World’s Top Travel Reviewers Revealed by TripAdvisor

New Post Public Reply Private Reply Replies (0) Message Board
News Desk 2018
World’s Top Travel Reviewers Revealed by TripAdvisor

“Ollie Awards” Given to Most Prolific Reviewers from Community of Over 120 Million TripAdvisor Members

New York City’s Bernardo Famorca Named World’s Review Contributor of the Year

NEEDHAM, Mass., Dec. 13, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TripAdvisor ® , the travel planning and booking site, today announced the winners of the Ollie Awards, which recognize the individual TripAdvisor members who made the most contributions to the site in the past year. The company named individual winners across eight different award categories, with awards given to travelers at a world, continent and country level.

This year, the eight Ollie award categories include Review Contributor of the Year, Traveler of the Year (given to individuals who reviewed experiences from the most number of destinations in the past year), Restaurant Expert of the Year, Attractions Expert of the Year, Hotel Expert of the Year, Explorer of the Year (given to individuals who were among the first reviewers of the most establishments in the past year), New Contributor of the Year, and Forum Poster of the Year.

Bernardo Famorca from New York City is named the world’s Review Contributor of the Year, having submitted more than 2,000 reviews in the past year. He also won four U.S. categories of Review Contributor of the Year, Traveler of the Year, Restaurant Expert of the Year and Attractions Expert of the Year. Below are other U.S. winners.

U.S. Ollie Award Winners

Category  U.S. Winner
Review Contributor of the Year Bernardo Famorca : New York, New York
Traveler of the Year Bernardo Famorca : New York, New York
Restaurant Expert of the Year Bernardo Famorca : New York, New York
Attractions Expert of the Year Bernardo Famorca : New York, New York
Hotel Expert of the Year George Capen : Canyon Lake, California
Explorer of the Year George Capen : Canyon Lake, California
New Contributor of the Year Norma Waters : Melbourne, Florida
Forum Poster of the Year Tom McDonald : Ely, Minnesota

“As our TripAdvisor community continues to grow each year, the competition for these awards was tougher than ever,” said Barbara Messing, chief marketing officer for TripAdvisor. “Every single winner of an Ollie award has dedicated an incredible amount of time and energy to their reviews. It is their efforts, and those of millions of reviewers like them, that help improve the travel experience for the wider community. They fully deserve their moment in the spotlight.”

Meet Some of the TripAdvisor Community Award Winners

World Review Contributor of the Year : 811bernardf , Bernardo Famorca (2,353 reviews) Based in New York City, Bernardo often travels two to three times a week. He uses TripAdvisor as a resource to find fun things to do and to read honest reviews of what other travelers enjoy in their cities. “My favorite travel destination, and a new city that I was able to cross off my list, from the past year has been Stockholm,” said Bernardo. “The city is compact and easy to get around, the people are friendly, the food is good, and it’s fairly inexpensive overall.”

U.S. Explorer of the Year: kauaibiztraveler , George Capen Having recently moved from the East Coast to the West Coast, George, a self-proclaimed “opportunist traveler,” made it his mission to experience his new locale by using TripAdvisor as his resource. “To me, TripAdvisor is the gold standard,” said George. “People might think of TripAdvisor as a website or app for international travelers, but it’s also great for exploring your own backyard. Finding local reviewers will give you the real scoop, outside of the must-see tourist attractions.”

2016: The Year in Reviews

2016 saw a huge increase in the number of reviews and opinions posted on TripAdvisor, with a community of over 120 million members posting more than 280 contributions a minute to the site. TripAdvisor now features more than 435 million reviews and opinions, spanning 6.8 million businesses and properties in more than 135,000 destinations.

With so much content contributed to the site, here are five fun facts from the past year:

  1. TripAdvisor reviewers shared experiences of 3,438,633 different locations around the world
  2. London received just over 1 million reviews – more than any other city in the world
  3. Silver Legacy Resort and Casino in Reno, Nevada was the most reviewed hotel in the world
  4. The most reviewed attraction was the Basilica of the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona – with over 32,000 reviews
  5. Pasteis de Belem , a specialist bakery in Lisbon, received over 10,000 reviews from hungry travelers this year – more than any other eatery in the world

Note to Editors:

Data based on traveler contributions submitted to TripAdvisor from November 11, 2015 – October 11, 2016.

