Don't join this company if you have ambition - Anonymous employee Tripadvisor Employee Review

1.0
18 May 2016
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Great Benefits Great work life balance If you are lazy and don't have very good career prospects elsewhere this may very well be a company you join and cruise without putting in much effort for a long long time. Some great people who will likely all soon leave.

Cons

This is a company that has been able to survive a lot longer than it should because of the competitive advantage of the content. The company operates sort of like a family business. A lot of the very senior people exhibit zero skills in their area but seem to have lasted in the company so long because the CEO likes them. The management so out of touch with consumer needs (particularly in Asia) and seem hell bent on alienating every client and partner we've ever worked with. Teams are given tasks that mean they compete with each other or worse, do the same things as another team! The lack of career progression prospects particularly for middle managers is shocking. Anyone who is even mildly ambitious and good at their jobs are bound to leave in the next 6 months after realizing they have absolutely zero chance at a promotion. Stay away from this company. It is on a downward trajectory for sure.

Explore other reviews about Tripadvisor

5.0
18 Jan 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

people are awesome remote work is common pay and benefits are good

Cons

can they stay relevant in the world of AI

1
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Tripadvisor Response
4mo
Thank you for your positive remarks. As our company continues to evolve, we are appreciative of employee comments that highlight our strengths as well as areas we can improve upon.
2.0
21 Jun 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

The people you get to work with are genuinely great, and the work-life balance remains fairly solid. In the past, the company attracted top-tier engineering talent from the most reputable tech firms, and the expectations were high but rewarding. A lot of that collaborative culture still exists among the engineers. You will be surrounded by capable individuals who want to do good work.

Cons

The company has been battered by unresolved structural issues over the last decade. The core meta-search business was crippled when Google altered its algorithms to prioritize its own travel products, effectively choking off the organic traffic Tripadvisor depended on. Combined with the impact of COVID-19, leadership tried launching new products to escape this SEO reliance, but those attempts consistently missed the mark. Now, the rapid adoption of LLMs is delivering another severe blow. Users no longer need traditional meta-search to plan travel. The core Tripadvisor product has essentially become a legacy cash cow, with the Experiences division (Viator) being the primary engine keeping the business afloat. Following the departure of the former CEO, thousands of highly skilled employees have left through attrition or ongoing restructuring. Layoffs have become a grim constant, happening once or twice a year. Even if you manage to avoid the cuts, the compensation structure is no longer competitive for the tech industry, and RSUs have virtually dried up. Because of the abysmal direction and the very high chance you won't survive the next round of looming layoffs, I strongly recommend avoiding this company as a new hire.

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