TY  - JOUR
AB  - Purpose Online ratings (review valence) have been found to exert a strong influence on hotel room prices. This study aims to systematically synthesize research estimating the impact of online ratings on room rates using a meta-analytical method.Design/methodology/approach From major academic databases, a total of 163 estimates of the effects of online ratings on room rates were coded from 22 studies across different countries through a systematic review of relevant literature. All estimates were converted into elasticity-type effect sizes, and a hierarchical linear meta-regression was used to investigate factors explaining variations in the effect sizes.Findings The median elasticity of online ratings on hotel room rates was estimated to be 0.851. Meta-regression results highlighted four categories of factors moderating the size of this elasticity: data characteristics, research settings, variable measures and publication outlet. Among sub-ratings, results revealed value rating and room rating to exert the largest impact on room rates, whereas staff and cleanliness ratings demonstrated non-significant impacts.Practical implications This study provides practical implications on the relative importance of different types of online ratings for online reputation and revenue management.Originality/value This study represents the first research effort to understand factors moderating the effects of online ratings on hotel room rates based on a quantitative review of the literature. Moreover, this study provides beneficial insights into the specification of empirical hedonic pricing models and data-collection strategies, such as the selection of price variables and choices of model functional forms.
VL  - 31
IS  - 12
SN  - 0959-6119
DO  - 10.1108/IJCHM-10-2018-0835
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCHM-10-2018-0835
AU  - Hu Xingbao (Simon)
AU  - Yang Yang
AU  - Park Sangwon
PY  - 2019
Y1  - 2019/01/01
TI  - A meta-regression on the effect of online ratings on hotel room rates
T2  - International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management
PB  - Emerald Publishing Limited
SP  - 4438
EP  - 4461
Y2  - 2024/04/25
ER  -