Did your TripAdvisor ranking change with the new Popularity Index algorithm?

TripAdvisor recently changed their Popularity Index algorithm that determines the order in which hostels are displayed.

Many hostels have noticed a significant difference in their TripAdvisor ranking recently, either climbing or dropping dramatically on the page.  
Until recently hostels were listed based on their overall guest review score.  Now the algorithm gives a heavy preference to the number of reviews that a property has received.  

From TripAdvisor Support representative Erika P:
We recently updated our Popularity Index to promote even greater consistency in the rankings, better representing the performance of a business, over time. Prior to this update, it was possible for businesses with relatively few reviews to receive high ratings and rise significantly in the rankings. The change to our algorithm results in rankings that better reflect quality and consistency over time.

Our Popularity Index ranking continues to take into account the quality, quantity and recency of reviews and opinions on TripAdvisor. This update improves the ranking algorithm to better reflect the performance of a business over time. But the details of the Popularity Index algorithm are proprietary. We regularly update our algorithms to improve the Popularity Index rankings and the user experience.

We are making the change to our Popularity Index across hotels, restaurants and attractions on TripAdvisor.

A business’s commercial relationship with TripAdvisor has absolutely no impact on TripAdvisor’s Popularity Index rankings.

The results of this change will be particularly evident in cities with many hostels of varying sizes.  Larger and older hostels are likely to see an improvement in their placement while smaller and newer hostels are likely to find themselves dropping in position.

Sort placement is increasingly important for hostels as TripAdvisor pushes their TripConnect product and encourages travelers who view reviews to make their reservations directly on their website.  

In order for any hostel to hold their ground in the rankings, it is important to receive frequent and consistent positive reviews.  Here are some suggestions for achieving this:

• Ask guests to leave a review on TripAdvisor when they check out or at the end of any great event
• Print cards asking guests to review the hostel that have a direct url or a QR code to leads to the hostel’s review page.  TripAdvisor will even print cards for you through their Management Center
• Set up a wifi landing page that encourages guests to leave a review when they access your hostel’s wifi
• If you received a Certificate of Excellence, display it in your hostel to remind guests that the reviews are important to you and to them
• Display positive reviews from past guests in the hostel where current guests will see them
• Send a farewell or follow-up email to departing guest asking them to leave a review
• Use TripAdvisor’s Review Express tool to solicit reviews after departure
• Use the TripAdvisor app for Facebook to request reviews from guests who have already liked your page

Obviously, writing fake reviews for your own hostel or for your competitors is not only unethical, it will also get you penalized by TripAdvisor.  Similarly, offering compensation to guests in exchange for reviews or hiring “reputation management” companies to write convincing reviews on your behalf will violate TripAdvisor’s policies and all standards of ethical business.   

From Erika P:

"If anyone in your organization, including owners, staff, and third-party vendors (e.g. webmasters, social media agents, SEO specialists, etc.), are participating in activities that violate our policies, TripAdvisor may take any of the following measures to address the issue:

-Reducing your ranking in the TripAdvisor popularity index

-Posting a large red penalty notice on your listing

-Excluding your listing from TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice awards, top 10 lists, press releases, etc."

How did your hostel's ranking change following this transition?

What methods have you found most effective to get guests to leave you reviews?