurate by customers. With reviews playing a greater role in online bookings, ReviewAnalyst is vital in giving hotel properties the ability to easily track, analyze and react to online reviews.

"Customer service is Starwood's first priority, and the features and benefits provided by ReviewAnalyst enable Starwood to quickly and easily respond to the concerns and requests of its customers,” said Michael Wylie, president of Standing Dog Interactive. "This tool not only offers reports of information posted to select sites, but it also educates users on appropriate responses and counter measures for negative consumer generated content.”

ReviewAnalyst will provide over 900 Starwood properties the ability to analyze these reviews. "We looked at a number of vendors, but ReviewAnalyst offered the most comprehensive solution, yet was still simple and intuitive,” said David Godsman, vice president of online marketing and business development for Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide. "It allows us to aggregate massive amounts of usable information, and provides us the information in a consolidated and concise dashboard that brands can act upon.”

In addition, ReviewAnalyst offers rating and ranking comparisons with a hotel's top three competitors. This helps hotels gain a competitive advantage by being able to compare and contrast their rating with those of their highest competitors.

More information on ReviewAnalyst is available online at www.reviewanalyst.com. The tool is available to individual hotel properties for $99/month, or through bulk pricing for hotels of 5 or more properties.

About Standing Dog Interactive
Standing Dog Interactive Media and Marketing is a full service Internet marketing agency for the hospitality industry. Based in Dallas, Texas, Standing Dog implements strategic initiatives online through search engine optimization, search engine marketing, blogs, podcasts and hotel Internet marketing plans. Standing Dog has developed a respected worldwide clientèle by delivering a high level of service and a significant return on investment for its clients. For more information, visit www.standingdog.com.