The Ollie Awards get their nickname from the TripAdvisor mascot Ollie the Owl and were formally called the “TripAdvisor Community Awards.”

World or continent winners are available upon request.

About TripAdvisor

TripAdvisor ® is the world's largest travel site**, enabling travelers to unleash the potential of every trip. TripAdvisor offers advice from millions of travelers and a wide variety of travel choices and planning features with seamless links to booking tools that check hundreds of websites to find the best hotel prices. TripAdvisor branded sites make up the largest travel community in the world, reaching 390 million average monthly unique visitors*, and reached 435 million reviews and opinions covering 6.8 million accommodations, restaurants and attractions. The sites operate in 49 markets worldwide. TripAdvisor: Know better. Book better. Go better.

TripAdvisor, Inc. (NASDAQ: TRIP ), through its subsidiaries, manages and operates websites under 24 other travel media brands: www.airfarewatchdog.com , www.bookingbuddy.com , www.citymaps.com , www.cruisecritic.com , www.familyvacationcritic.com , www.flipkey.com , www.thefork.com (including www.lafourchette.com , www.eltenedor.com , www.iens.nl , www.besttables.com and www.dimmi.com.au ), www.gateguru.com , www.holidaylettings.co.uk , www.holidaywatchdog.com , www.housetrip.com , www.independenttraveler.com , www.jetsetter.com , www.niumba.com ,  www.onetime.com , www.oyster.com , www.seatguru.com , www.smartertravel.com , www.tingo.com ,  www.travelpod.com , www.tripbod.com , www.vacationhomerentals.com , www.viator.com , and www.virtualtourist.com .

*Source: TripAdvisor log files, average monthly unique visitors, Q3 2016

**Source: comScore Media Metrix for TripAdvisor Sites, worldwide, July 2016

CONTACT: Elizabeth Monahan 781.800.5542 emonahan@tripadvisor.com

Scroll down for more posts ▼

Top 10 Most Recent News Articles

Synagro Technologies Faces Lawsuit Over Unpaid Expenses

Updated Category News Views 6

Another Day, Another Lawsuit in Corporate America When it rains, it pours, especially in the corporate world where companies occasionally seem to forget they're playing with other people's livelihoods. Now, it's Synagro Technologies, Inc. facing the music. The company is under fire from Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP, a law firm well-versed in employee rights...

Continue Reading
Quay Shines in 2026 Prescription Sunglasses Lineup

Updated Category News Views 5

Spotlight on Quay: A Fashion-Forward Prescription Glasses that make you look good and actually correct your vision? That's the holy grail right there. Consumer365 just put Quay front and center in their 2026 rundown of the best prescription sunglasses out there. Let's break this down and see what's got folks buzzing. Diving into Style and Substance Now, if you're like me,...

Continue Reading
Revamping Children's Radiotherapy: Leo Cancer Care's Vision

Updated Category News Views 5

The latest buzz in pediatric radiotherapy is shaking things up, and it’s all thanks to a game-changing shift in how treatment is delivered to kids. We're eyeballing Leo Cancer Care's innovative approach that might just redefine how these young patients face their battles. Standing Tall: A New Chapter in Proton Therapy In June, Stanford Medicine dished out the first...

Continue Reading
DKS Facing Class Action Over Stock Slump Allegations

Updated Category News Views 3

A Burst Bubble at DICK'S Sporting Goods Grit your teeth and hang on—DICK'S Sporting Goods has stumbled, and investors are supposed to just weather the storm. From September 8, 2025, through August 24, 2026, if you held DICK'S shares, you've got some explaining to do, or at least you better start reading the fine print. Take note, folks: the deadline to file for lead...

Continue Reading
Leo Cancer Care's Upright Radiotherapy Milestone

Updated Category News Views 4

Upright Radiotherapy: Breaking Tradition in Cancer Care Here's a twist in the world of cancer treatment folks weren't exactly expecting. Leo Cancer Care has flipped the script by taking radiotherapy from a concept to an actual clinical reality with their Upright Platform. Yes, we're talking about standing up while getting treated, and it's not just a gimmick—it's a game...

Continue Reading
Fuse Oncology Showcases New iRT Workflow at ASTRO

Updated Category News Views 4

Revolutionizing Charge Capture in Oncology Fuse Oncology's latest showcase at the ASTRO 2026 Annual Meeting isn't just about flashy presentations—it's looking to change how radiation oncology departments handle complex workflows. If you've ever delved into the maze of oncology billing, you know it's rife with opportunities for errors and inefficiencies. Skip one charge,...

Continue Reading
Accuray, Samsung Push Boundaries with Imaging Deal

Updated Category News Views 3

In a move that's got the healthcare industry buzzing, Accuray Incorporated (NASDAQ: ARAY) announced its partnership with Samsung NeuroLogica to supercharge the CyberKnife® System. This isn't just another collaboration; it's a strategic pivot to advance imaging capabilities, marrying Samsung's volumetric innovations with Accuray's established precision in robotic...

Continue Reading
Melrose Fire Station Reaches Steel Topping Milestone

Updated Category News Views 3

Metal and Milestones: A New Era for Melrose Rolling into Melrose, Massachusetts, there's some serious action kicking off with the new Fire Engine 2 Station reaching a steel topping milestone. This phase isn't just about slapping on another beam; it's the crescendo of diligent teamwork from all the hands involved—from CTA Construction Managers to the clout of Ironworkers...

Continue Reading
AI Memory Growth Pushes Limits at GMIF2026 Summit

Updated Category News Views 3

The Memory and Storage Race in the AI Era The 5th GMIF2026 Innovation Summit wrapped up in Shenzhen, and boy, was it a heavyweight bout. You could practically feel the tension in the room as industry giants sparred over the future of memory and storage in AI. This wasn't just another trade show pow-wow; this was a strategic chess match over where AI infrastructure is...

Continue Reading
IASO's FUCASO Shows Robust Results in 2026 Study

Updated Category News Views 6

IASO's Groundbreaking Results Stir Ripples in Oncology Folks, let me paint the picture here with the mighty, nitty-gritty details straight from the heart of China. The 2026 IMS Annual Meeting held a gem that could redefine how investors see the course of hematologic malignancy treatments. IASO Bio dropped some heavy data, showing their fine product, FUCASO, in a...

Continue Reading

Top 5 Most Recently Viewed Articles

Understanding Your Rights as a Humacyte, Inc. Investor

Updated Category News Views 110

Understanding Your Rights as a Humacyte, Inc. Investor Humacyte, Inc. (NASDAQ: HUMA) has recently captured the attention of investors due to certain legal developments affecting its share value. If you are a shareholder who purchased shares during the specific class period of May 10, 2024, to October 17, 2024, you may want to take active steps to protect your investment...

Continue Reading
Jim Chanos Raises Concerns About Oracle's Accounting Issues

Updated Category News Views 552

Chanos Questions Oracle's Accounting Practices Notable short-seller Jim Chanos has recently highlighted some serious concerns regarding Oracle Corp's accounting integrity. He has voiced skepticism about the company's massive project backlog, especially a significant $300 billion deal partnered with OpenAI, emphasizing that its operational realization is years away and...

Continue Reading
Cyrus Biotechnology Advances Novel IgG Therapy with No Antibodies

Updated Category News Views 171

Promising Developments by Cyrus Biotechnology Cyrus Biotechnology, Inc. has unveiled groundbreaking data showcasing the effectiveness of its engineered IgG-degrading enzyme, CYR241, in a unique rabbit redosing model. This enzyme demonstrates significant therapeutic activity without the formation of anti-drug antibodies (ADAs) upon repeated administration. Understanding...

Continue Reading
GreenPower Motor Company: Strengthening Its Financial Future

Updated Category News Views 241

GreenPower Motor Company Secures New Term Loan Funding GreenPower Motor Company Inc. (NASDAQ: GP), an innovator in the production and distribution of all-electric medium and heavy-duty vehicles, recently completed the closing of the fifth tranche of its secured term loan offering. This strategic move aims to bolster its operational capabilities, particularly in the cargo,...

Continue Reading
Unlocking the Future: Insights into the Cloud Industry 2025

Updated Category News Views 226

The Promising Future of the Global Cloud Industry The global cloud industry is on a fast track to remarkable growth. Recent research indicates that the market is poised to expand from approximately USD 1,091.4 billion in one year to an impressive USD 1,256.8 billion by 2025. This represents a noteworthy year-over-year increase of about 15.1%. With such staggering figures,...

Continue Reading